Zac Brown Band headlined Morrison, CO’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Monday and Tuesday and used the elevated space to showcase a range of material. During his first set on Monday, Brown invited out his opening act Grace Potter to handle lead vocals on The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black,” which he initially recorded for the 2023 tribute set Stoned Cold Country. Brown brought Potter back to the stage next day as well for her own Nocturals track “The Lion the Beast the Beat,” a tune that has served as the basis for several collaborative moments this run.
At Red Rocks, the crossover country star also performed “Butterfly,” a selection from his 2025 LP Love & Fear that features Dolly Parton, as a tribute to the singer, who recently passed away. (The next day, at Belmont University’s Fisher Center, Brown played “Butterfly” at the CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton multi-act tribute show again, dueting with Parton’s vocal track.) In addition, on Tuesday, Brown also pulled out John Prine’s “All the Best,” from 1991’s The Missing Years, for the first known time during a ZBB performance since 2021. The tune was offered as a solo acoustic number.
It has been a busy few weeks of collaboration for Brown. Earlier in the month, Potter opened for the ensemble at Greenville, SC’s Bon Secours Wellness Arena on October 9 and sat in for “The Lion the Beast the Beat.” Fiddler Casey Driessen, who lives in nearby Asheville, NC, also joined in on a medley of “I’m Working on a Building” and “Free Born Man.” Likewise, Potter appeared on a handful of cuts, including “Tennessee Whiskey” with Zac Brown Band at Knoxville, TN’s Thompson-Boling Arena on October 8.
Looking ahead, Zac Brown Band’s Love & Fear Tour will continue at Minneapolis, MN’s Target Center tomorrow.
