On September 2nd and 3rd, Umphrey’s McGee will perform live for its latest virtual concert experience, Wrapped In The Round. The two full concerts will see the jam mainstay performing in the round as the band interprets fan-submitted Stew Art (S2) themes in real time.
Prior to each Umphrey’s McGee Wrapped In The Round show, fans will be able to submit themes that the band will then pick at random from a bowl throughout the concert to guide its improvisation. Fans are given one S2 theme per ticket purchase, and can also give additional suggestions by making a donation via PayPal.
Prior to the concert on September 3rd, Umphrey’s will also host a 30 minute(ish) one-song set for umVIP ticketholders. Upon purchasing one of the limited umVIP tickets, fans will be able to submit a song request for the set, as well as an S2 improv vehicle.
As the band noted in the announcement, “Try not to screw it up, and we’ll do the same.” VIP ticketholders will also receive an MP3 download of the set after its completion.
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The “S2” concept has been a longstanding tradition for Umphrey’s McGee that gets pulled out on special occasions. The “Stew Art” concept was born from the band’s “Stewart” improvisations, which involve the players using hand signals and other non-verbal forms of communication to incorporate certain ideas, including pre-written or rehearsed keys, chords, and musical themes.
Out of that idea came the “Stew Art” series, eventually shortened to “S2,” a special type of Umphrey’s set in which the band improvises around ideas submitted by fans via text message. The audience’s ideas are are then voted on in real-time by the crowd, effectively placing creative control over the direction of the jam in the fans’ hands.
These concept sets gave way to the band’s beloved UMBowl concerts, at which one set or “quarter” of the show is always an S2 set. UMBowl had been set to return in an updated format in May before the pandemic forced the stoppage of virtually all live concerts. Now, fans will get their chance for some S2 input in a virtual setting with Wrapped In The Round.
Serving as a follow-up to Umphrey’s McGee’s Live In The Boondocks streaming series from June, Wrapped In The Round will once again see the band experimenting with the conventional concert format. In addition to the change in performance formatting, the band also noted that it will be “utilizing a myriad of different production techniques with our friends at TourGigs.”
To order one or both nights of the Umphrey’s McGee Wrapped In The Round virtual concerts, or for more information and exclusive merch, click here.
