Last night, Widespread Panic began its annual New Year’s Eve run in Atlanta, raising the bar and setting a new gold standard for “night one” with an extended sit-in from Billy Strings. ATL’s Fox Theatre was selected to host the festivities, marking a homecoming for the Georgia-bred rockers who have rang in the new year in Hotlanta for 14 of the last 20 years. This year felt extra meaningful after returning to the stage on Valentine’s Day in Atlantic City after an eight-month hiatus while guitarist Jimmy Herring underwent treatment for tonsillar cancer.
Bloodkin, Neil Young, and three Vic Chesnutt covers dominated the first set before Billy Strings jumped in to slice and dice through the last hour of live music as a seven-piece band. This marked the fourth time the hot-handed young guitar slinger sat in with Widespread Panic and the second time this year.
Rolling up his sleeves, John Bell wished the audience a “Good evenin’” before settling into Vic Chesnutt’s “Let’s Get Down to Business”. The late songwriter and WSP’s musical peer passed away on Christmas Day 2009; his memory always weighs heavily on the band this time of year. More Vic material would soon follow.
Without stopping, Panic plunged into Bloodkin’s timeless ripper, “Makes Sense to Me”, completed with an organ-heavy solo from JoJo Hermann’s corner. JB has long switched the song’s original lyrics from “Talking to a Black man from Atlanta” to “from Anywhere,” but The Big Peach was originally the inspiration behind the line.
JoJo exchanged swirling organ sounds for a bawdy piano as he took vocal lead on “One Arm Steve”. Jimmy Herring bared his teeth and ripped flesh at any chance he had during a second consecutive original, “Little by Little”, as well as Neil Young’s “Walk On”. WSP teased a few measures of “Yield Not to Temptation” (a song oft covered by Panic’s spiritual guru, Col. Bruce Hampton, who entered the great beyond after his 70th birthday show on the same stage).
Back into Vic Chesnutt’s repertoire for a pair of tunes, Dave Schools took lead vocals and charged into the boisterous bass-heavy riffs on “Sleeping Man” before JB donned a crown of thorns and sang “Aunt Avis” with forlorn despair. Approaching set break, Widespread Panic returned to its own catalog, segueing into a funky “Rebirtha” and feet-wiggling “Conrad” to close out the first frame.
Following set break, Panic honored the ancient words of wisdom that “Hell hath no fury like a Lil’ Kin set opener,” and it was as true as ever. Barging through the gates of the underworld, Widespread Panic rekindled the blazing fire of sound with an ungodly “Little Kin”. The sharp edges of the instrumental “Machine” cut like broken glass before swaying into the unoccupied real estate near the bartender for a couple rounds of “Barstool and Dreamers”. Completing the song, JB took (Mice) Elf off the Shelf with a glorious serving of Sly & The Family Stone’s “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”.
Flowing ever onward like boats against the current, an extended “Goodpeople” sandwich encapsulated the meats of JoJo’s “Dark Bar”. After steering into the back half of “Goodpeople”, JB donned his slide to meld and twist through the second instrumental of the set, a progressively raging “Party At Your Mama’s House”. Halfway through the 13-minute tune, Billy Strings walks onstage and adds his flavor to the Widespread Panic cookout in Atlanta.
After joining WSP at Ryman Auditorium in 2019 for Panic’s acoustic run, Billy joined them again in 2021 at Mempho Festival, and earlier this year in Chicago. Just like in Chicago, the rising picker would remain onstage for the rest of the show. General Sherman didn’t burn down Atlanta half as badly as WSP and Billy did last night.
Still with slide on hand, JB added a Hound Dog Taylor-inspired “Gimme Back My Wig” rap into a gravelly cover of Robert Johnson’s “Stop Breaking Down” while Billy and Jimmy’s dueling guitars stretched across all dimensions, past, present, and future. Unyielding, the septet weaved “Fishwater” and “Surprise Valley” into a patchwork quilt of delta swamp water tributaries and meandering mountain switchbacks for almost a half-hour of divine intervention. Crashing to the floor, “Blackout Blues” closed out the second set like a last call at the tavern.
To the surprise of nobody, Widespread Panic reemerged for a pair of encores with Billy Strings still in tow. The powerhouse took it back to their first performance together with The Dillards‘ “There Is a Time” before “Mr. Soul”, the second Neil Young cover of the night, concluded the spectacular opening night at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta.
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times. Never miss a Monday show. Thank you, Widespread Panic. Thank you, Billy Strings. This one was truly special. More to come for the Goodpeople…. We’re the lucky ones!
Check out videos of Billy Strings with Widespread Panic in Atlanta below, and revisit this article later in the day for further updates and more in-depth analysis of the show. Panic returns to the Fabulous Fox tonight, December 30th, for its second of three nights. Tickets are sold out, but you can try your luck on CashorTrade, StubHub, or VividSeats. Click below for a gallery of images courtesy of photographer Robert Francis.
Widespread Panic, Billy Strings — “Party At Your Mama’s House Jam” — 12/30/25
[Video: Blake Johnson]
Widespread Panic, Billy Strings — “Stop Breakin’ Down” (Robert Johnson) — 12/30/25
[Video: Blake Johnson]
Widespread Panic, Billy Strings — “Fishwater” > “Surprise Valley” — 12/30/25
[Video: MrTopdogger]
Widespread Panic, Billy Strings — “There Is A Time” (The Dillards) — 12/30/25
[Video: MrTopdogger]
Widespread Panic, Billy Strings — “Mr. Soul” (Buffalo Springfield)— 12/30/25
[Video: Blake Johnson]
Setlist: Widespread Panic | Fox Theatre | Atlanta, GA | 12/30/25
Set One (8:15 p–9:18 p): Let’s Get Down to Business (brute.), Make Sense To Me, One Arm Steve, Little by Little, Walk On (Neil Young) > Sleeping Man (Vic Chesnutt), Aunt Avis (Vic Chesnutt) > Rebirtha, Conrad
Set Two (9:58 p–11:31 p): Little Kin, Machine > Barstools & Dreamers [1], Goodpeople > Dark Bar > Goodpeople, Party at Your Mama’s House [2] > Stop Breakin’ Down (Robert Johnson) [2], Fishwater [2] > Surprise Valley [2] > Fishwater [2] > Surprise Valley [2], Blackout Blues [2]
Encore (11:35p–11:50p): There is a Time (The Dillards) [2], Mr. Soul (Buffalo Springfield) [2]
[1] w/ “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)” rap
[2] w/ Billy Strings
JB – “Billy, Billy, Billy.” end of set 2
“Evenin’ everybody. Let’s warm this place up.” start
