Heads All Empty Brings Grateful Dead Tribute to Strings Music Pavilion

Steamboat Springs —A $29 ticket. A standing-room-only crowd. And a local band promising to play the Grateful Dead without trying to sound exactly like the Grateful Dead.

Is that actually possible?

Heads All Empty is taking the stage at the Strings Music Pavilion next Saturday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. The band has been covering the Dead’s music for Steamboat Springs audiences for three years. Now they’re moving from smaller gigs to the main stage at 950 Strings Rd.

Let’s look at the logistics first. Tickets start at $29. If you wait until the day of the show, it jumps to $35. It’s general admission, standing only. No kids under 6. You’re paying for the experience, not a reserved seat.

The band’s core is built on locals who actually live this life. Vocalist and guitarist JR Adams said the group was made up of “deadheads” before they even started playing together. They talked about doing it as a fun side project. That side project has solidified into a serious musical operation.

Adams and Jon Gibbs founded the band. Gibbs plays guitar and sings. He also works on his South Routt ranch when he isn’t on stage. The lineup is complete with John Miller on keyboards, Jeff Goodhand on bass, and a dual-drummer setup featuring Gabe Hedstrom and Pat Waters.

Adams noted that before Heads All Empty, the members were playing Dead songs in other bands. Usually, it was just a song or two. They wanted to try a night where they played only Grateful Dead. From there, it snowballed.

The key for the fans is the setlist. Just like the Dead, Heads All Empty plays a different setlist at every concert. No show is the same. You can’t guarantee that “Scarlet Begonias” will be on the playlist.

“I like the challenging stuff like ‘Help on the Way’ and ‘Slipknot,’” Gibbs said. He wants to move beyond the three-chord standard stuff.

Adams argues that their approach is about honoring the sound without mimicking it exactly. There are tribute bands that try to replicate the original group's audio profile. Heads All Empty is different. They are all musicians with their own styles.

“We’re not going to sound exactly like them — I don’t think we could really do that,” Adams said.

For the Strings performance, the band is bringing in extra firepower. Vocalists Miranda Rosalie and Heather Olson will join them. They often perform with the group at bigger venues. The core members — Adams, Gibbs, Miller, and Waters, take turns with lead vocals, bringing rich four-part harmonies to the stage.

The band has built a dedicated following over the last three years. Crowds at their shows include many familiar faces. The Strings performance is a chance to play on a larger scale, but the goal remains the same: deliver the music, respect the legacy, and let the setlist decide the night.

So, here is the practical impact on your wallet and your Saturday night. You’re looking at roughly $30 to $35 per person for a standing-room-only show. You need to be ready to stand. You need to be ready to listen to songs you might not know by heart. And you need to get to the pavilion early if you want a good spot.

It’s not a sit-down concert. It’s a community event for fans who know the difference between a cover band and a tribute act. If you’re in the market for a night of jam-band nostalgia without the premium price tag of a national act, this is the local option.

The show starts at 7 p.m. on Aug. 29. If you miss the early bird price, you’ll pay $6 more. That’s the cost of waiting.