Photo Credit: Dino Perrucci

On Saturday, April 22, Widespread Panic closed out a six-night run at ACL Live at the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas. The ensemble went all-out for their final night in The Lone Star State, diving deep into their live catalog and dishing out several energetic covers. Most notably, the jammers busted out the Jimi Hendrix-penned “Little Wing” for the first time since 2007.

Widespread Panic kicked off their first frame with a pair of throwback tracks, jamming on fan favorite “Blue Indian” into “Tall Boy.” Then, they added their spin to J.J Cale’s “Travelin’ Light” before returning to their original material for “Thought Sausage.” They followed up with “Aunt Avis,” which bled directly into “Rebirtha,” “Fishwater,” and a cover of “Mr. Soul.” Finally, they capped their initial set by kicking it back to “Fishwater.” 

After a short break, the jammers returned to the stage for a sprawling second frame. They picked up with an upbeat “Chilly Water,” pulled from their 1988 debut LP Space Wrangler. From there, they transitioned into “Contentment Blues,” “Surprise Valley” and a cover of Cale’s “Ride Me High.” 

Then, the ensemble returned to “Surprise Valley” before tackling Neil Young’s “Don’t Be Denied.” They kept the night rolling with “Down,” which was trailed by an improvisational “Impossible,” and the band’s groovy take on Bobby Rush’s “Bowlegged Woman.” Finally, Widespread Panic revisited “Chilly Water” to close out their final full frame. 

The band returned to the stage for a 21-minute encore, beginning with their improvisational staple “Driving Song.” The mellow track served as an interlude before and after the group’s surprise “Little Wing” bust-out. Then, they closed out the night with another fan favorite, “Ain’t Life Grand.” 

With their ACL stint in the books, Widespread Panic will head back to the east coast. On May 5 and 6, they will take the stage in Charleston, S.C., for two nights at the Credit One Stadium, with support from Doom Flamingo and Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country. 

Widespread Panic’s complete upcoming performance schedule and ticketing information are available on their website.

Scroll to view the full setlist from Widespread Panic’s April 22 performance. Click here to view a fan-recorded clip of the “Little Wing” bust-out. 

Widespread Panic
The Moody Theater – Austin, Texas
April 22, 2023

Set I: Blue Indian > Tall Boy > Travelin’ Light, Thought Sausage, Aunt Avis > Rebirtha > Fishwater > Mr Soul > Fishwater (57 mins)

Set II: Chilly Water > Contentment Blues > Surprise Valley > Ride Me High > Surprise Valley, Don’t Be Denied > Down > Impossible > Bowlegged Woman > Chilly Water 

Enc.: Driving Song > Little Wing* > Driving Song, Ain’t Life Grand (21 mins)

Notes: 

* Last time player March 30, 2007