Grateful Dead Farewell Show To Be Screened Live In Cinemas Around The World

In what is yet another coup for the digital era, cinemas across the world will broadcast via satellite the farewell concert of veteran US rock band, Grateful Dead from Soldier Field in Chicago.  

The very last show entitled: Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of Grateful Dead will be performed by the surviving original members and more than 500,000 people applied for tickets before it sold out within minutes of going on sale. 

The last performance will take place on July 5, before it it is beamed in to theatres the very next night on Monday July 6.

Speaking to theMusic, Peter Skillman, Director and CEO of the company behind the broadcast, Shooting Star, revealed a number of countries will take part in the broadcast. 

"We're doing 250 cinemas in the UK, we're doing probably another 350 throughout Europe...we'll probably be getting up to 750-800 cinemas around the world."

Skillman welcomed the opportunity to work with a renowned band such as Grateful Dead. 

"The demographic of the band's 'Deadheads' as they call themselves will be drawn towards the big screen experience and...from the band and manager's point of view, there's a hell of a lot to be excited about."

He believes that concert streaming in cinemas is a very exciting concept and one that will continue to grow as they work to make the cinema experience identical to being at the live show.

"When you see it on the big screen with surround sound, it really becomes an engaging exercise..."

"Everything we do now, we try and bundle a CD or DVD with the cinema ticket price...with the number of people that aren't buying music anymore, it gives a great opportunity to feed back in to the artist, record company, publishing with revenue."

Skillman commented that while no Aussie screenings have been set, he is confident that dates will be announced in the future.