DelFest Has Announced New Grateful Dead Tribute Vinyl
The 2-LP record captures live bluegrass performances from the 2026 festival to honor the Grateful Dead.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Folk
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Organizers have unveiled DelFest Does Dead Volume 2, a 12-track vinyl release featuring bluegrass artists performing Grateful Dead songs. Pre-orders are now open for the 2-LP collection, which follows the inaugural volume released in 2025.
Why it matters
The project serves to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead by highlighting the shared musical language between the iconic band and the bluegrass genre. A portion of all proceeds will go to the Rex Foundation to support its ongoing mission.
The album is a 2-LP vinyl set containing 12 live tracks recorded during the 2026 festival season. It continues the series after the 2025 release of the first volume.
The players
The Rex Foundation
Established in 1983, this non-profit organization provides support for various community and cultural programs.
The Travelin McCourys
This bluegrass ensemble is featured on the new tribute album and is a staple of the DelFest lineup.
The Infamous Stringdusters
Known for their progressive bluegrass sound, the band contributes to the collection of Grateful Dead covers.
The details
The album showcases a variety of musicians, including The Travelin McCourys, The Infamous Stringdusters, Blackberry Smoke, and Sierra Hull. These performances bridge the gap between traditional bluegrass and the improvisational spirit of the Grateful Dead.
Timeline
The Rex Foundation was founded in 1983.
The first volume of the tribute series was released in 2025.
The DelFest Does Dead Volume 2 was officially announced on September 23, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This release reflects the broader trend of folk and bluegrass festivals leaning into institutional collaborations to tap into the legacy fanbases of rock icons. By positioning bluegrass as a creative partner to the Grateful Dead, organizers are expanding the genre's reach in the current festival market.
Fans can secure their copy of the limited 2-LP set by participating in the ongoing pre-order period. Purchases directly support the charitable work of the Rex Foundation.
The takeaway
This collection demonstrates how legacy rock material can be successfully reinterpreted through the lens of modern bluegrass. Supporters of this project help maintain the charitable efforts of the Rex Foundation while preserving live festival history on physical media.
Further reading
Explore more bluegrass news in our Folk section.
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Would you purchase a live music compilation vinyl from a festival you attended?
