Following an unprecedented trifecta of shows that saw Daniel Donato celebrate his new album, Horizons, at Grimey’s record store, make his headlining debut at Ryman Auditorium, and return to where it all started at Robert’s Western World all in one day, Cosmic Country fans eagerly awaited what Friday would bring when the guitarist visited Manchester Music Hall in Lexington, KY. At a crossroads where honky-tonk met improvisational jams, fans were not disappointed.

Daniel Donato took the stage with an immediate sense of purpose: to deliver an electrifying performance showcasing his lightning-fast picking and playful spirit. Playing to the room’s energy, the night unfolded with a packed setlist of Donato originals and surprise covers, including the debut of Hank Williams‘ “You Win Again”. Backed by his tight-knit bandmates, Nathan “Sugar Legg” Aronowitz (keys/guitar/vocals), Will “Mustang” McGee (bass/vocals), and Will “Bronco” Clark (drums/vocals), Donato offered up the euphoric sound that he and his band have so uniquely cultivated, incorporating a full expanse of influences.

The evening kicked off with Donato putting his own stamp on folk traditional “Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms”, popularized by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. Though homages to classic country are baked into Donato’s DNA by way of nearly 500 shows at famed Nashville honky-tonk Robert’s Western World, the 30-year-old also has a growing cache of originals stashed in his saddlebag.

Daniel peppered in “Translation” and “Fortunate Sparrow” off his latest album, plus oldie “Rose in a Garden” and newbie “Lay Low Lucy” which debuted back in July but didn’t make it to Horizons, amid Williams’ “You Win Again” and traditional “Arkansas Traveler”. The first half of the show concluded on a high note as the band members exchanged knowing glances throughout boundless musical solos and familiar riffs during an instrumental cover of “Ghost Riders in the Sky”.

A preamble of what lay in store for the balance of the evening, set two commenced with “Prairie Spin”—another original off Horizons—before transitioning seamlessly into the band’s expansive rendition of J.J. Cale’s “Travelin’ Light”. The remainder of the second set was heavy with originals, including “Tell Me I’m A Lover” with Aronowitz taking the lead on vocals, “Always Been A Lover”, and “Playing Your Game”.

Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country — “Prairie Spin” > “Travelin’ Light” (J.J. Cale) — 8/29/25

[Video: MB1 Music]

Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country — “Always Been A Lover” — 8/29/25

[Video: MB1 Music]

The temperature in the dimly lit room continued to heat up as Donato infused his captivating flair on a galloping cover of country songwriting duo Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant‘s “Boogie Man”. But the standout moment from the show was a contender for the all-time versions of “Down Bedford”, where extended jams continuously unfolded into uncharted territory.

Fortunately, the night didn’t end there. Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country gifted the audience a ten-minute encore, paying homage to bluegrass legends The Stanley Brothers‘ “Riding That Midnight Train” and Bill Browning-penned, Grateful Dead and Jimmie Skinner-favored “Dark Hollow”—a testament to both Donato’s reverence for the roots of country music and his psychedelic forefathers. Wrapping up the evening just after 11 p.m., the crowd dispersed into the Lexington night with a lingering afterglow of a show that was, in every sense, truly cosmic.

Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country tour continues this week with a string of dates alongside Railroad Earth and Yonder Mountain String Band. Find tickets and a full list of dates on his website. nugs subscribers can follow along with regularly uploaded audio and the occasional subscriber-exclusive video livestream. Not a nugs subscriber yet? Start your seven-day free trial here. [Editor’s note: Live For Live Music is a nugs affiliate. Ordering your subscription via the links on this page helps to support our work covering the world of live music. Thank you for reading!]

Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country — Manchester Music Hall — Lexington, KY — 8/29/25 — Full Audio

Setlist: Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country | Manchester Music Hall | Lexington, KY | 8/29/25

Set One: Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms (Traditional), Translation, You Win Again [1] (Hank Williams), Lay Low Lucy > Arkansas Traveler (Traditional), Fortunate Sparrow, Rose In a Garden > Ghost Riders in The Sky (Stan Jones) [2]
Set Two: Prairie Spin > Travelin’ Light (J. J. Cale), Tell Me I’m A Lover, Always Been A Lover, Playing Your Game  > Boogie Man (Speedy West, Jimmy Bryant), Lady Justice, Down Bedford
Encore: Riding That Midnight Train (The Stanley Brothers), Dark Hollow (Bill Browning)

[1] FTP
[2] Instrumental