Gov’t Mule has announced plans for New Year’s Eve that will pay tribute to the legendary Summer Jam.
Mule will play two nights at New York City’s Beacon Theatre on Dec. 30 and 31. The first night will be a regular Gov’t Mule show, then the second night will be a tribute to 1973’s Summer Jam music festival that took place at Watkins Glen Grand Prix Raceway with The Allman Brothers Band, The Band and the Grateful Dead.
The original Summer Jam festival once had the Guinness Book of World Records listing for “Largest audience at a pop festival.” About 600,000 people poured into Watkins Glen and faced Woodstock-like traffic backups, forcing many to abandon their cars to walk miles to the concert grounds. The one-day show turned into a multi-day festival with the Grateful Dead playing a soundcheck to a huge crowd that turned into a two-set show with must-listen jams.
Mule’s New Year’s Jam on Dec. 31 will feature three sets of music, each performed by a “different” act – The Allmule Band, The Mule and Grateful Mule. It will also feature “many very special guests” who have yet to be announced.
Gov’t Mule founder Warren Haynes was a member of the Allman Brothers Band from 1989 to 1997 and 2000 to 2014. He has also played with various members of the Grateful Dead in The Dead and Phil Lesh & Friends following Jerry Garcia’s death in 1995.
Tickets for both shows are on sale now.
Update (Dec. 8): The special guests have been announced. Grateful Mule will be joined by Steve Kimock, who was a member of various Grateful Dead-related projects after the passing of Jerry Garcia, and Lincoln Shleifer. The Mule will include by Larry Campbell, who has performed with Levon Helm. The Allmule Band will feature former Allman Brothers Band members Chuck Leavell and Jack Pearson along with The Marshall Tucker Band drummer Paul Riddle.
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