The future of live music has arrived, and it’s in Las Vegas. Join us for a closer look as the 24-show Dead and Company Sphere residency gets underway.
With three shows a week from mid-May to mid-July, Dead and Co are going to tie-dye Sin City for the summer. Their residency follows a 4-night Phish run over the 4/20 weekend and an impressive 40-show stretch from U2.
Before we get in the groove and let the good times roll, let’s take a closer look at the impressive Sphere.
Get to Know MSG Sphere Las Vegas
To say that the Las Vegas Sphere is state-of-the-art is a vast understatement. Here are some stats about the hottest new entertainment venue to put things into perspective:
- Capacity: 20,000
- Cost: $2.3 billion
- Size: 366 feet tall x 516 feet wide (largest spherical structure in the world!)
- Sound: 168,000 speakers
- Lights: 1.2 million LED lights outside and a 160,000-square-foot display inside
This is a place that you just need to see, hear, and feel to believe. In addition to the unbelievable visuals and sounds, Sphere features 10,000 haptic seats where concert-goers can feel the music.
I made it out to Vegas for Phish because Rachel is the best, and I ended up getting into the first three nights. I’ve been to a lot of shows and festivals over the years, and let me tell you something, folks – this place is the real deal.
I wasn’t sure if it would live up to the hype, but I can say without a shadow of a doubt that it does – and then some. Pictures and cell phone videos don’t do it justice. It’s something you need to exSPHEREience for yourself.
While it was a tough ticket for Phish, you’ve got 24 nights to choose from with the Dead and Company Sphere residency.
Dead and Co Moves into Sphere
There was a lot of speculation as to who would play the Las Vegas Sphere next. Some names that were rumored included the Rolling Stones and Harry Styles.
Then one night, the venue lit up in a colorful tie-dye pattern with the unmistakable Steal Your Face logo of the Dead. Although the last Dead and Company tour ended last summer, the band never said anything about not doing a residency…
Initially, the band announced fifteen nights over five weekends starting on May 16. Then they added another three weekends, extending the residency to 24 shows and ending on July 13.
With so many shows to choose from, there are plenty of Dead and Company tickets available for these shows. Face value prices for Dead & Co at the Sphere in Las Vegas range from around $200 to $400.
If you’re thinking about heading out to Vegas, we recommend checking out the options on CashorTrade. It’s a fan-to-fan, face-value-only platform, so you’re getting tickets from another Deadhead and not a scalper or a bot.
Dead and Company Forever
To mark this historic Dead and Company Sphere residency, there’s a lot more going on than the shows. You’ll also want to check out the Dead Forever Experience at the nearby Venetian.
This interactive exhibit covers two floors and features a bunch of cool installations, such as a recreation of the famed Wall of Sound the Dead used to tour with. There’s also an immersive art exhibit from Mickey and guitars from John and Bobby.
You can check it out from Wednesdays to Sundays between 10 AM and 6 PM and entrance is free. Click here to get all the details.
Nothing Shaking on Shakedown Street
One of the quintessential live Dead experiences is taking a stroll on Shakedown Street – the open-air marketplace that springs up in the parking lot of shows. Without a real “lot” scene around Sphere, though, Deadheads had to get creative.
There will be a Shakedown going on at the Tuscany Suites & Casino with dozens of vendors as well as live music. It’s going on every day of the shows from 11 AM to 7 PM and is free to attend.
They’re also having after-shows for those who want to keep the party going beyond the Dead and Company Sphere shows. Click here for more info and to check out the list of vendors and bands.
Phan Art: In All Good Company
In addition to the daily Shakedown festivities, the Brooklyn Bowl will host a special Phan Art show called “In All Good Company” on Saturdays from 12 PM to 5 PM. Stop by to peruse all the Deadhead fan merch, play “Guess the Year” trivia, and enjoy “This Day in Dead History” Happy Hour listening parties.
Of course, the lanes will also be open if you want to channel your inner Lebowski, grab a White Russian from the bar, and bowl a few games. The Phan Art events are a great option for your pre-show fun and are free to attend.
There are also late-night shows at the Bowl most nights of the run. Check out the schedule here:
Other Things to Do in Las Vegas
As you can see, it’s going to be a jam-packed summer with the Dead and Company Sphere shows (pun intended). If you’re looking for some fun things to do in Las Vegas outside of Shakedown and the venue, here’s a good list to get started with:
- Meow Wolf Omega Mart: a psychedelic wonderland that makes for an amazing pre-show activity with friends.
- Hoover Dam Small Group 3-Hour Tour: Perfect if you want to check out this engineering marvel on a quick trip.
- Red Rock Canyon Pink Jeep Tour: This park is a beautiful escape from the recycled air of the casinos and isn’t too much to tack onto a show day.
- High Roller with Open Bar: This ain’t your average Ferris Wheel! Enjoy the views with an open bar. This is the perfect pre-game as it’s a quick trip to Sphere.
- Night Helicopter Flight: Soar over the iconic Las Vegas Strip in a helicopter. This would need to be done on a non-show night, or you can book a daytime flight.
- Mob Museum: Learn about the fascinating history of organized crime in Sin City.
- Neon Graveyard: You can combine this with a trip to the Mob Museum and Fremont Street, but you need to book in advance. It’s way cooler at night when you can see the old signs lit up.
- Mini-Golf: We don’t have a link for this one, but we love the KISS-themed mini-golf at the Rio and the Twilight Zone one at Paris.
We hope you’ve found this Dead and Company Sphere guide to be fun and useful. If you’d like some more Vegas recommendations like hotels and restaurants, just let us know.
If all goes well, some of you will be running into us out in Vegas as we’re looking at flights and tickets on CashorTrade. The music never stopped! Safe travels and enjoy the shows.
Cheers,
Sasha (& Rachel)
Disclaimer: Some of the above links are affiliate links meaning we’ll earn a commission on qualifying purchases with no extra charge to you. Win-win! We’re super grateful for the support as it helps us keep the lights on 🙂
