Widespread Panic’s 2016 closeout saw them welcome their usual holiday suspects including Randall Bramblett and the Megablasters horns but the group also got some help from additional guests throughout their three-set celebration in Nashville.

The first guests to emerge were the Love Spong String Quartet, who added to tunes like “May Your Glass Be Filled,” “Her Dance Needs No Body” and “Crazy” before the ensemble debuted Paul Simon’s “Still Crazy After All These Years” with the help of the McCrary Sisters on vocals, another announced guest on the evening.

The second set saw the emergence of the Megablasters horns, who joined Panic on “Sharon,” “Tail Dragger” and “Tall Boy” before departing, leaving the McCrary Sisters to lead the proceedings on “Can’t Get High” prior to the “Ain’t Life Grand” set closer with Love Sponge Quartet’s David Davidson on fiddle.

With midnight arriving, the band welcomed the new year with a cover of “With a Little Help From My Friends,” last played on New Year’s 2014 in Charlotte. The band welcomed out the McCrary Sisters, Bramblett and the Megablasters for the rendition and all guests would remain on stage for “Hope in a Hopeless World” and the first “Moondance” since New Year’s 2009.

The collaborations continued throughout the night, with the guests helping Panic out with “Bust It Big” as well as the set-closing “Red Hot Mama.” The McCrary Sisters joined in during the encore on Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” prior to all guests returning to the stage for the finale, the first “Burning Down the House” since New Year’s 2013.

Here’s a look at the setlist as it appears in our Box Scores section:

Widespread Panic
Bridgestone Arena Nashville, TN

Set I: Blue Indian, Holden Oversoul, May Your Glass Be Filled*, Her Dance Needs No Body*, Crazy*, Still Crazy After All These Years$$, Expiration Day*

Set II: Pigeons, Henry Parsons Died, Rebirtha, Sharon+, Tail Dragger+, Tall Boy+, Can’t Get High$, Ain’t Life Grand

Set III: Disco, A Little Help From My Friends^^, Hope In A Hopeless World^, Up All Night^ > Moondance^^^, Bust It Big^ > Drums > Chilly Water, All Time Low$, Red Hot Mama^

Enc: For What It’s Worth$, Burning Down The House^^^^

Notes:
*with Love Sponge String Quartet
+with the Megablasters horns
$with the McCrary Sisters on vocals
$$first time played, with the McCrary Sisters on vocals and David Davidson on fiddle
^with the McCrary Sisters on vocals, Randall Bramblett on sax and the Megablasters horns
^^Last time played 12/31/14, with the McCrary Sisters on vocals, Randall Bramblett on sax and the Megablasters horns
^^^Last time played 12/31/09, with the McCrary Sisters on vocals, Randall Bramblett on sax and the Megablasters horns
^^^^Last time played 12/31/13, with the McCrary Sisters on vocals, Randall Bramblett on sax and the Megablasters horns

Source: www.panicstream.com