Billy Strings Goes Electric with Widespread Panic During Night One of Three in Atlanta 

Photo by Tim Bottchen

On December 29, Widespread Panic commenced the first of three concerts at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta. As part of their build to the New Year, the ensemble kept an ace up their collective sleeve, submitting a heavy offering of best-ofs while narrowing in on the guest artist’s formal introduction and arrival of bluegrass heavyweight and guitar hero, Billy Strings. The extended sit-in measured longer than Strings’ previous reunion with Widespread Panic, which occurred back in June, during the host’s Chicago Theatre run, with the musician trading in his typical acoustic axe for something a little more electric during Monday night’s on-stage exchange. 

Widespread Panic, John Bell, Dave Schools, Jimmy Herring, Domingo Ortiz, JoJo Hermann, and Duane Trucks, positioned brute.’s “Let’s Get Down to Business” in the concert’s first position, before following up with a series of originals which took shape as the Bell sang scorcher “Makes Sense to Me,” proceeded by “One Arm Steve,” and “Little By Little.” The group broke pace from performing originals to delivering a series of covers, taking on Neil Young’s message of perseverance via “Walk On,” which ran into Vic Chesnutt’s “Sleeping Man” and “Aunt Avis.” On the other side of the borrowed tunes, the group retrieved “Rebirtha” into “Conrad” to cap set one. 

“Little Kin” opened the second set and was trailed by “Machine,” as well as “Barstools and Dreamers” with Sly and the Family Stone’s “Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin” insertion before “Goodpeople” bumped into “Dark Bar.” The band reprised “Goodpeople” before leaving the sequence behind and welcoming Strings front and center. Strings’ sit-in exemplified his status as a band fan and the effort he had put into learning pieces of the group’s repertoire, with no repeats between his Chicago sit-in and last night’s Atlanta contributions. 

During Strings’ latest live engagement with Widespread Panic, he began his sit-in with a piece from Robert Johnson’s original songbook on “Stop Breakin’ Down Blues.” The track simmered with joint force from the band and their guest, and continued with expanded might during a ricochet of “Fishwater” and “Surprise Valley.” Next, Widespread led Strings into “Blackout Blues,” an all-out back-and-forth between players and high-flying exchange for players and audience alike. 

The joint entertainment ensued during the concert’s encore with Strings returning to the stage to help the band with their final songs: covers of The Dillards’ “There Is a Time” and Buffalo Springfield’s “Mr. Soul.” All said and done, Widespread Panic’s first of three nights on stage in Atlanta continued their legacy of high-profile collaborations steeped in instrumental conversations among the players.

Widespread Panic’s ensuing concerts, tonight, Tuesday, Dec. 30, and tomorrow, Wednesday, Dec. 31, are sold out. For more information, visit widespreadpanic.com. 

Scroll down to view last night’s setlist. 

Widespread Panic 

The Fox Theatre – Atlanta

Dec. 29, 2025 

Set I: Let’s Get Down To Business, Makes Sense To Me, One Arm Steve, Little By Little, Walk On > Sleeping Man, Aunt Avis > Rebirtha > Conrad

Set II: Little Kin, Machine, Barstools and Dreamers (with Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), Good People > Dark Bar > Good People, Party At Your Mama’s House > Stop Breakin’ Down Blues*, Fishwater* > Surprise Valley* > Fishwater* > Surprise Valley*, Blackout Blues*

Encore: There is a Time*, Mr. Soul*

Notes: 

* With Billy Strings 

Setlist and notes via Widespread Panic’s official Instagram.