Grateful Dead 1971 Davis, CA College-Campus Concert Poster

A 1971 concert poster with Grateful Dead on the bill in Davis, CA.

About The Grateful Dead

Grateful Dead fans, known as Deadheads, followed the band from city to city for decades. The Grateful Dead formed in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1965 and became famous for long, improvised live shows. Concert posters were made to promote a single show, which is why so few originals survive. This poster advertised a 1971 show. In the 1970s, rock moved into arenas and its posters became bigger, bolder and more graphic. By the 1970s, concert promotion moved to arenas and stadiums, and posters advertised ever larger shows.

Styling this Grateful Dead concert poster

This 1971 poster for Grateful Dead brings a slice of 1970s music history to the wall. Hang it at eye level, about 57 inches (145 cm) to its centre; 18×24″ is a versatile size for most walls. A black or antique-gold frame suits this Grateful Dead concert poster well and keeps the focus on the image. Build a gallery wall around this Grateful Dead concert poster: add two or three smaller prints that echo its colours and keep the gaps to 2–3 inches.

At a glance

• Type: Grateful Dead concert poster
• Band: The Grateful Dead
• Year: 1971
• Style: Vintage concert posters
• Collections: Grateful Dead Posters, Vintage Concert Posters