Photo by Jesse Faatz

Gathered at Bethel Woods – the original site of 1969’s legendary Woodstock festival – Gov’t Mule offered a special tribute set on Saturday at Mountain Jam 2019, inviting Lukas Nelson and others to join the fun.

Those with keen eyes may have noticed that the band called a quick audible for the celebratory Saturday set, inviting John Molo to perform on drums (usual Gov’t Mule drummer Matt Abts was feeling under the weather).

They kicked things off by performing Richie Havens’ “Freedom” and Santana’s “Jingo” with Promise of the Real percussionist Tato Melgar, before later inviting POTR frontman Lukas Nelson to sing on “The Wheel’s on Fire” by The Band, “Dark Star” by the Grateful Dead, “Find The Cost of Freedom” by CSNY and “Mr. Soul” by Buffalo Springfield.

Sister Sparrow (aka Arleigh Kincheloe) made an appearance on “Piece of My Heart” to honor the late, great Janis Joplin, before her bandmate/brother Jackson Kincheloe and the Better-Half Singers offered a funkified take on “I Want To Take You Higher.”

The Better Half Singers stuck around for a set-closing “With A Little Help From My Friends,” before Gov’t Mule took the stage alone to encore with a soul-stirring take on Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child.”

Mountain Jam 2019 continues with its final performances tonight.

Check out the full setlist below:

Gov’t Mule
June 15, 2019
Mountain Jam, Bethel Woods, Bethel NY

[Woodstock Tribute Set]

Freedom^, Jingo^, Eyesight to the Blind, Listening to You, I Can’t Keep From Crying Sometimes, This Wheel’s on Fire*, Dark Star*^, Find the Cost of Freedom*, Mr. Soul*, I Put A Spell On You, Piece of My Heart+, I Want To Take You Higher%, With A Little Help From My Friends#

Enc: Voodoo Child