Shakedown Street (vending area)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
vending
area at the Starlight Mountain Festival
Tie-dye shirts for sale at the Starlight Mountain Festival
Vendors and concert attendees at the Starlight Mountain Festival

Shakedown Street is the area of a

vending takes place.[1][2][3] It is named after the Grateful Dead song of the same name,[1][4][5] and began in the early 1980s in the parking lots at Grateful Dead concerts.[1] Items sold have included food, and beverages such as alcoholic beverages, clothing (such as T-shirts)[6] and jewelry,[1][4] among others. Ticket scalping may also occur.[1]

Tailgating

In the

grilled cheese sandwiches, egg rolls, burritos, falafel,[6] quesadillas, and pizza. Certain illicit foods such as hash brownies and "ganja gooballs" are also sometimes found in the parking lots. Other products available for the tailgaters include handmade jewelry, bumper stickers, t-shirts,[6]
drugs, or drug paraphernalia.

Socialization

The Shakedown Street vending scene also provides a common area where touring music fans may socialize with one-another while traveling from show to show during a band's concert tour.[7] This can instill a sense of community among fellow touring concert goers.[7]

Concerts with similar vending areas

In popular culture

Chef Ra purveyed his rasta pasta dish in the Shakedown Street area of parking lots at many Grateful Dead concerts.[8]

Shakedown Street is referenced in the television show American Dad in season 16 episode 4, titled “Shakedown Steve.”

References

Further reading