Dead & Company Las Vegas residency at The Sphere extended from May into July

Fans aren't ready for Dead & Company to fade away – the band has added more dates to its upcoming residency at Sphere in Las Vegas.

Last summer, the band, led by Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, along with John Mayer, played out The Final Tour, finishing up with three shows in July at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

But on Thursday, Dead & Company announced an upcoming residency at The Sphere, the $2.3 billion venue opened by U2 in September 2023.

Initially, the band planned a six-week residency with 18 shows from May 16 to June 22. Pre-registration for ticket sales, which begin Monday, Feb. 5, must have signaled even more demand than expected because the band on Friday said it would extend its residency with six more shows in July.

The band will play three concerts during a weekend – most run Thursday-Saturday, one runs Friday-Sunday – and each show during a weekend will have a different setlist.

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The shows will "feature never-before-seen visual storytelling from Dead & Company, providing fans with the ultimate connection to the music through these innovative and immersive shows," the Sphere venue said in the residency announcement.

"In 2023, Dead & Company played their final tour. But there are other ways to make sure the music never stops. And it’s gonna be a ball," proclaimed posted videos, which end with the Sphere emblazoned with the band's iconic red, white and blue skull.

How to get tickets to Dead & Company at Sphere in Las Vegas

If you want to attend Dead & Company's residency at Sphere in Las Vegas, you can register now on the Dead & Company website for the presale of tickets, which begins Monday, Feb. 5 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT (advance registration does not guarantee tickets as supplies are limited.) General sale of tickets will start on Friday, Feb. 9 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices start at $145; all-in prices mean the price includes all taxes and fees.

You can also get hotel packages including all three performances over a weekend through Vibee starting Feb. 2.

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When will Dead & Company be playing Sphere in Las Vegas?

Here are the dates for Dead & Company's Dead Forever residency at Sphere:

• Thursday, May 16

• Friday, May 17

• Saturday, May 18

• Friday, May 24

• Saturday, May 25

• Sunday, May 26

• Thursday, May 30

• Friday, May 31

• Saturday, June 1

• Thursday, June 6

• Friday, June 7

• Saturday, June 8

• Thursday, June 13

• Friday, June 14

• Saturday, June 15

• Thursday, June 20

• Friday, June 21

• Saturday, June 22

• Thursday, July 4

• Friday, July 5

• Saturday, July 6

• Thursday, July 11

• Friday, July 12

• Saturday, July 13

There had been hints something was in the works for Dead & Company. CNN's "New Year's Eve Live" co-host Andy Cohen asked Mayer, who joined Dead & Company in 2015, “I saw you this summer with Dead & Company. And it was the final tour of Dead & Company. Can you preview anything that may come?” Mayer responded, “I’m not at liberty to say just yet. But, have hope is what I’ll say," music site Relix reported at the time.

Initially, the New York Post reported the band has a 14-show residency planned to begin in May, citing sources close to the situation and Rolling Stone reported that the band will play at least 15 shows at Sphere.

U2 extended its residency at the venue to March 2. Phish is scheduled to appear at the Sphere for four shows April 18-21.

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Who performs with Dead & Company?

Formed in 2015, Dead & Company carries on the legacy of the Grateful Dead, which broke up after the 1995 death of Jerry Garcia. Subsequently, surviving band members Weir, Hart, Phil Lesh, and Bill Kreutzmann continued to perform and tour together in various bands under names including The Other Ones, the Dead and Further.

For the band's 50th anniversary, the so-called "Core Four" culminated their journey with three shows in Chicago dubbed "Fare Thee Well" in July 2015.  Lesh went on to form Phil and Friends, leaving Weir, Hart and Kreutzmann and new keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, who played at Fare Thee Well, to form Dead & Company with lead guitarist John Mayer and bassist Oteil Burbridge from the Allman Brothers Band.

Drummer Jay Lane, who served as a replacement previously for Dead & Company – and played with Weir in his bands Ratdog and Wolf Bros. – joined the band for the 2023 summer tour, replacing Kreutzmann.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dead & Company at the Sphere: Band plans Vegas concert, residency