I received a notification that The Dave Matthews Band released their tour dates for the Summer of 2024. I scanned the city listings to see if Raleigh, NC, made the list, and it did!!!! My excitement level expanded.
Last year, the band skipped the Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, and I felt somewhat deflated. My darling husband, Peter, offered an idea that brought the light back to me. He suggested we could travel to another city on the tour and have fun. I hoped we could check off a bucket list venue and get tickets to the Gorge Amphitheater over Labor Day weekend. He smiled and said, “I thought you might say that. ” Then he purchased tickets to at least one of the days. Astounded, I set my travel planner in motion, and we prepared to travel to the state of Washington.
The trip was phenomenal. However, the realities of my grief still plagued me as I lost a friend, Edrick McLaughlin, the week before the trip. With interesting symmetry, the musician Jimmy Buffett passed that weekend of the concert, and Dave Matthews worked through his grief on stage, which helped me grieve and release.
We only attended one day of the three-day concert, but it was what my soul required. So, fast-forward to planning this year. I am torn between returning to The Gorge and participating in all three days or making the Raleigh concert a real treat. Stay tuned for developments. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures from our Labor “Dave” 2023 experience. (Stay a while!)
