Widespread Panic has started work on its first studio album since 2008’s Free Somehow. The group is working with longtime associate John Keane at his Athens, GA studio. Keane has not produced a Widespread Panic studio album since 2003’s Ball (the group’s last two albums were produced by Terry Manning). The producer has remained friendly with the members of Widespread Panic in that time and recently sat in with the group in Atlanta on December 30, 2009. He also played guitar in the band before Jimmy Herring officially signed on as Panic’s new guitarist in 2006 and is working with Dave Schools on the new Stockholm Syndrome record.