An All Star Tribute to America's Favorite Jam Band. Sit back/ or Dance to the Best of the Best of the Grateful Dead, performed by veteran players from some of the most established Dead Tribute Acts in the Northeast. Hosted by Matt Helm, formerly of Terrapin, featuring talent from Shakedown, Stella Blues Band, Terrapin, Bone Dry, Spadtastics, , Alligator and more !! This is one AWESOME PARTY!!
Matt Helm ( Winthrop ) has been playing piano for over 50 years. In May of 1979, he was kidnapped from his High School in Great Neck NY. The perpetrators of this dastardly deed were friends of his, who told him they were going to McDonalds for lunch. The problem was, by the time he realized that the car was going over The Throgs Neck Bridge, and was not going to Mikey D’s , It was too late.. It was going to Binghamton, NY. 4 high school freaks were going on an Adventure. Having seen the boys ( last time with Keith and Donna) , earlier in the year at Madison Square Garden, young Winthrop soaked in the Rays of Sunlight offered by Jerry and the troupe, and never looked back. After hanging up his keyboards upon graduation and from his High School band; The Bridge, Matt didn’t play out publicly for almost 25 years.
Skip ahead to 2011,” an old guitar buddy called up and enquired if I liked the Dead, and would I like to audition for a local band.?. Ship of Fools “says Winthrop. After a year of playing with them, Winthrop noticed that a couple of local players placed an ad on Craig’s List “Keyboard player needed for established Grateful Dead band”. They weren’t “established” but they were great players. This meeting led to the formation of Terrapin. That band played over 200 shows over 8 years, including some large Northeast Venues including The Palace in Stamford Ct, Mohegan Sun, Tarrytown Music Hall, Ridgefield Playhouse etc.
With all this under his belt. Winthrop started the All Stars in 2000 to capitalize on the insatiable desire for people to come out and see live music, especially when it comes to the Dead. Each night is a unique and different presentation calling on players from some of the best bands in the area. During Covid, CTGDAS honed it’s skill, playing multiple nights in limited capacity at The Warehouse, FTC’s venerable concert venue in Fairfield CT.
“What I love about playing with The All Stars”, says Rob Fried, Principal Bass Player “ Every show is unique. It’s a tremendous blend of talent all striving to work together as a team.”
