Trey Anastasio Announces ‘The Beacon Jams’ Anniversary Residency at The Beacon Theatre

Trey Anastasio, photo by Jake Silco

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as the live music world came to a complete halt with lockdown restrictions, Trey Anastasio advanced a new kind of concert. Over the course of eight consecutive fall Fridays, the legendary Phish frontman appeared before an empty room at New York’s legendary Beacon Theatre and pored over his four-decade discography in free weekly livestreams, fostering community in a time of crisis. The Beacon Jams represented an artistic triumph for the musician and rang in a new era of fearless innovation in his solo and full-band work, all while raising more than $1.2 million to establish the Divided Sky Residential Recovery Program. Now, five years later, Anastasio has announced his plans to celebrate the legacy of the unforgettable series by returning to the storied stage.

From Nov. 28-30, The Beacon Jams will be reborn as Anastasio steps into the spotlight for a special three-night run at the Beacon Theatre. In keeping with the collaborative and experimental spirit of the original event, the artist will perform in a variety of formations through the booking, including the Trey Anastasio Band and the return of The Rescue Squad Strings. Proceeds from the residency will support the multifaceted charitable efforts of the Divided Sky Foundation.

“The Beacon Jams shows were the most artistically satisfying thing I’ve ever worked on,” Anastasio offered in a statement. “They meant so much to everyone involved–not just the audience, but the musicians as well. Everyone was hungry for music and connection, and somehow we found a way to create community in the middle of such a messed-up, isolating moment. Even the name felt meaningful–like we were shining a searchlight into the fog and manifesting something positive out of something so negative.

“At the time, addiction and alcoholism numbers were climbing, and there we were celebrating this dream of creating a sober retreat that could truly help,” he continued. “Now, five years later, that dream is a fully functioning facility doing incredible work. I’ve never been part of anything so pure in its intent. Musically, it was the pinnacle of my career because it combined everything I’ve ever done — Phish, TAB, my solo acoustic work, and the more orchestral projects. My hope is to bring that same spirit of openness and inclusiveness to these three anniversary shows.”

Tickets for the return of The Beacon Jams will become available through an artist presale tomorrow, Aug. 13, at 12 p.m. ET. A general on-sale will follow this Friday, Aug. 15, at 12 p.m. ET. Find more information at trey.com/tour.

“I would describe it more as losing my bearings on reality,” Anasatasio reflected on the intense experience of the original Beacon Jams in his 2020 Relix cover story. “When I’m jamming like that, and really listening, my perspective starts to change. My eyes blur over. I’m way up in the stratosphere, there’s motion and it’s pretty weird. A lot of times, I’m not conscious of the space that I’m occupying, in terms of where the mic stand is. There are times when I’ll end the jam and be unaware of which direction I’m facing. I have to get my bearings. But, normally, there’s so much cheering going on that people don’t notice. So that was probably pretty normal.” Read more here.