By Alexander Honeycutt, Staff Writer
On Dec. 7, 1968, Bellarmine University held a show that featured the world-famous Grateful Dead. Now, just over 50 years later, Bellarmine is commemorating the historic event on campus.
Bellarmine University Radio will serve as the host for the anniversary celebration, which will feature author and DJ Jesse Jarnow. Jarnow has written several books, including books about the Grateful Dead and the psychedelic era.
The 1968 show featured four bands: The Waters, The Oxfords, Stonehenge and the Grateful Dead. Tickets to see these iconic bands were just $3 in advance and $3.50 at the gate.
Bellarmine cherishes its rich legacy in the Louisville area. Dr. Kyle Barnett, one of the organizers of the commemoration, said the Grateful Dead show had an impact on Bellarmine – then Bellarmine-Ursuline College – but also left a mark on the city as a whole.
“We hope to use the event to talk about the city’s counterculture of the era… and the neighborhood that seemed central to the movement – Limerick,” Barnett said. “We want to use it to open up a larger conversation about Bellarmine and Louisville’s cultural scene in the late 1960s.”
Artwork by Leah Wilkinson.
The Student Government Association (SGA) was excited to honor the anniversary of the show.
“We believe it was important to commemorate that time in Bellarmine’s history,” SGA president Leah Mudd said. “We are excited to see how this event turns out!”
Even if they’re unfamiliar with the band’s work, students around campus are excited to celebrate such a historic moment in Bellarmine’s history.
Bellarmine freshman Bree Lehman said: “I personally never listened to the band before, but after hearing about how big of a deal the show…was, I think it’s really cool that we choose to continue to remember them as a legendary group even after they’ve been disbanded for over 20 years.”
The anniversary celebration is free and will be held Wednesday in Hilary’s at 6 p.m.