Last August, beloved jam band Widespread Panic understandably had to let down their fans by cancelling a run of shows, most likely due to health issues faced by lead guitarist Jimmy Herring. Milwaukee got caught up in those nixed shows but will give it another go later this year, when Widespread Panic visits the Riverside Theater for three nights, Oct. 24-26.
The announcement continues a tradition that stretches back nearly two decades, as well as a more recent habit of surrounding neighbors booking similarly minded entertainment to create a more festive environment. Every day will include a free outdoor street party on Wisconsin Avenue that starts at 4 p.m. with music at 5 p.m., and an after-party at Mo’s Irish Pub. Here’s that schedule:
- Friday, Oct. 24 — Round Trip (street party) and Houseplant (Mo’s Irish Pub)
- Saturday, Oct. 25 — Magoo (street party) and Houseplant (Mo’s Irish Pub)
- Sunday, Oct. 26 — Kyle Hollingsworth of String Cheese Incident (street party) and Neighbor (Mo’s Irish Pub)
As for the main attraction, tickets for all three nights of Widespread Panic at the Riverside Theater go on sale at 10 a.m. this Friday, June 13, online and at the Riverside box office.
Artist bio
Widespread Panic was formed by original members vocalist/guitarist John "JB" Bell, bassist Dave Schools and late guitarist Michael Houser, who lived together in a suburban house in Athens, Ga., where they met as students not far from the University of Georgia campus. The band's lineup was solidified with the addition of drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz and keyboard player John "JoJo" Hermann and Duane Trucks on drums.
Over three decades have passed since forming their original lineup, yet Widespread Panic is still hungry to be the best band they can be, every single night, for their loyal fan base. Their accomplishments over that time are well-documented and include 12 studio albums, 43 live albums and more than 3 million copies sold while earning a reputation as one of the most successful touring acts in the world.
Widespread Panic has broken attendance records at major venues throughout the country, including a staggering 75 sold-out shows at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colo. A banner hangs in the rafters at Philips Arena in Atlanta, where the band has 18 sellouts, with records also set at Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, Oak Mountain Amphitheater near Birmingham, Ala., and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, where Panic has headlined eight times and broke the single-day attendance record with a crowd of 63,000.
To commemorate Widespread Panic's 25th anniversary in 2011, the State of Georgia's Senate and House of Representatives passed resolutions honoring the group for their music, service, charity and longevity, while they were also inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
"We acknowledge this is a milestone few groups get to achieve,” JB admits about their remarkable longevity. "It's like Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea. Every time we go out there, we learn more tricks, bring that knowledge with us, and then apply it. We're way more experienced, focused and to the point, but still willing to stretch out without wandering too much.”
