Jon Tullis, Director of Public Affairs for Timberline Lodge, noted the
preparations for the annual Labor Day Mountain Music Festival were a little
different this year. He got together with the four acts that will perform at the
lodge, and curated the playlist, which will present the roots and evolution of
the music of the Grateful Dead.

“We’ll have a little fun and let our hair down a little bit more,” Tullis said,
noting the Mountain has a lot of “Deadheads.” “It should be great.”

Music for the festival, dubbed “Steal Your Mountain, A Tribute to the Grateful
Dead,” starts at the lodge at noon, Monday, Sept. 2, and admission is free. A
number of groups will have outreach tables, including the Friends of
Timberline, the Pacific Crest Trail Association and the Oregon Bluegrass
Association, while visitors can enjoy food and beverages from Timberline
Lodge and bring their own instruments to jam with the Taborgrass Players on
the “pickin’ patio.”

The first band will be Fingers & Chilly with Eric Kallio, celebrating the folk
roots of the Dead, with such songs as “Shady Grove” and “Deep Elem Blues.”
Tullis noted the act will be “folksy Americana” and feature some early
American songs the Dead covered.

The Columbians will follow at 1:15 p.m. and keep things acoustic, playing
songs including “Midnight Moonlight” and “Hobo Song.”

At 2:45 p.m., U.S. Cadenza will take the stage, turning to electric
instruments. The band opened for the Dead at Portland’s Masonic Temple in
1967, and Tullis noted they have some of the “blusier stuff” on their song list,
including “Big Railroad Blues” and Howlin’ Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightning.”

The headliner, taking the stage at 4:30 p.m. and playing while the sun sets, is
the Garcia Birthday Band, who will offer some Grateful Dead favorites,
especially from the 1971-72 era.

“They’re more than a tribute band, they have their own following,” Tullis said,
adding that the event will be family friendly.
Sponsors for the event include Mt. Hood Brewing Co. and Farmer Brothers.
For more information, visit www.timberlinelodge.com.