Cornell '77 and The Grateful Dead with Peter Conners - Cancelled

Please note that this event has been cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date. 

On May 8, 1977, at Barton Hall, on the Cornell University campus, in front of 8,500 eager fans, the Grateful Dead played a show so significant that the Library of Congress inducted it into the National Recording Registry. The band had just released Terrapin Station and was still finding its feet after an extended hiatus. In 1977, the Grateful Dead reached a musical peak, and their East Coast spring tour featured an exceptional string of performances, including the one at Cornell. Rooted in dozens of interviews, Peter Conners' book, Cornell '77, is about far more than just a single Grateful Dead concert. It is a social and cultural history of one of America's most enduring and iconic musical acts, their devoted fans, and a group of Cornell students whose passion for music drove them to bring the Dead to Barton Hall. Peter Conners will share his intimate knowledge of the fan culture surrounding the Dead, and use his expertise to bring this landmark show to life.

In the mid-80s, Peter Conners submerged into a life of writing, music, and exploration, and he hasn't looked back since. He has published seven books of nonfiction, fiction, and poetry, and edited dozens of volumes of poetry and prose. His nonfiction books – Cornell '77, Growing Up Dead, JAMerica, and White Hand Society – have garnered him a reputation as a leading chronicler of the Grateful Dead, jam band, and countercultural communities. Conners regularly gives readings and lectures at universities, conferences, bookstores, and art galleries, and is consulted by media for his views on music, counterculture, poetry, fiction, and editing. Peter Conners lives with his wife and children in Rochester, NY. He is Publisher of the award-winning independent publishing house BOA Editions, Ltd.

6:00pm reception; 6:30pm lecture, gratis. Advanced registrations required.

Members and one guest per member are invited to dine at The Club with the speakers following the lecture. Please click here to access the post program dinner registration page.