Virginia Tech – Let’s Go Hokies Collection

On April 14, 1978, the Grateful Dead rolled into Cassell Coliseum and brought a full dose of cosmic chaos to the heart of Hokie territory. It was their first (and only) show at Virginia Tech, but the impact still echoes. The set had everything: a high-energy opener with “Promised Land,” a dreamy “Tennessee Jed,” and a second set that moved from “Dancing in the Street” through “Drums” and “Space,” all the way to a raucous “Johnny B. Goode” encore that left the place buzzing. For a town like Blacksburg—equal parts mountain town and college hub, the Dead’s one-night-only appearance wasn’t just a concert, it was a cultural bookmark. Students, locals, and heads from all over came together in that moment. And even decades later, the stories are still being told in record shops, tailgates, and front porches around town. This collection is a tribute to that energy—a nod to the Hokies who danced through the smoke and the feedback, who taped the show, told their friends, and helped keep that spirit alive.