Experience the Grateful Dead Like Never Before: Through the Piano of Kristina Marinova
Pianist Kristina Marinova Performs Live Sunday 11/9 at Sweetwater Music Hall
Relix VIP
October 24th, 2025
Experience the boundary-breaking artistry of Kristina Marinova, the Bulgarian-born pianist redefining what it means to bridge genres. A classically trained performer who has graced the stage at Carnegie Hall, Marinova brings her brilliant technique and emotional intensity to a wholly unexpected source of inspiration - the Grateful Dead.
“There is something really special about the band,” says Marinova. “There’s this transformative power about their music - a connection with something greater than us, and between everything in the universe.”
Her latest album, The Bus Came By and I Got On, transforms seventeen iconic songs into 11 tracks. Marinova channels the improvisational spirit of the band while weaving in the harmonic sophistication of her classical roots. The result is both familiar and transformative - a homage that feels as alive as the music itself.
“I really hoped to open a space for the classical world to appreciate the Grateful Dead,” she explains. “I want to inspire classical musicians to look at this music from a different angle.”
A graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Southern California, Marinova has been celebrated for her “clear and precise tone,” “stormy intensity,” and “unparalleled” musical sensitivity. Critics have called her performances “a feast for the ears” (Classical Music Review) and “like a message from God” (Nagamag Magazine).
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Experience Kristina Marinova live at Sweetwater Music Hall on Sunday, November 9, as she takes audiences on a mesmerizing journey that bridges classical mastery with the soul of the Grateful Dead.
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