Widespread Panic and the Allman Brothers Band showcased the collaboration that is sure to follow over the coming weeks as they opened their 20 show co-headlining tour on Friday in Camden, NJ. Widespread Panic opened and then during the ABB’s set multiple members of Panic joined in the action. John Bell and Sunny Ortiz emerged midway through the performance and added guitar and percussion to “I Walk On Guilded Splinters,” “Trouble No More,” “Good Morning Little School Girl,” “Revival” ad “The Weight.” Then Jimmy Herring, who toured with ABB during 2000, also joined in for “Dreams” and remained on stage, while Bell and Ortiz departed, during “One Way Out.”

Saturday’s show at the Constellation Brands Performing Arts Center in Canandaigua, NY offered guest spots during both group’s sets. Panic welcomed Derek Trucks for “Bust It Big” and “Gimme” and later for a set-closing “Chilly Water” with Warren Haynes also on stage for a four guitar spree. A bit earlier Haynes and ABB percussionist Marc Quinones contributed to a run from “Surprise Valley” into “Pilgrims.” The ABB set featured Chuck Campbell from the Campbell Brothers, who added pedal steel to “A Lot To Laugh It Takes A Train To Cry” along with Widespread Panic keyboardist JoJo Hermann. Panic bassist Dave Schools then stepped out for the “You Don’t Love Me” that followed. John Bell later appeared during “And It Stoned Me” while Herring guested on “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed.” The night closed with Herring, Hermann, Campbell and Panic drummer Todd Nance all participating in the “Southbound” encore.

As for Panic, we don’t wish to miss reporting that last Tuesday, August 18, Bell appeared at the University of Georgia Chapel to talk and perform for students in the UGA Music Business Program. Over the course of 90 minutes, Bell took questions, offered his thoughts on the music industry and performed versions of “Already Fried” and “Time Waits.”