Photo: Steven Rood

Dave Matthews Band is crafting a trend. Weeks into their seasonal tour, the seven-person lineup has concocted setlist pockets fit for friends – guest players, known for their strengths when pressing bow and strings. After previously welcoming Tatiana Hargreaves in Raleigh, the band brought out another first-class fiddler, Casey Driessen, dubbed “a mad scientist with a five-string fiddle by Zac Brown,” during their Forest Hills Stadium appearance on Wednesday night. 

Matthews’ affinity for fiddle has been well-documented, particularly in recent years following the end of Boyd Tinsley’s tenure. Tonally, the musician has reprised the instrumental addition to his catalog by including guest artists who have graced the stage on select occasions and demonstrated their ability to complement the ensemble. Before Driessen’s most recent slot, the band extended guest seats to Tatiana Hargreaves last week in Raleigh and Jake Renick Simpson as recently as May 11 in Austin, Texas. Of note, Driessen sat in during the group’s May 16 show in Charlotte, making last night’s appearance his second in less than a month.

During Dave Matthews Band’s latest performance, they ran through a gamut of tracks: “Drunken Soldier,” “So Much To Say” > “ Anyone Seen The Bridge” > “Too Much (Fake)” > “Ants Marching,” “Proudest Monkey,” “Dream Girl,” “Kit Kat Jam,” “Rooftop” as well as to “Grave Digger,” before the arrival of the evening’s added company. 

With Driessen onstage, the seasoned player who has lent his talents in collaboration with Béla Fleck, Bassekou Kouyate, Abigail Washburn, and Jerry Douglas, in addition to other top talents, added a lively instrumental impression atop the night’s renditions of “#41,” “Satellite,” “Pig” and “Live In Our Graves.” Following the initial four-song sit-in, the band returned to form sans added help, turning in “Fool in the Rain,” “Mercy,” “Cornbread,” “Best of What’s Around,” “Typical Situation,” and a reprise of “Lie in Our Graves” to cap the main frame. 

The night’s encore beckoned Driessen back to the stage to assist on “Paper Town” alongside a solo Matthews. For the band’s final move, they bid farewell to their guest before signing off from their stadium gig after “Madman’s Eyes.” 

Next, Dave Matthews Band will perform at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Mass., on Friday, June 12. Tickets remain on sale and can be accessed here. 

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Dave Matthews Band 

Forest Hills Stadium – Forest Hills, N.Y.

June 10, 2026

Set: Drunken Soldier So Much To Say > Anyone Seen The Bridge > Too Much (Fake) > Ants Marching Proudest Monkey Dream Girl Kit Kat Jam Rooftop Gravedigger #41 * Satellite * Pig * Lie In Our Graves * Fool In The Rain Mercy Cornbread Best of What’s Around Typical Situation Lie In Our Graves (reprise)

Enc.: Paper Town + * Madman’s Eyes

Notes:

* With Casey Driessen 

+ Dave Matthews solo