Grateful Shred formed in 2016 in Los Angeles when singer/guitarist Austin McCutchen, short a band for a residency at The Griffin in Atwater Village, recruited housemates including bassist Dan Horne to perform Grateful Dead covers. The impromptu set led to ongoing gigs and the band's development into a national touring act. The group draws from Grateful Dead influences with wide-open guitar tones, three-part vocal harmonies, choogling rhythms, and extended solos, approached in a free-spirited manner rather than as a tribute. Current lineup includes McCutchen (vocals/guitar), Horne (bass, pedal steel, vocals), Mikaela Davis (vocals), Adam MacDougall (keys/vocals), John Lee Shannon (guitar), and Corey Rose (drums). They gained attention via the 2017 'Busted at the Bowl' YouTube video of an impromptu Hollywood Bowl parking lot performance shut down by police. Grateful Shred released their debut studio album Might As Well in June 2025 on Liberty Hair Farm Records, reinterpreting Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Band tracks with harmonies and improvisation. They are known for lively shows evoking the Grateful Dead atmosphere.