(PR) Grateful Dead drummer and percussionist Mickey Hart will launch a 20 city tour this summer including appearances at many of the nation's premiere music festivals. The outing comes on the heels of the Shout! Factory releases of The Mickey Hart Collection and the Rhythm Devils Concert Experience DVDs due this summer. The Mickey Hart Band will feature Steve Kimock on guitar, George Porter Jr on bass, Jen Durkin on vocals, Walfredo Reyes Jr. on drums, and talking drum master Sikiru.After headlining appearances at Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa on June 6 and Wakarusa on June 8, the group will head out on an 18 city trek beginning July 3 at the Rothbury Festival in Michigan and continuing through July 24 at 10,000 Lakes Festival in Minnesota. The shows will feature the Robert Hunter-penned songs debuted by the Rhythm Devils in 2006 including "Fountains of Wood," "The Center" and "Your House," in addition to Grateful Dead staples such as "New Speedway Boogie" and "Fire on The Mountain."
The two disc Rhythm Devils DVD filmed in Chicago during their fall tour in 2006 is packaged in a hard bound book and features all of the Rhythm Devils originals as well as a stunning version of "7 Seconds" all in 5.1 surround sound. Disc two offers a combination of interviews and behind the scenes footage giving fans the opportunity to watch the band rehearse.
In addition, Shout! Factory has just released The Mickey Hart Collection which includes the Grammy winning Planet Drum, At The Edge, Diga Rhythm Band, Superlingua, and Mystery Box. Hart's Planet Drum won the first ever World Music Grammy and still stands as one of the genre's benchmark albums. Mickey reunited with some of his Planet Drum band mates including tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain, to form Global Drum Project in 2007 and released a record to critical acclaim followed by an extensive tour.
Mickey Hart Band Tourdates:
June 6-Santa Rosa , CA-Harmony Festival
June 8-Lawrence, KS-Wakarusa Festival
July 2- Newport, KY-Southgate House
July 3-Rothbury, MI-Rothbury Festival
July 4-Garretsville, OH-Nelson Ledges
July 5-Chicago, IL-Lakeview Music Festival
July 6-Milwaukee, WI-Summerfest
July 8-Northampton, MA-Calvin Theatre
July 9-Alexandria, VA-Birchmere
July 10-Morristown, NJ-Morristown Community Thr.
July 11-Jim Thorpe, PA-Penn's Peak
July 12-Patchogue, NY-Great S Bay Music Festival
July 15-NY, NY-Fillmore NYC
July 17-Buffalo, NY-Thursday in the Square
July 18-Binghamton, NY Magic City Music Hall
July 19-Pittsburgh, PA-Palace Theatre
July 20- Baltimore , MD -Ram's Head Live
July 22-Indianapolis, IN- Vogue Theatre
July 23-Omaha, NE-Slowdown
July 24-Detroit Lakes, MN-10,000 Lakes Festval