Photo credit: Sanjay Suchak

Last night, April 25, Dave Matthews Band closed out a highly-anticipated two-night run at London’s hallowed Royal Albert Hall, marking a definite highlight in its 2024 European tour as it winds towards the end of the run. These high-profile performances exceeded sky-high expectations with two expansive sets of fan favorites loaded with covers, teases and interpolations. With the added excitement of a surprise special guest appearance from Robben Ford and a long-awaited bust-out of “Dreamgirl,” the band properly honored its first European tour since 2019 with an unforgettable set of shows.

DMB’s London pair commenced on Wednesday, April 24, following an opening set from rising UK-based singer-songwriter Myles Smith, who has garnered acclaim for his eclectic blend of influences, including folk, pop, Americana and Afroswing. Once the stage was thoroughly warmed, Matthews kicked off the main portion of the concert with the live classic “One Sweet World,” which has figured into the band’s repertoire every year since 1991. The band continued with “The Dreaming Tree,” featuring its typical interpolation of early YouTube viral sensation “Chocolate Rain,” then moved through “Madman’s Eyes,” “Virginia in the Rain” and “The Best of What’s Around,” the latter two of which featured unique extended outros.

Further interpolations of “Also Spach Zarathrustra,” “Heartbreaker,” “Blackbird” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” appeared in DMB standards like “Anyone Seen the Bridge,” “Crush” and “So Damn Lucky” before a tour debut of “American Baby Intro.” Then, Matthews welcomed legendary blues and fusion guitarist Ford to join the ensemble onstage for a collaborative treatment of “Satellite” and roaring 12-minute “Jimi Thing.” Shortly after this first-time sit-in, Matthews closed out the set with 1998’s “Don’t Drink the Water,” then returned with an encore of “Grey Street.”

Dave Matthews Band took the stage once more on Thursday, erupting into the Under the Table and Dreaming classic “Warehouse” to set off night two. After mixing an interpolation of “I Can’t Help Falling in Love” into The Stone,” the band made bold use of its historic setting as keyboardist Buddy Strong mounted the venue’s Grand Organ, playing a dramatic fake-out intro to “Madman’s Eyes” before accompanying the band on a tour debut of “Minarets.”

Following continued teases of “Dixie Chicken,” “Wonderful Tonight,” “Sojourn of Arjuna” and “You Can’t Rollerskate in a Buffalo Herd,” the band closed out its set with “Ants Marching,” which featured a solo intro by Carter Beauford and an interpolation of The Jacksons’ “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground).” The band finally capped off the series with an epic encore, beginning with a bust-out of fan-favorite “Dreamgirl,” which was last staged over five years ago, and concluding with a blend of “All Along the Watchtower” and “Stairway to Heaven.”

Dave Matthews Band will return to the stage tomorrow, April 27, for a performance at Dublin, Ireland’s 3 Arena, then stage four final dates in the European Tour before kicking off its US summer tour on May 22. For more information on the band’s upcoming engagements, visit davematthewsband.com.

Watch a fan-recorded video of Robben Ford’s sit-in with Dave Matthews Band below.

Setlists via dmbalmanac.com.