Thirteen Nights with the Grateful Dead at the Warfield

In fall 1980, the Grateful Dead marked its fifteenth year by settling into The Warfield for 13 shows. Each night began acoustically before the band plugged in, giving the run two distinct shapes.

The acoustic sets revived songs including “Ripple,” “Dark Hollow” and “Bird Song,” while the electric sets carried the broader touring repertoire. Recordings from the Warfield and the following Radio City run were later assembled into the official live albums Reckoning and Dead Set.

The run made The Warfield more than a stop on the anniversary schedule. Its stage helped the band reconnect with quieter arrangements while preserving both sides of its 1980 sound on record.

Sources: Dead.net 1980 history and Dead Set release notes