St. Augustine — Widespread Panic will celebrate their southern guitar blues at the St. Augustine Amphitheater tonight, March 25, tomorrow night, March 26, and Sunday, March 27. Touting the sale of over three million albums and four million downloads over the past 35 years, the six member team will once again entertain with eclectic music that includes crowd pleasing improvisations described by some as a “gumbo of musical influences.” To this day, the band is known for never playing the same show twice.
Widespread Panic was formed by vocalist/guitarist John “JB” Bell; bassist Dave Schools; and the late guitarist Michael Houser, who shared a house as students while attending the the University of Georgia. Drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz and keyboard player John “JoJo” Hermann would eventually complete the ensemble.
Today’s members include John Bell on vocals and guitars; John “JoJo” Hermann on vocals and keyboards; Jimmy Herring on guitars; Domingo S. Ortiz on vocals and percussion; Dave Schools on vocals and bass; and Duane Trucks on drums.
As noted on the band’s website, JB describes the ensemble as true road warriors who continue to explore happy accidents in the studio. Band members agree that they remain hungry to be the best band they can be every night for their loyal fan base.
Since 1986, Widespread Panic has released 12 studio albums and 43 live albums. Noted as one of the most successful touring bands in the world, they’ve broken attendance records at major venues throughout the world.
In 2011, while celebrating their 25th anniversary, they were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. The State of Georgia’s Senate and House of Representatives also passed resolutions honoring Widespread Panic for their music, service, charity and longevity.
JB compares their band’s longevity to Hemingway’s book, The Old Man and the Sea.
“Every time we go out there, we learn more tricks, bring that knowledge with us, and then apply it,” he says in the band’s biography. “We’re way more experienced, focused and to the point, but still willing to stretch out without wandering too much.”
But music isn’t Widespread Panic’s only endeavor. The band literally feeds people through music. The band’s first food drives began with Panic Fans for Food, a fan-based organization that hosted food drives at their concerts throughout America from 1999 to 2007, with the mantra of “feeding people through music.” The effort generated $70,000 and 13 tons of food in 28 cities.
The band assumed the drive in 2008. Since then food drives hosted at select shows “engage a demographic that is typically more difficult for charities and food drives to reach.” Their Feeding People Through Music efforts have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars as well as tons - literally - of food for communities in need.
For their St. Augustine weekend performances, Widespread Panic, working with the organization, Conscious Alliance will host a food for Feeding Northeast Florida Food Bank that works to feed children, seniors, veterans, and families struggling with hunger “by connecting millions of pounds of underutilized food to a network of over 300 social service agencies.”
Food and monetary donations will be accepted for each show.
“Food is accepted,” says Bell. “Sometimes it’s a little cumbersome when you’re just trying to get your wiggle on so monetary donations are easily taken in. Just one dollar will provide, depending upon the area of the state you are in three or four full meals so the dollar stretches a long way.”
Also of note, Feeding Northeast Florida partners with services to help “families and individuals end the cycle of poverty. Feeding Northeast Florida provided more than 26 million meals in 2021. Every $1 donated to Feeding Northeast Florida helps provide 6 meals.”
Tickets are still available for all three shows.
ST. AUGUSTINE AMPHITHEATRE INFO
Address: 1340C A1A S. St Augustine, FL 32080
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