Umphrey’s McGee will return to Chicago, IL on November 11th and 12th for UMBowl IX, the band announced on Sunday. The 2022 edition of the group’s long-running interactive concert series will take place at the Riviera Theatre.
This fall will mark UMBowl’s return to the band’s home turf after taking the show took place at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY last year. UMBowl VIII, which was originally scheduled for 2020 and postponed due to the pandemic, signaled the first two-night installment of Umphrey’s McGee’s football-themed concerts.
While UM did not detail this year’s programming, the band has once again promised three sets each night. Last year’s UMBowl run began with a “Choose Your Own Adventure”-style first set on October 8th prior to the second set of acoustic songs voted on by fans. Umphrey’s McGee then closed the first night with a “Band’s Choice” set devised by Brendan Bayliss (guitar, vocals), Jake Cinninger (guitar, vocals), Joel Cummins (keys), Ryan Stasik (bass), Kris Myers (drums), and Andy Farag (percussion).
Returning for the first-ever second night of UMBowl on October 9th, 2021, the evening began with a “Stew Art Event” first set where fans guided the improvisation by voting on thematic prompts by text in real-time such as “Jane Fonda Workout”, “Reggae Against the Machine”, “Zappa Goes to a Rave”, “Rockabilly Christmas”, “Who Dosed Debussy”, and more. The second set was in an “All Night Wrong” format, with covers voted on by fans including the debuts of Pink Floyd‘s “Mother” and Smashing Pumpkins‘ “1979”. Finally, UMBowl VIII closed out with another “Band’s Choice” set before the band finished the run with encore debuts of Ice Cube‘s “It Was A Good Day” into The Isley Brothers‘ “Between The Sheets”.
Stay tuned for ticketing information to UMBowl IX from Umphrey’s McGee at Chicago’s Riveria Theatre on November 11th and 12th. For a complete list of upcoming Umphrey’s McGee tour dates, head here.