After a week of jamming on the Allman Brothers Band with Gov’t Mule, Tedeschi Trucks Band called up Steve Winwood to open a pair of shows in Bridgeport, CT. For Friday’s opening night at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, the Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi-led ensemble brought the Traffic guitarist out for a tribute to Sly & The Family Stone.
Tedeschi Trucks Band’s ongoing Live in 25 tour is a testament to the 12-piece band’s diverse influences. Last week, Trucks was revisiting his Allman Brothers lineage with former bandmate Warren Haynes, then just a few days later, the band teamed up with a classic rock hero—one who helped establish the supergroup format with Blind Faith that TTB would later follow—for a tribute to funk-psych fusion pioneers Sly & The Family Stone.
TTB called Winwood out midway through Friday’s set, following a run of originals “Crazy Cryin'”, “Ain’t That Something”, “Devil Be Gone”, “It’s So Heavy”, and “Do I Look Worried”, plus Chuck Willis‘ “I Feel So Bad”. As Winwood strolled on stage and Tedeschi showered him in praise, Tyler Greenwell‘s cymbal announced “Sing A Simple Song” before vocalist Mike Mattison stunningly emulated Cynthia Robinson‘s original spoken word introduction of the titular phrase.
One of the many marvels of the Tedeschi Trucks Band is how a dozen musicians playing with total precision can make the music sound so loose and comfortable. Winwood added some guitar leads and even a run on vocals to “Sing A Simple Song”, before the band turned on a dime into “I Want To Take You Higher”, which could be interpreted as a reference to the seemingly limitless upper register of Mattison’s falsetto. Winwood’s sit-in proved to be a one-and-done, as he did not join the band when they returned to Bridgeport the following night.
Watch Steve Winwood join Tedeschi Trucks Band for a Sly & The Family Stone medley in Bridgeport, along with some other select videos from the run and photos from David Gray. Tedeschi Trucks Band will appear next at Ohana Fest in Dana Point, CA, ahead of a special tripleheader in Macon, GA, with Gov’t Mule and Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel. Find TTB tickets and tour dates here.
Tedeschi Trucks Band, Steve Winwood — “Sing a Simple Song” > “I Want to Take You Higher” (Sly & the Family Stone) — 9/12/25
[Video: Gregory M]
Setlist: Tedeschi Trucks Band | Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater | Bridgeport, CT | 9/12/25
Set: Crazy Cryin’, Ain’t That Something, Devil Be Gone, It’s So Heavy, I Feel So Bad (Chuck Willis), Do I Look Worried, Sing a Simple Song (Sly & the Family Stone) [1] > I Want to Take You Higher (Sly & the Family Stone) [1], Looking for Answers, Stand Back (The Allman Brothers Band), Learn How to Love, Isaac/Kebbi Jam, Shame, Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right (Bob Dylan), How Blue Can You Get? (Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers), I Walk on Guilded Splinters (Dr. John), Bound for Glory
Encore: Let’s Go Get Stoned (The Coasters)
[1] w/ Steve Winwood
Setlist: Tedeschi Trucks Band | Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater | Bridgeport, CT | 9/13/25
Set: The Letter (The Box Tops), I Got You, Who Am I, D.M.S.R. (Prince), Part of Me, It Ain’t Fair (Ben E. King), Idle Wind, Drums > Idle Wind Reprise, Just Won’t Burn, Future Soul, Isaac/Kebbi Jam, Let Me Get By [1], Down in the Flood (Bob Dylan), Angel From Montgomery (John Prine) > Sugaree (Jerry Garcia), Midnight in Harlem, Made Up Mind, I Want More > Soul Sacrifice (Santana)
Encore: With a Little Help From My Friends (The Beatles)
[1] w/ “Manic Depression” (Jimi Hendrix) tease
