With 2015 approaching its conclusion, fans of both Phish and the Grateful Dead are able to look back on the last 12 months as a historical culmination. The Grateful Dead celebrated its 50th anniversary with five concerts, billed as “Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 years of the Grateful Dead.” In tackling this venture, the seminal jam band hired Trey Anastasio of Phish to fill the role as lead guitarist, which many viewed as a long overdue collaboration.

Here in Portland, we are lucky enough to not only have a thriving art and music scene, but a diverse and eclectic one as well. Among the many locals who support live music, there is a strong presence of Deadheads and Phish fans or, “Phans.” The atmosphere and environment created at Grateful Dead and Phish shows is one that any seasoned fan would agree requires a first-hand experience, rather than a secondhand explanation. With that, there is one word that best describes the scene – community.