Sweetwater presents China Camp Family Band

The China Camp Family Band is a brand-new group of well-known players in the Grateful Dead-Jerry Garcia Band wing of the jam band world who fell together and decided to make their own band. As co-founder Scott Guberman put it, “As much as we enjoy all the music, we get to play individually with everyone in various lineups, we were missing having a “band” to be in.”

When three of the four found themselves living on a property at China Camp in San Rafael, north of San Francisco, it became obvious that things were meant to be. Brilliant players all, they banded together to explore the improvisational magic of the Grateful Dead world. Their gifts allow them to create new and spectacular versions of familiar songs, much in the manner of the original Dead. Homage is one thing; imitation is not allowed!

The “Family” part of China Camp Family Band is important. They mostly live together and approach their music with the spirit of community that is an essential part of who they are and what the Dead’s music is about. Their work has a quality of infectious joy that you will quickly feel when you listen.