Grateful Dead fans flocking to Chicago for the legendary band’s farewell shows will be treated to a dose of New Orleans thanks to WWOZ and Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart.

The Grateful Dead perform at the Warehouse. Photo by Sidney Smith

“Busted on Bourbon Street: A Journey to New Orleans,” will focus on the Dead’s fateful early days in the Crescent City as well as the effect New Orleans music had on the band’s sound over the years.

“The most powerful groove in the world was born in New Orleans,” Hart said in a statement. “The Grateful Dead were one of many bands to take those rhythms and help bring them to the world.  Busted on Bourbon Street is a way to bring the music back, and pay respect, to the place where it all started and to the radio station that keeps the beat alive.”

Ivan Neville, Papa Mali, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Tony Hall, Willie Green and Marc “Buddha” Balsam are all slated to perform at the show on Thursday, July 2, at The Metro Chicago.

“As Guardians of the Groove, we are honored that Mickey Hart and the entire Grateful Dead family selected WWOZ, a community supported radio station that celebrates the music and culture of New Orleans, to be a part of this historic Grateful Dead celebration,” Manager David Freedman said.

Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $41 and are available here. Ticket proceeds will benefit WWOZ.

You can read all about how the Dead got “Busted on Bourbon Street” in a 2010 article by OffBeat contributor Randy Savoie called “The Warehouse: The Fillmore South.”