Widespread Panic Welcome Chuck Leavell for Covers of The Allman Brothers, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Jimmy Cliff and More at Red Rocks
Widespread Panic, photo by Tim Bottchen
Over the weekend, Widespread Panic returned to Morrison, Colo.’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre to continue their tradition of unmissable summer stagings against stunning views of the Rocky Mountains. With their three shows from June 27-29, the storied Southern jam ensemble expanded their record-holding tally to 75 consecutive sold-out performances at the hallowed venue. To mark the occasion, the band packed their setlists with bust-outs, rare covers, live debuts and extended sit-ins from legendary keyboardist Chuck Leavell every night.
Widespread Panic set off their highly anticipated return to Red Rocks–an annual tradition since 1996–with their tried and true cover of Van Morrison’s “Send Your Mind,” then settled into “Walkin’ (For Your Love),” its counterpart from their 1991 sophomore album. Following further staples like “Cotton Was King” and the newer entry “We Walk Each Other Home,” the band welcomed the iconic Rolling Stones and Allman Brothers Band keyboardist Leavell for his first sit-in of the series, ushering in anthemic covers of Jerry Joseph’s “Climb to Safety,” Vic Chesnutt’s “Blight,” Robert Johnson’s raucous “Stop Breakin’ Down Blues” and David Earle Johnson’s “Time Is Free,” for the first time since May 2022. Leavell had been a friend and frequent collaborator for Panic since 1991, and Friday marked their first shared stage since 2022’s Mempho Music Festival.
Panic’s second set of night one paired more classics like “Porch Song” and “Can’t Get High” with selections from 2024’s Snake Oil King like “Little by Little” and “Small Town,” the latter of which appeared for only its fourth all-time treatment. Just past the frame’s halfway point, Leavell returned to bolster Widespread Panic’s fifth-ever cover of Jimmy Cliff’s “The Harder They Come,” which they performed last in Sept. 2015, as well as Bloodkin’s “Mercy,” “Fishwater” and an encore of The Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t always Get What You Want” and Cream’s “I’m So Glad,” both of which saw the special guest assuming principal vocaland keyboard duties.
When Saturday night rolled in, Widespread Panic once again turned to their 1991 self-titled to set the show in motion with “Barstools and Dreamers.” In keeping with night one’s established format, the first half of each of the band’s sets included more crucial originals like “Holden Oversoul,” “Drums” and the first “Give” since May 2023, while the second half welcomed Leavell for a electrifying twin-keyboard attack on fan favorites like “Ain’t Life Grand” and covers including Willie Dixon’s “Tail Dragger,” Johnson’s iconic “Me and The Devil Blues” and the explosive second set closer of the Allman Brothers Band’s “Jessica,” which was WSP’s third treatment of the Southern rock staple and their first since their 2022 Mempho team-up with Leavell. For an encore, the band and their guest tore through “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” and “Chilly Water.”
On Sunday’s idyllic summer evening, Widespread Panic greeted a crowd that had travelled from far and wide to experience their 75th consecutive Red Rocks sell-out with 1993’s Everyday standout “Wondering.” This warmly propulsive intro catapulted the group into a segued sprint through “The Last Straw,” “Up All Night,” “Driving Song” and “Pilgrims,” followed by their fourth all-time performance of Snake Oil King’s “Life as a Tree.” With the stiff cocktail of “Airplane” and “Action Man” that punctuated the first frame, the band earned a roaring response to their only all-originals set of the weekend–a testament to the power of their music, even sans-surprises.
For their sixth and final set of the series, the group took a different approach. After racing through setlist staples like “Pigeons,” “Pleas” and “Conrad,” Widespread Panic once again welcomed Leavell for a classic from his repertoire, this time lighting into their second-ever take on The Rolling Stones’ “Dead Flowers.” Leavell, who has toured with the Stones since 1982, led WSP’s cover on vocals and keys, 10 years after he debuted it with the jamband in December 2015. Following a set-closing mix of “Surprise Valley” and “Tie Your Shoes,” Leavell joined the band again in the encore for their debut treatment of Pink Floyd’s The Wall essential “Comfortably Numb,” closing out the historic series on an anthemic high note.
Widespread Panic will return to the spotlight for a three-night residency at Asheville, N.C.’s ExploreAsheville.com Arena from July 24-26. Find tickets and more information on the band’s 2025 live itinerary here.
6/27/25:
Set I: Send Your Mind, Walkin’ (For Your Love), Cotton Was King, Henry Parsons Died, We Walk Each Other Home, Climb To Safety*, Time Is Free* > Blight* > Stop Breakin’ Down Blues*
Set II: Porch Song, Can’t Get High > Little By Little, Small Town > Disco > Second Skin > Goin’ Out West, The Harder They Come*, Mercy* > Fishwater*
Encore: You Can’t Always Get What You Want**, I’m So Glad**
Notes:
* with Chuck Leavell on keyboards
** with Chuck Leavell on keyboards/vocals
[Last ‘The Harder They Come’ – 09/12/15, 355 shows]
6/28/25:
Set I: Barstools and Dreamers, Sharon, Junior, Holden Oversoul, Shut Up And Drive, Goodpeople, Tail Dragger*, Blue Indian*, Ain’t Life Grand*
Set II: Knocking ‘Round The Zoo, You Got Yours, Jack, Give, Protein Drink > Sewing Machine, Papa’s Home > Drums > Papa’s Home* > Me And The Devil Blues*, Jessica*
Encore: Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys* > Chilly Water*
Notes:
* with Chuck Leavell on keyboards
6/29/25:
Set I: Wondering > The Last Straw > Up All Night > Driving Song > Pilgrims > Driving Song, Life As A Tree, Space Wrangler, Airplane > Action Man
Set II: Pigeons, Pleas > King Baby > Saint Ex, Conrad, Dead Flowers*, Ribs And Whiskey**, Surprise Valley** > Tie Your Shoes** > Surprise Valley**
Encore: Honky Red, Comfortably Numb*, End Of The Show
Notes:
* with Chuck Leavell on keyboards/vocals
** with Chuck Leavell on keyboards
[Only ‘Comfortably Numb’; Last ‘Dead Flowers’ – 12/29/15, 349 shows]
