After kicking off its winter tour with a nearly hour-long “The Other One” jam to honor Bob Weir, Spafford continued the tour’s Southern leg with another standout performance at The Basement East in Nashville featuring a surprise guest appearance by hometown hero Daniel Donato.

The evening began with a trio of extended jams: first a 14+ minute “Double Time” that built from slinky funk to rapid drum and bass to high-voltage rock; then an upbeat “Broken Wing” that soared clear past the 25-minute mark; and finally a cascading “Windmill” jam that left fans wanting more even after 18 minutes.

Then, at the end of the first set, the band welcomed Donato for a funky 12-minute rendition of “Ain’t That Wrong”, marking the first time he has shared the stage with Spafford. Donato fit right in, complementing the infectious groove with lead melodies and engaging in musical conversation with guitarist Brian Moss. The collaboration added a local flavor to the evening while underscoring the communal spirit that defines the jam scene.

Spafford With Daniel Donato – “Ain’t That Wrong” – 1/16/26

After a poem from the band’s namesake Chuck “Spafford” Johnson, Spafford returned for a second set anchored by a massive 20-minute “Electric Taco Stand”. The band also showcased its knack for reimagining unexpected covers, delivering Scissor Sisters‘ “Take Your Mama” and an uptempo version of Stone Temple Pilots‘ “Plush”, the latter flowing into a 22-minute “The Postman” to close the set. A funky “Frog Gossip” jam capped the evening in the encore slot.

Watch pro-shot video of the entire concert below or scroll down for full-show audio.

Spafford’s winter tour continues this week with four shows across Texas, including stops in Houston, Austin, and Dallas, before heading to Florida in February and up the East Coast in March. Find tickets and tour dates here.

Spafford – Basement East – Nashville, TN – 1/16/26 (Full Show)

Spafford – Basement East – Nashville, TN – 1/16/26

 

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Setlist: Spafford | Basement East | Nashville, TN | 1/16/26
Set 1: Double Time, Broken Wing -> Windmill, Ain’t That Wrong [1], Chuck’s Dream (“Unfinished”)
Set 2: Take Your Mama (Scissor Sisters), Electric Taco Stand, Plush (Stone Temple Pilots) -> The Postman
Encore: Frog Gossip
Notes:
[1] w/ Daniel Donato on guitar