Duane Betts Pulls Out Dad’s ‘57 Les Paul “Goldie” During Allman Betts Family Revival Stop in Clearwater
“Dickey Betts en Barcelona, Sala Bikini” by alterna2 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
On Sunday evening, The Allman Betts Family Revival Tour pulled into Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Fla., to perform a night of music that paid tribute to the bandleaders Devon Allman and Duane Betts’ legendary fathers and their Allman Brothers Band roots. As is tradition for the yearly pre-holiday tour, several guests were waiting in the wing for their cue to join in. The crowning moment of the night was the arrival of an instrument with tremendous history: Dickey Betts’ ‘57 Les Paul Goldtop, lovingly known as “Goldie.”
“Goldie” served as Dickey’s go-to axe during the early days of The Allman Brothers Band and was pivotal in carrying his infectious, sweet-and-dominant tone. “Ramblin’ Man” was conceived on guitar, adding to its storied past. Notably, the instrument was lent to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where it developed an oxidized green hue, in part due to a chemical reaction. As a result, the guitar was refinished upon return, which accounts for its current red shade.
Following the concert, Dickey’s heir shared photos of the special moments and wrote on social media: “I brought out dad’s ‘57 gold top, ‘Goldie’ last night for the good folks in Clearwater, FL. He refinished the guitar to the current color in the 90s, for those wondering. What a night, Clearwater! The spirit was with us for sure!”
During the concert on Sunday night, the bandleaders paid tribute to their famous fathers, Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts, with assistance from a staggering list of special guests, including Charlie Starr, Robert Randolph, Amanda Shires, Judith Hill, Paul McDonald, Jimmy Hall, Cody Dickinson, Luther Dickinson, Alex Orbison, Lamar Williams Jr., Melody Trucks, and Vaylor Trucks, who turned up throughout the two-set delivery, adding to select compositions. The performance took shape through the revival of “Hot ‘Lanta” and “Call It Stormy Monday, but Tuesday Is Just as Bad.”
They proceeded with more classics, “Statesboro Blues” and “Blue Sky,” before Paul McDonald’s appearance on “I’m No Angel.” Allman Brothers classics took the group into a set break, preceded by Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr on “Dreams.” On the other side of the concert’s halfway marker, the band picked up “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed,” before bringing out the Trucks [Melody and Vaylor] for “Stand Back.”
Starr showed up on “Come and Go Blues” before the bandleaders guided their guest through other standards, including “Trouble No More,” “Southbound,” “Melissa,” “Seven Turns,” and “Whipping Post.” For the concert’s encore, all hands were on deck during a finishing take on “Midnight Rider.”
The tour continues tonight in Texas. For tickets and additional information about upcoming live performances, visit allmanbettsfamilyrevival.com.
Scroll down to view Sunday’s setlist.
The Allman Betts Band
Ruth Eckerd Hall – Clearwater, Fla.
December 14, 2025
Set I: Hot ’Lanta, Call It Stormy Monday but Tuesday Is Just as Bad, Statesboro Blues, Blue Sky, I’m No Angel, Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’, No One to Run With, Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More, Dreams
Set II: Jessica, Stand Back, Come and Go Blues, Trouble No More, Southbound, Can You Fool (Acoustic), Melissa (Acoustic), Seven Turns (Acoustic), Back Where It All Begins, Whipping Post
Enc.: Midnight Rider, Little Martha
