The Ryders at the Jamfest on Saturday at Mac's

Tony Mart’s Rock ‘N Roots Jamfest, held at Mac’s in Somers Point, featured a fine night of music, food (like the 400-piece birthday cake for Jerry Garcia; it was his birthday) and friends. Many in the crowd gathered to see Donna Jean Godchaux, the former back-up singer in the Grateful Dead. But the first two acts warmed up the stage for Godchaux and her band. Look out for a story on the event soon — including images from the cake and video — at acweekly.com.

Jerry Garcia

The late Grateful Dead leader Jerry Garcia would have been 67 this Saturday, Aug. 1. In honor of the music icon’s birthday, there are two special celebrations going on in the Atlantic City area this weekend. And one, which starts tonight, is free!

Beginning at 7pm on Saturday, Aug. 1, at McCullough’s Emerald Links in EHT, the Tony Mart’s Rock ‘N’ Roots Jamfest will include headlining act (and long-time Grateful Dead vocalist) Donna Jean Godchaux and her band doing Dead tunes and more.

The Ryders

Also on the bill is The Ryders, a group that plays original music typically, but for this occasion will perform a tribute to Bob Dylan and the Band — and the Dead.

For the most part, the Ryders will play Dylan tunes that the Dead or Jerry covered at some point.

Meanwhile, beginning tonight (July 31) and running through Saturday, Aug. 1, with a late viewing from 9pm-midnight, Resorts in Atlantic City will host the exhibit “Jerry Garcia: A Visual Journey.” On display will be  Jerry Garcia’s artwork, featuring “one of the largest collections of original drawings, watercolors, etchings, hand-signed lithographs, and early print proofs never publicly displayed before.”

Also on display at this free, nationally touring exhibition will be several of Garcia’s personal items, including a black T-shirt he wore onstage, his used guitar pick, his Fender-made attaché’ case, his business cards & more.

“Everything on display will be for sale,” says Resorts spokesperson Brian Cahill.

Garcia died in 1995 and a large collection of his artwork was purchased by Image Makers Art Inc.

Here are the dates and times for the exhibit. which will be held next to Boogie Nights at Resorts.

Friday, July 31: 6pm-midnight (open to the public)
Saturday, Aug. 1; 3–6pm & 9pm-midnight (open to the public)
Saturday, Aug. 1; 6-9pm (private showing – by invitation only)

For more information, call 610-999-5880 or visit imagemakersart.com