Widespread Panic Push Panic En La Playa Forward with Night Three Performance
Photo: Dino Perrucci
On Thursday evening, Widespread Panic delivered its third full-length live performance in a series of four scheduled during Panic En La Playa, the host’s 13th annual destination concert event, held at the Hard Rock Hotel in Riviera Maya, Mexico. During last night’s display, the ensemble continued laying the groundwork, refining its comfort level with guitarist Nick Johnson, who is filling in for Jimmy Herring as the longtime member steps back from the stage to focus on his health.
Widespread Panic’s latest live appearance leaned into tracks derived from the ‘90s and early aughts, with an emphasis on material off their self-titled album, beginning with set one opener, “Pigeons.” Next, the Don’t Tell The Band-featured “Action Man” was performed as a stand-alone, before their initial sequence and first cover of the night, Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl” > “Pleas” > “Don’t Wanna Lose You.” They positioned Little Women’s “Chainsaw City” ahead of pairing “The Last Straw” into “You Got Yours.”
“Little Kin” served as the launch pad for set two and ran head-on into John Bell’s siege of “Makes Sense To Me.” After submitting the title track from their debut studio album, Space Wrangler, the group propelled into a non-stop run of material, summoning “I Walk On Guilded Splinters,” which ran into a pocket of improvisation and drums before “Diner,” J.J. Cale’s “Ride Me High,” and “Tie Your Shoes.” The segue ensued with a “Ride Me High” reprise before the set two closer, “Love Tractor.”
For Thursday night’s encore, Widespread Panic delivered “I’m Not Alone,” followed by Skip James’ “I’m So Glad.” Tonight, the band will return to the stage for their fourth and final performance during the destination concert event. Following the host’s time on the main stage, Eggy will take the late-night slot and keep the music going after midnight.
Scroll down to view Widespread Panic’s setlist from Thursday, Jan. 22. For more information on Panic En La Playa, including today’s schedule, follow this link.
Widespread Panic
Hard Rock Hotel – Riviera Maya, Mexico
Jan. 22, 2026
Set I: Pigeons, Action Man, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl > Pleas > Don’t Wanna Lose You, Chainsaw City, The Last Straw > You Got Yours (67 mins)
Set II: Little Kin > Makes Sense To Me, Space Wrangler, I Walk On Guilded Splinters > Jam > Mini Drums > Diner > Ride Me High > Tie Your Shoes > Ride Me High > Love Tractor (84 mins)
Enc.: I’m Not Alone, I’m So Glad (13 mins)
