Great news, Deadheads: Bob Weir, a founding member of The Grateful Dead, has announced Blue Mountain, his first solo record in a decade — and his first album of entirely original material in 30 years.
The 68-year-old singer, songwriter, and guitarist recorded the upcoming record in various locations throughout 2015, apparently spending the first half of this year polishing the album. In typical Grateful Dead fashion, the making of Blue Mountain was a hugely collaborative process that featured heavy hitters like songwriter Josh Ritter, Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National, and many others.
The founding member of the Dead has been a busy man in recent years, having recently wrapped up a summer tour with Dead & Company — a Dead cover band that features original members of the band and pop musician John Mayer taking over for late frontman Jerry Garcia.
Among the best-known rhythm guitarists of all time, Weir is acclaimed for his intricate and innovative voice on his six-stringed instrument, as well as the strong musical depth he brought to the Grateful Dead’s famed jam-band aesthetic.
Weir will embark on a fall tour, called the Campfire Tour, to coincide with his new album’s release. Tickets are set to go on sale August 9, via his website. The tour will be a short one: The first date will be October 7 in Marin County, California, and the last will be October 19 in Nashville, Tennessee. Weir has also made available a limited amount of “Enhanced Experiences” tickets, which include front-row seats and the ability to attend his bands’ soundcheck.
Blue Mountain will consist of 12 tracks, and will hit store shelves and streaming services for the first time on September 30 via Columbia/Legacy Records.
