When you think of the imagery of Grateful Dead, you probably picture tie-dye, Dancing Bears, skeletons, roses and a kaleidoscope of radiant hues. As Dead & Company return to the Las Vegas Sphere — kicking off a 2025 residency on March 20 and continuing this weekend — all those images are there and then some, blown up on a 240-foot floor-to-ceiling screen and in screaming color.
The Dead Forever residency started last summer with 30 dates, and has another 18 dates set for 2025. The Grateful Dead offshoot — which includes original members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, along with John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge, Jeff Chimenti and Jay Lane — has been playing together for 10 years now, since their 2015 formation. While some of the visual elements remain the same for the new dates, there’s also a sizable amount of new visuals (and a rotating lineup that accommodates Deadheads looking to attend three shows in one weekend… or more).
Those new visuals include a towering stack of television, countless multicolor Dancing Bears circling the curved screen, giant mushrooms looming over the crowd, a Dead-branded re-creation of Vegas, and a pirate ship setting sail, among other psychedelic imagery.
Below, find a gallery of vibrant photos from opening weekend of the band’s 2025 residency to take you inside the striking venue, until you can get there and see it for yourself.
Here are the remaining dates of the 2025 Dead Forever residency:
March 27, 28, 29
April 17, 18, 19
April 24, 25, 26
May 9, 10, 11
May 15, 16, 17
