On Friday night, the 2018 edition of LOCKN’ Festival continued to exceed fans’ lofty expectations with an evening of top-notch performances and exciting collaborations both planned and unexpected. One of the Friday LOCKN’ lineup’s defining moments came by way of hard-rocking jam favorites Umphrey’s McGee, who performed their third of three sets on the weekend as the sun set over the farm.

With Jason Bonham, the son of legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, billed as a special guest for the set, fans expected Umphrey’s to get the Led out for their Friday set. Rather than jump straight into Zeppelin territory, the band emerged with their regular lineup in tow, starting their final LOCKN’ set with business as usual. After opening with it’s not us track “Half Delayed”, the band kick-started “Plunger”, which made its way into “Walletsworth” before segueing back into “Plunger” and, finally, moving into another it’s not us single, “The Silent Type”.

Live Umphrey’s staple “JaJunk” kept the crowd dancing from there, before Brendan Bayliss welcomed out his “new favorite person in the world, Jason Bonham!” (01:59:20 on webcast playback). To begin his extended sit-in, which would last for the remainder of the set, Bonham helped Umphrey’s McGee through “Conduit”, the longtime setlist stalwart which appeared on the band’s 2011 studio album, Death By Stereo.

From there, the band began a run of Led Zeppelin classics with “Good Times, Bad Times”, drummer Kris Myers owning Robert Plant‘s vocal part as Bonham recreated his father’s famous drum line and Jake Cinninger nailed Jimmy Page‘s recognizable guitar solo with gusto. Cinninger stepped to the mic next, leading the band plus Bonham through Houses of the Holy track “Dancing Days”. Continuing through the Zeppelin songbook, the band brought out a surprise special guest, former American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, to add vocals and harmonica to “When The Levee Breaks” (02:15:10), marking Umphrey’s McGee’s first performance of the tune since 7/7/12 (608 shows). Next, Bayliss took the reins for a rendition of “The Song Remains The Same”.

As the band teased “The Rain Song”, Brendan Bayliss announced their final special guest with a proclamation that never fails to excite, no matter where or when it turns up: “That’s Derek Trucks, everybody. Let’s have some fun” (2:28:50). With Bonham and Andy Farag manning percussion duties and Trucks going toe-to-toe with Cinninger on dual lead guitar, Myers stepped out from behind his drum kit to lead the band through Led Zeppelin II hit “Whole Lotta Love” (their first in 444 shows) to close the set.

You can also watch selected clips of Umphrey’s McGee’s Friday evening set below:

Umphrey’s McGee – “Half Delayed” [Pro-Shot]

[Video: Relix]

Umphrey’s McGee w/ Jason Bonham – “Good Times, Bad Times”

[Video: Gregory Marcus]

Check out a handful of photos from Umphrey’s McGee’s set with Jason Bonham, Taylor Hicks, and more below courtesy of Dave Vann.

You can stream all of the remaining sets at LOCKN’ this weekend here.

Setlist: Umphrey’s McGee w/ Special Guests | LOCKN’ Festival | Arrington, VA | 8/24/18

One Set: Half Delayed, Plunger > Walletsworth > Plunger > The Silent Type, JaJunk, Conduit[1], Good Times Bad Times[2], Dancing Days[1], When the Levee Breaks[3], The Song Remains the Same[1], Whole Lotta Love[4]

[1] with Jason Bonham on drums
[2] debut, Led Zeppelin; with Jason Bonham on drums
[3] with Jason Bonham on drums and Taylor Hicks on harmonica and vocals
[4] with Jason Bonham on drums, Derek Trucks on guitar, and Kris on vocals (no drums)

Notes:
with Witchy Woman (The Eagles) tease before When the Levee Breaks
with The Rain Song (Led Zeppelin) tease before Whole Lotta Love
last When the Levee Breaks 7/7/12 (608 shows)
last Whole Lotta Love 2/14/14 (444 shows)