Following a successful Christmas concert that attracted over 300 attendees last month, the new proprietors of Mount Vernon Place Church are eager to draw a different audience this coming February.
Preparations are underway for an electrifying Grateful Dead-themed concert featuring Cris Jacobs & Friends alongside special guests from The WolfPack, celebrating the beloved Grateful Dead song catalog.
This event is set for Saturday, February 21, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the church located at 2 E. Mount Vernon Place. It marks the second significant concert held in the main sanctuary since UNITE Mount Vernon, a non-profit organization, acquired the church in July with a vision to transform it into a versatile venue and community gathering space.
“It’s going to be fantastic,” remarked Martin Knott Jr., a prominent supporter of UNITE Mount Vernon and a primary donor for the holiday concert. “We’re ready to make this place come alive.”
The Grateful Dead disbanded in December 1995 following the passing of their iconic frontman Jerry Garcia, yet former members have come together in numerous configurations over the years.
This concert will hold special significance as it will be one of the first Grateful Dead-themed events since the recent passing of Bob Weir, another founding member of the band. Widely regarded as one of rock music’s finest rhythm guitarists and vocalists, Weir was honored with several accolades, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a Goodwill Ambassador role for the United Nations.
Baltimore’s own Cris Jacobs, acclaimed as “The King of Baltimore Rock’n’Roll” by Baltimore Magazine, will take the stage with talented musicians such as Mads Tolling on the violin, Brian Switzer on the trumpet, and Alex Kelly on the cello. They are part of the WolfPack, a string and brass quintet that collaborated with Weir in the Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros project, performing Grateful Dead classics with symphonic orchestras nationwide. Produced by the St. Paul Sound Room and Friends, the concert on February 21 promises to be a memorable experience.
“We are thrilled to unite Baltimore’s Cris Jacobs and Friends with these exceptional musicians from the WolfPack,” the concert producers stated in their announcement. “These artists are masters of the Grateful Dead repertoire, each giving their own unique interpretation to these fantastic songs. There couldn’t be a better way to inaugurate this new music venue in Baltimore as it evolves into a multifunctional space for the historic Mount Vernon neighborhood.”
As indicated by Knott, this concert is also a fundraising effort, with 50% of the proceeds benefiting UNITE Mount Vernon and the other half directed to the Rex Foundation, a charitable organization founded in 1983 by The Grateful Dead and their associates to support diverse causes.
Doors will open at 5 p.m., and the evening will feature two musical sets beginning at 6 p.m. and concluding at 10 p.m., with a 30-minute intermission in between. Ticket prices are set at $161.90 for seats in the central section of the church and $108.55 for seats in the left and right sections. Attendees can enjoy complimentary beer, wine, and water throughout the event.
For additional details and to purchase tickets, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cris-jacobs-friends-joined-by-3-members-of-the-wolfpack-tickets-1980512182251.
