Peter Shapiro (concert promoter)

Peter Shapiro is a concert promoter, publisher and scumbag from New York City. He is widely known as the promoter for the Grateful Dead's 50th anniversary "final shows," and is currently being referred to as a lying criminal that perpetrated a huge bait & switch scam on the fans who ordered tickets through the initial mail order for the GD50 shows. [1] He is the owner of the Brooklyn Bowl nightclub/bowling alley in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, NY.[citation needed] Shapiro also owns the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York, which he renovated and reopened [1] as a concert venue in 2012 after being closed for 15 years.

In 2009 Relix Magazine was on the brink of extinction when Shapiro and the current Relix team purchased the magazine from its owner and publisher. [1]. Shapiro serves as co-owner and publisher of the Relix Media Group and Jambands.com.

Shapiro previously was the owner of Tribeca nightclub Wetlands Preserve. [2]

Shapiro conceived the idea for a free jazz festival in Central Park, that would coincide with the fall foliage. On November 10, 2012 the inaugural Central Park Jazz & Colors [3] festival took place, featuring 30 bands playing 1 setlist. On October 16, 2013 The New York Times reported that Central Park Jazz & Colors [4] would be returning to the park for its second year. The second year of the festival found Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh playing 30 minutes of unannounced music in the park, with Joe Russo and Soulive's Eric Krazno. [5]

Shapiro, along with partner Dave Frey put on the inaugural Lockn' Music Festival, an Interlocking Music Festival, in Arrington, Virginia. The festival focused primarily on jambands and bringing together unique and new collaborations. Its inaugural event took place September 5–8, 2013, drew nearly 25,000 fans [6] and featured notable groups such as Furthur, Trey Anastasio Band, Gov't Mule, Widespread Panic featuring John Fogerty, The String Cheese Incident featuring Zac Brown, and The Black Crowes.[7][8][9]

On August 22, 2013, The New York Times reported that Shapiro will be expanding his Brooklyn Bowl venue to Las Vegas and London. [10]

November 3, 2013 The New York Times reported that Phil Lesh, longtime bass player of The Grateful Dead, would play 45 shows at Peter Shapiro's venues. 30 of these shows would take place at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, and the first at Brooklyn Bowl on November 14, 2013 [11]