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Verso Visionary: Renowned Music Entrepreneur Peter Shapiro, in Conversation with Relix Editor Dean Budnick
VersoFest 2026 will feature a rare, close-up conversation with renowned music entrepreneur Peter Shapiro on March 29, joined by music journalist, author, and documentarian Dean Budnick. Together, the two industry veterans will explore the enduring legacy of the Grateful Dead and the growth of the jam band scene, one of modern music’s most passionate and dedicated communities.
Shapiro, publisher of Relix, has had a profound impact on live music, owning and operating iconic venues including Brooklyn Bowl (New York, Las Vegas, Nashville, Philadelphia), The Capitol Theatre, Garcia’s, and Wetlands Preserve. He produced Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of the Grateful Dead and founded the acclaimed Lockn’ Festival, which has showcased jam band legends like Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Widespread Panic, and Tedeschi Trucks Band. Shapiro is also the creator of FANS, an innovative livestream platform, and originated the Rock and Roll Playhouse, a weekly family concert series now in more than 25 U.S. markets. He sits on boards including The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum and Headcount, a national youth voter engagement organization.
Budnick, editor-in-chief of Relix, brings extensive knowledge of live music history, having authored seven books, contributed to Billboard, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter, directed the documentary Wetlands Preserved, and hosts the podcast Long May They Run.
VersoFest’26, The Westport Library’s annual music and media festival, brings creators and audiences together through performances, conversations, and workshops. Shapiro’s conversation promises insider insight into music history, fandom, and the forces that have shaped live performance today.
