Summer officially arrived at the always electric Mohegan Sun on Saturday May 16th 2026, as Oteil Burbridge and his all-star collective, Oteil & Friends, transformed the outdoor Sun Patio at Mohegan Sun into a swirling celebration of groove, improvisation, community, and pure New England jam-band spirit. Beneath perfect blue skies fading into a warm Connecticut evening, the crowd arrived early — tie-dyes flowing through the casino walkways, longtime Deadheads reconnecting like family reunions, and younger fans discovering the magic in real time. It felt less like a concert and more like the opening ceremony for summer itself.
The loyalty of the New England Grateful Dead community was on full display. Fans from across Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine and beyond packed the patio with dancing energy from the opening notes. You could see vintage tour shirts from every era imaginable, hear conversations about old Hartford Civic Center shows and SPAC memories, and feel the unmistakable warmth that follows this music scene wherever it gathers. Nobody was in a hurry. Nobody wanted the night to end.
Oteil opened the evening with the funky swagger of “If You See Their Lips Moving,” immediately locking the audience into the deep pocket created by an outrageous band that included Steve Kimock, Melvin Seals, Jason Crosby, Johnny Kimock, Tom Guarna, and Lamar Williams Jr. The chemistry was instant. “Tore Up Over You” carried a loose barroom soul feel
before the adventurous “Hillbillies on PCP” sent the crowd spinning into psychedelic territory. By the time “Everyday Is a Blessing” rolled across the patio, the title itself felt like a mission statement for the night.
One of the evening’s emotional peaks arrived with a beautiful “Reuben & Cherise,” as the expressive vocals floated through the warm air you could only think of Jerry Garcia while fans swayed arm-in-arm under the lights. The Sun Patio has quickly become one of the premier outdoor concert destinations in New England, but nights like this are exactly why — intimate
enough to feel connected, yet large enough to create real energy.
Then came the moment many in attendance had hoped for. Legendary drummer Jai Johanny “Jaimoe” Johanson of The Allman Brothers Band joined the band onstage, drawing a massive roar from the audience. Jaimoe is one of the founding members of the Allman Brothers Band and one of the architects of Southern rock itself. His history with Oteil runs deep — Oteil spent years holding down the low end for the Allman Brothers, and their musical connection remains undeniable decades later. Watching the two share the stage again felt historic, especially for longtime fans who understand the legacy behind it.
With Jaimoe behind the kit, the band launched into a soaring “Dreams” that drifted across the patio like a spiritual invocation. The improvisation between Kimock’s guitar work, Melvin Seals’ organ swells, and Oteil’s thunderous yet melodic bass playing created one of the finest musical moments the Sun Patio has hosted. “Every Hungry Woman” followed with greasy Southern blues swagger, turning the patio into a giant dance floor.
The second set kept the momentum rolling with “Just Around the Corner” and the emotionally rich “Mother’s Song” before “Love and War” showcased Oteil’s ability to blend thoughtful songwriting with fearless improvisation. “Hush” brought funk-heavy fire, but one of the night’s most unexpected highlights came during the inventive “Friend of the Devil / Lithium” mashup arranged by Jason Crosby — a wild and surprisingly seamless collision of the Grateful Dead and Nirvana that somehow worked perfectly.
From the video channel of Chad SCLove https://www.youtube.com/@chadsclove
“Cats Under the Stars” felt tailor-made for the setting as the cool night air settled over the venue and the lights from the casino glowed behind the crowd. Fans danced barefoot on the turf while others simply closed their eyes and absorbed the music. It was one of those nights where the atmosphere became inseparable from the performance itself.
The gospel energy of “Mighty High” elevated the entire venue before the encore delivered the knockout punch everyone wanted — a ferocious “Whipping Post”. The song carried decades of history behind it, and hearing it performed by musicians so deeply connected to its lineage gave the moment enormous emotional weight.
As fans slowly filtered back through the casino long after the final note, there was a shared understanding that this was more than just another concert. Oteil & Friends didn’t simply play a show at Mohegan Sun — they kicked open the doors to summer in New England with soul, sweat, improvisation, and community.
Go see live music….
SET 1
If You See Their Lips Moving
Tore Up Over You (Midnighters cover)
Hillbillies on PCP (Steve Kimrock cover)
Everyday Is a Blessing
Rubin and Cherise (Jerry Garcia Band cover)
Dreams (The Allman Brothers Band cover)(with Jai Johanny Johanson)
Every Hungry Woman (The Allman Brothers Band cover)(with Jai Johanny Johanson)
SET 2
Just Around the Corner (Tom Guarna cover)
Mother’s Song (John Kimrock cover)
Love and War
Hush
Friend of the Devil / Lithium (Mashup arranged by Jason Crosby)
Cats Under the Stars (Jerry Garcia Band cover)
Mighty High (Mighty Clouds of Joy cover) (with Jai Johanny Johanson)
ENCORE
Whipping Post (The Allman Brothers Band cover) (with Jai Johanny Johanson)
Full photo gallery by Joel Shover photography.
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