On Thursday night, Widespread Panic rewarded its patient Midwest fanbase with a show comprised almost entirely of originals songs on its second of three nights at the Chicago Theatre amid a run rescheduled from February 2024… oh, and some guy named Billy Strings—who they say is an acoustic guitar player but sounded just fine on an electric—joined the band for the entire second set and encore and blew the dang roof off the place.

After Billy’s his bandmate, Jarrod Walker, sat in with the beloved Athens, GA rockers in Nashville last month, Billy had surely been raring for a turn to spread Panic to the masses with John Bell, Dave Schools, Jimmy Herring, JoJo Hermann, Duane Trucks, and Sunny Ortiz. He didn’t have to wait long.

Ever since Widespread Panic announced its Chicago dates in February and fans of the band (Billy Strings included) realized that they overlapped with Billy Strings’ Rosemont run, a Panic/Billy collab in the Windy City has seemed inevitable. The stars aligned in glorious fashion, allowing Billy Strings to sit in with one of his self-proclaimed favorite bands… and the subsequent jams were about as good as it gets.

Related: Widespread Panic Makes Long-Awaited Return To Chicago To Cure The Midweek Blues [Videos]

First, set one: JoJo settled into his multi-tiered nook of keyboards and introduced “Greta”. Jimmy Herring carried the momentum into a scorchin’ “Worry” before slowing it down for a trot through “Space Wrangler” and “I’m Not Alone”. Schools grabbed the wheel next for a ride down the forlorn streets of “Aunt Avis” before knocking “Rebirtha” out of the park—like the Cubs in ’16, not the White Sox in ’24.

Widespread Panic remained within its own catalog on jaunty “Better Off” before JoJo and JB traded vocals on an emotionally fraught “Don’t Wanna Lose You”. Rounding third and heading home, the Panics closed out the first frame with a hard-hitting “Halloween Face”.

When the group returned from set break, they were seven instead of six. Billy Strings took his spot, strapped on a PRS, and held it down like he’s there every night for the rest of the performance. Following the lead of the guitar wizard to his right, he managed to make his presence felt early on both guitar and vocals as he traded verses with JB on a set-opening “Fishing”—a tune about his favorite pastime.

Duane Trucks barreled into “Bust It Big” next before Widespread MF Strings turned the corner and set the table for a slide-heavy “Ribs and Whiskey”. JoJo and Schools locked into a lengthy tease of The Band’s “Shape I’m In” while Jimmy Herring and Billy Strings traded incendiary guitar riffs, each peak rising higher than the last.

Following a brief pause, the stunned audience realized that Billy wasn’t going anywhere. As they scrambled to collect their wits, the sinister septet eased into “Pickin’ Up The Pieces”, once again featuring the new guy on vocals. They roared through the opening half of “Surprise Valley” from there before splitting the song open and injecting the first two covers of the night, P-Funk’s “Red Hot Mama” and Winston Riley’s “Arleen”. JB stayed saucy in his backwards cap while giving the latter tune a Chicago-inspired improvised rap.

Teases flowed as a snippet of “Third Stone from the Sun” bled into the back half of a “Surprise Valley” that was also heavily infused with a “Fishing” reprise. Once more, Jimmy and Billy dueled like bounty hunters at high noon, each eager to cash in on the price on the other’s head.

JB took the vanguard to introduce the first verse of “Chilly Water” solo before the other six musicians onstage added to the raging bonfire. Jimmy Herring and Billy resembled MJ and Pippen as they weaved around one another with effortless grace, one setting up the other, then vice versa.

There were surely no doubts in the audience that Billy Strings would return with Widespread Panic for the encore, but the howls they levied as the seven musicians took their places one more time asserted the fans’ gratitude for the still-ongoing summit.

To begin the curtain call, Billy lent vocals on “All Time Low”, a song that he has often covered during his performances. Then, to cap a monumental night, BS and JB shared vocals on a cathartic run through Neil Young classic “Rockin’ In The Free World” to close out the show. Considering the ongoing global tumult, this song—as well as the covers from last night (“For What It’s Worth” & “Life During Wartime”)—seemed to leave little mystery as to why they were selected.

Backwards-hat JB had last word, and used it to voice his humble appreciation for the evening’s special guest. “Billy Strings, ladies and gentlemen,” he cooed. “Thank you for a delightful evening”.

Panic rocks on in the free world on Friday night for its Chicago Theatre finale. Then, you never know—Billy Strings plays Allstate Arena on Saturday night, after the Panic run wraps up. Here’s hoping the gentlemen from Georgia stop by to return the favor.

Below, watch a handful of crowd-shot clips from the Widespread Panic/Billy Strings collab in Chicago, view a handful of photos from the night via Josh Timmermans, and read the full setlist via PanicStream.

Find tickets to upcoming Widespread Panic tour dates here. Find tickets to upcoming Billy Strings tour dates here.

Setlist [via PanicStream]: Widespread Panic | Chicago Theatre | Chicago, IL | 6/5/25
Set One: Greta > Worry, Space Wrangler, I’m Not Alone > Aunt Avis, Rebirtha > Better Off, Don’t Wanna Lose You, Halloween Face (70 mins)
Set Two: Fishing*, Bust It Big**, Ribs and Whiskey**, Pickin’ Up The Pieces*, Surprise Valley** > Red Hot Mama** > Arleen** > Red Hot Mama** > Surprise Valley**, Chilly Water** (87 mins)
Encore: All Time Low*, Rockin’ In The Free World (Neil Young) * (16 mins)
Notes * w/ Billy Strings on guitar & vocals
** w/ Billy Strings on guitar
– LTP ‘Rockin In The Free World’ 12/31/22 Nashville (72 shows)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Billy Strings (@billystrings)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Widespread Panic (@widespreadpanic)