Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Bruce Cockburn, Sam Grisman, Peter Kaukonen, Jack Casady, Justin Guip, Ross Garren and John Hurlbut and Vanessa Lillian
December 8, 2025
Jorma Kaukonen returned to San Francisco on Dec. 5 for a special performance honoring his 85th birthday at the Masonic Auditorium. The second-to-last show in the iconic Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna founder’s celebratory tour looked back on a massively impactful legacy of music with a litany of guest spots from longtime friends and collaborators.
Kaukonen stepped into the spotlight on Friday night to receive a special recognition from the City of San Francisco, which declared the date as Jorma Kaukonen Day. The musician received the honor with a reverent introduction from noted photographer Jay Blakesberg, who presented him with the official signed proclamation after testifying to his foundational influence on the Bay Area’s psychedelic rock revolution since the ‘60s.
Following his well-earned commendation, Kaukonen set the show off solo with his classic “Song for the North Star,” then welcomed his brother Peter Kaukonen to support soul-stirring treatments of Leroy Carr’s “How Long Blues” and his own “Fair & Tender Ladies.” Kaukonen’s brother stepped aside as his old friend John Hurlbut joined in for Roger McGuinn’s “Ballad of Easy Rider” and Bob Dylan’s powerful “I’ll Remember You.” Susan Tedeschi stopped by for a standalone version of the traditional “Uncle Sam Blues” before the honoree led a rendition of Hot Tuna’s 1972 Burgers hit “Sea Child.”
Kaukonen’s intergenerational tribute continued with the arrival of Sam Grisman, who stepped in as an ambassador for the Bay’s new guard of psychedelic and classic Americana pioneers. Grisman lent his talents to the Carter Family’s country staple “Jimmie Brown the Newsboy” and Kaukonen’s original “Pool Little Ellen,” then the six-decade folk forerunner Bruce Cockburn bolstered “Pacing the Cage” and “Oh Sun By Day Oh Moon By Night.” Finally, the evening’s energy reached its apex when Tedeschi and Derek Trucks emerged for four sets, highlighting the many sonic dimensions of Kaukonen’s legacy by pouring their blues, folk, rock and high-flying improvisatory impulses into Blind Willie Johnson’s “Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning,” Richard M. Jones’ “Trouble in Mind,” Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” and Jefferson Airplane’s unforgettable “Good Shepherd.”
Finally, to punctuate a fittingly expansive evening of music, Kaukonen closed out the show with an encore of Hot Tuna’s “Water Song.” The beloved artist will bring his 85th birthday tour to its end with a Dec. 13 staging in Denver, featuring Carlos Nakai, Will Clipman and David Hidalgo.
