Jerry Jam celebrates 20 years of Grateful Dead music at Cathedral Pines County Park

More than 20 years ago, John Cino was riding his bike through the Village of Patchogue hoping to find a fellow fan of the Grateful Dead to celebrate the birthday of the band’s late singer-guitarist Jerry Garcia (Aug. 1). He ran into a Deadhead friend and the two men spent the evening sipping brews while listening to live bootleg tapes of their favorite band.

"I said, ‘This was fun, but next year, we have to make this a real party,’ ” says Cino, 69. With that thought, Jerry Jam was born. Now celebrating 20 years, Jerry Jam is a three-day concert, to be held July 31-Aug. 2 in Cathedral Pines County Park in Middle Island, in honor of Garcia’s birthday.

"It’s like a big family gathering. But it’s not for everyone because you have to want to hear over 25 hours of Jerry Garcia and Grateful Dead music in one weekend," Cino says. "For those who come, there is a real connection. It’s a close-knit crowd."

Catch 18 Dead-inspired bands spread across two stages throughout the weekend. Here are some of the acts on the bill.

JELLYBAND

Since 2010, Jellyband has been playing all around Long Island, establishing itself as a jam band that brings the party. They play a variety of music from groups like Phish, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Leon Russell, Nine Inch Nails, as well as the Grateful Dead.

"The Dead are rooted in Americana folklore. There’s no political message. It’s all about let’s have a good time and dance," keyboard player and vocalist Mike Katzman says. "Grateful Dead music has that air of unexpectedness. You never knew what you were going to get in the set, which made it exciting. We try to delight and surprise our audience by picking some unusual stuff that’s off the beaten path."

SET TIME 6:50 p.m. July 31

RECKONING

From the first Jerry Jam, Reckoning has been on the roster, performing the music of the Grateful Dead, which the band has done for 35 years throughout Long Island.

"The best thing about the Grateful Dead music is that everyone puts their own spin on it," lead guitarist and vocalist Charlie Mirro says. "The music can be interpreted in many different ways."

Mirro even cites the Jerry Jam crowd as being as unique as the music.

"Everybody is really cool and nice," Mirro says. "It’s the most well-behaved crowd you can find. They even clean up after themselves."

SET TIME 8 p.m. July 31

THE ELECTRIX

Another band that has performed with Jerry Jam from the beginning is The Electrix, which has been running for more than 30 years and is dedicated to playing the music of the Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers Band.

"Once you get on the bus it’s hard to get off," bassist Ray Kairys says. "The Dead’s music hits you right in the soul."

This year, The Electrix plans to pay tribute to Dead singer-guitarist Bob Weir, who died in January.

"We are going to hit on some of the ‘Ace’ album to give a shout-out to Bob," Kairys says. "For the most part, we don’t use a set list. We call out songs as we feel the vibe."

SET TIME 9:20 p.m. July 31

STELLA BLUE’S BAND

Named after the Dead song "Stella Blue," this group has been a presence at Jerry Jam since 2022. The focus is on "authentic realization" when it comes to delivering the tunes.

"Deadheads have all the hallmarks of a religion," keyboardist Ken Aigen says. "The lyrics are the sacred texts. They are an essential element of articulating life."

According to Aigen, Garcia has wisdom embedded in his songs.

"There was a vulnerability and a pathos in his voice and lyrics," Garcia says. "His music conveys the complexities and subtleties of the human experience."

SET TIME 7 p.m. Aug. 1

SHAKEDOWN CITI

Last year, Shakedown Citi made its Jerry Jam debut and this year will headline on Aug. 1. The band has 260 songs in its repertoire, which includes not only the Grateful Dead but music from Crosby, Stills & Nash, Little Feat, Neil Young and The Band.

"We will channel the stylings of the musicians but we don’t copy what they do verbatim," vocalist-guitarist David Mendelsohn says. "The spirit of the music is in improvisation."

Despite everyone drawing from the Dead’s catalog, Mendelsohn says there’s no competition going on.

"I think there’s a camaraderie amongst Grateful Dead bands," Mendelsohn says. "We are all in this together. Our goal is to give everyone a unique experience."

SET TIME 8:40 p.m. Aug. 1

TIGER ROSE

As opposed to the Grateful Dead, the focus of Tiger Rose is on the music of the Jerry Garcia Band, Garcia’s side project.

"Jerry was all about having fun and turning people on to music they haven’t heard before like blues, gospel, reggae as well as R&B," bassist and manager Don Zottarelli says. "We are in a unique position to offer something different but in the same vein."

Songs like "Run for the Roses," "Cats Under the Stars," "Rubin and Cherise" and "Rhapsody in Red" tend to pop up in the set list.

"We are always going to change it up a bit," Zottarelli says. "This music is so open to interpretation you can take it anywhere."

SET TIME 3:35 p.m. Aug. 2

HALF STEP

Of all the performers at Jerry Jam, Half Step guitarist-singer Tom San Filippo evokes Garcia the most with his beard, glasses, long curly hair and round face.

"What can I say?," he says. "It’s convenient."

For San Filippo, he’s drawn to the Dead’s sense of adventure in their music.

"Lyrically the songs are very storytelling and vast," he says. "There’s always something you learn from it, which keeps it fresh."

SET TIME 6:40 p.m. Aug. 2

ACCOMMODATIONS

Attendees can camp out on the groundsm and food trucks making smoothies, ice cream, pretzels, barbecue, Mexican food and acai bowls will be available. Picnicking is allowed, and a vendor’s market will offer T-shirts, jewelry, tie-dye products, artwork and more.