Widespread Panic

Widespread Panic has established themselves as one of the premier jam bands since forming over 30 years ago in Athens, Georgia. Since then they have broken attendance records at major venues and festivals, including 18 sold-out shows at Red Rocks.

As they’ve worked closely with producer Terry Manning and explored new songwriter-friendly lyrical material, they’ve also experienced renewed musical inspiration when performing live.

Origins

Widespread Panic has long been recognized for their signature blend of southern roots, improvisational talent and ever-evolving fan base. Since their beginnings playing dingy bars in Athens to their performances at world-famous venues such as Carnegie Hall or Madison Square Garden, Widespread Panic has proven that with authenticity and strong fan relationships they can make an enormous mark in music‘s landscape.

John Bell and Michael Houser started jamming at their A-house on Weymanda Court in Athens, Georgia during 1982-84, recruiting bassist Dave Schools and drummer Todd Nance; Mike’s nickname (“Panic”) provided inspiration for the name of their group – Panic!

Soon, this foursome began touring and drawing large audiences – eventually numbering in the tens of thousands – as they inspired unprecedented devotion among their followers. Attracting crowds as big as 100,000 at events like New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and setting records at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheater where three shows sold out within 44 minutes each time; their first live album Light Fuse Get Away sold over 100,000 copies worldwide, as did its subsequent sequels.

Influences

Widespread Panic follows in the footsteps of other iconic jam bands – Grateful Dead, Phish and Allman Brothers among them – by creating freewheeling combinations of Southern rock, country blues and jazz-fusion music. Like their forebears, Widespread Panic quickly built an ardent following by shifting set lists every night while encouraging fans to record shows for posterity.

John Bell sings with an airy vocal style resembling gargling through sand; his soulfulness provides the backbone to their music. Bassist Dave Schools, keyboardist Domingo S. Ortiz and drummer Todd Nance (later replaced with Jacksonville native Duane Trucks) comprise their six-member lineup.

On its latest studio album, Free Somehow, produced by Terry Manning, the sextet has expanded their sonic palette with strings, woodwinds and horns – but perhaps most significantly is trust – for the first time they trusted Terry Manning to realize their vision in the studio – an approach which paid off with one of the band‘s most sonically adventurous releases ever produced by them!

Musicians

Widespread Panic has created its own niche in music, demonstrating how any band with authenticity and passion for touring can leave an indelible mark on history. This film chronicles how this Georgia-based jam band earned the devotion of fans with their loose yet rootsy Southern rock sound informed by jazz and blues textures.

Guitarist Mike Houser and bassist Dave Schools formed the band in 1982, soon thereafter being joined by percussionist Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz and keyboardist John “JoJo” Hermann as well as numerous talented sidemen including drummer Todd Nance and legendary bassist George McConnell.

Widespread Panic concerts feature an intoxicating blend of improvisational funk and swampy soulful Southern songcraft that recalls the mindset and environment often associated with psychedelic drugs, fostering an atmosphere that creates unity and connection between band and audience. Fans travel from city-to-city, state-to-state and even abroad just to experience one of Widespread Panic’s performances; their passion for the band and live performance is undeniable.

Tours

Widespread Panic has been touring for three decades, performing over 150 dates annually and breaking attendance records at venues nationwide. They have released multiple live albums including Street Dogs to great acclaim.

Founding members vocalist John Bell, bassist Dave Schools and late guitarist Michael Houser first formed the group in Athens during the mid-1980s. Soon thereafter came drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz and keyboard player John Hermann to round out their lineup; currently featured are Jimmy Herring on lead guitar and Duane Trucks on drums.

After recently concluding their inaugural post-COVID tour, JoJo Hermann and his band have scheduled several shows postponing COVID including three at St. Augustine on March 22 – 24 and two shows in Morrison CO’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre from June 21 – 23 (return trip). Furthermore, the group will headline the inaugural New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival April 14-17 where they will perform alone as headliners. Furthermore, Hermann plans on performing solo at Denver Ophelia’s between October 30 – 31 as solo headlining acts.