Widespread Panic Announces Red Rocks Shows & Hitting the Road
After getting a positive response to both the Phish and Dead & Company tour announcement blogs, we might as well hit the jam band trifecta and break down the upcoming Widespread Panic Tour. It is not exactly a secret I am a huge Spreadhead and cannot wait to to see the boys get the show back on the road.
Yesterday, Widespread Panic announced they will be playing 3 nights at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater outside of Denver on June 25-27th. I had heard rumors about this for a couple of months and am thrilled that Red Rocks is going to to be the first show run back from COVID. Panic has sold out 60 consecutive shows at Red Rocks going back to the mid 90s and these tickets will be tough to come by! I did the Red Rocks runs in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2018 and am a massive fan of the venue.
Panic has switched to doing weekend runs with a couple of week breaks as they have gotten older. I totally respect this decision as I can imagine 35 years on the road will take quite a toll. If this helps keep this thing going for years to come, I am all for it.
The next stop for WSP is 3 nights in Wilmington, North Carolina July 16-18th. Hard to beat a beach trip and Panic combo in the summertime. They then head to Austin deep in the heart of Texas Aug 13-15th for 3 nights at the Moody Theater. These Austin shows have been scheduled for 2 years. They close August with 3 nights in Napa Valley the 27th to the 29th. All of these show runs are sold out already.
In mid September, Panic heads to New York City for 5 nights at the legendary Beacon Theater Sept 16-20th. When I read this announcement, I jumped off the couch last month. I have front row lower balcony tickets to all 5 shows and are amped just typing this. I have never done a 5 night run before but there’s a first time for everything! The show on the 2nd night is 10 years to the day of when I saw them in Brooklyn which was the only night I had spent in New York in my life before I moved up here. I plan on taking some fellow Barstool employees to their 1st shows which should be some wild content!
The boys kick off October with 2 nights at the Mempho Music Festival in Memphis, Tennesee. I got into Panic going to see them in Memphis and always love the shows there. This festival lineup looks pretty dang good too.
Next up is the annual trip to Milwaukee (or Milwookie as many call it) for 4 nights at the Riverside Theater Oct 21-24th. The band loves playing up there and these shows are always fiery. I went once back in 2011 and had a large time raging in the front row. Milwaukee embraces the Panic community and it is basically a huge block party all weekend. Many people I respect say this is their favorite run of the year.
There is still a gaping hole on the Panic calendar for Oct 29-31st for Halloween. I am hearing all kinds of rumors that this is going to be a return trip to New Orleans for 3 nights at the UNO Lakefront Arena. Nolaween is my favorite and I hope these rumors turn out to be true! I went in 2010, 2013 and 2019. New Orleans and Memphis are my favorite two cities to see Panic.
In mid November Panic heads to downtown Chicago for 3 nights at the Chicago Theater Nov 17-19th. This is a classic venue with a ton of history. I went in 2011 and enjoyed myself.
Widespread Panic finishes off a busy second half of 2021 with 4 nights for New Year’s at the Fox Theater in Atlanta as is tradition. I love theater shows which are way more intimate than big arenas. It makes tickets really tough and these shows are all sold out already.
The only shows I am committed to are the 5 nights at the Beacon. I am debating Wilmington or Austin but will see. Living in New York is not cheap so it does not make sense to travel much for music plus I cannot make any plans during football season.
I look forward to seeing fellow Spreadheads in New York in a few months!