JerryFest in Five Points: A celebration of Jerry Garcia, Grateful Dead

If you’re not familiar with Jerry Garcia, or the band Grateful Dead for that matter, then here’s the CliffsNotes of what you need to know.

Jerome John “Jerry” Garcia was the lead guitarist and one of the lead vocalists for the acclaimed rock band for the span of its 30-year career (1965-1995). Over the course of three decades, the Grateful Dead would captivate generations of “Deadheads” with songs like “St. Stephen,” “Uncle John’s Band,” “Loser” and “Friend of The Devil,” to name a few.

For more than a decade in the Midlands, the band has been celebrated by local musicians who have paid homage with JerryFest.

“This year’s concert marks the 30th anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s concert in Columbia (Oct. 31, 1985), the Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary as a band and the 100th anniversary of Five Points as Columbia’s original neighborhood village,” Amy Beth Franks, executive director of the Five Points Association, said in a news release.

In addition to the Five Points Association, this year’s JerryFest will be hosted by alternative clothing store Loose Lucy’s and concert promoter Listen Local.

Don McCallister, one of the owners of Loose Lucy’s, said not only is he a huge Grateful Dead fan, but the store’s name originated from a Grateful Dead song.

“If you’re not a Deadhead, it’s not immediately obvious our connection to them, but ‘Loose Lucy’ is a Grateful Dead song,” said McCallister. “Our store originated out of the back of a VW bus in the parking lots of Grateful Dead concerts, selling little print dresses and things like that. That’s the origin of the store and our connection to a Jerry Garcia-themed music festival.”

The event has been a draw for diehard Deadheads for years. It was originally housed in bars and various clubs, but last year, the music festival partnered with the Five Points Association, solidifying its presence as a community event.

“The idea of the Jerry Garcia celebration becoming an official event, on a personal level, was a wonderful triumph,” said McCallister. “And the response last year was amazing. We had at least 500 people, which is a lot for a Sunday afternoon.”

With today’s music saturated with artists, it’s hard to believe that today’s generation of college students are even familiar with the band. McCallister pointed out that while young adults may not be the first group you think of to clamor for JerryFest, they’re certainly among those in the crowd.

“We see college kids constantly at (Loose Lucy’s), and we see them being second- and third-generation Deadheads thanks to their parents,” McCallister said. “The kids like us but bring their parents in because they know that they would love us.

“ ‘Jam band’ is not an enormous genre like it was, but then again what is these days?” said McCallister. “People’s interests are very scattered. But the interest in classic rock icons, and in particular the Grateful Dead, is really at a peak these days. I think it’s because of all the publicity around their big 50th anniversary and the reunion shows that were played this summer.”

The free, family-friendly outdoor concert will be set up similarly to the Five After Five summer concert series held in Five Points. Food vendors such as Village Idiot, Spotted Salamander and Southern Belly BBQ will rub elbows with arts and crafts vendors around the fountain, while bands play on the balcony of Saluda’s Restaurant above them.

This year’s band lineup includes Devils in Disguise, 5 Star, Jackaroe, Alien Carnival and one of McCallister’s personal favorites, Stillhouse.

“Honestly, these bands are all friends of mine, but Stillhouse features my wife on lead vocals,” laughed McCallister. “And Stillhouse is going to recreate the Grateful Dead Halloween show that was played here in 1985. All of the bands will be doing all Jerry or all Grateful Dead all day, but they’re specifically going to play the famous first set of that show. That will be cool. It was a really cool set of music that the Dead played that night.”

So get your best and brightest tie-dye ready, and get ready to dance, sing and celebrate the life and art of Jerry Garcia.

“There’s an entire subculture that grew up around this one guy and his compatriot’s work,” said McCallister. “I think that’s worth remembering.”

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 4:27 PM with the headline "JerryFest in Five Points: A celebration of Jerry Garcia, Grateful Dead."