WSP's New Guitarist

Widespread Panic didn't waste too much time in naming George McConnell's successor in the band. Longtime friend and on-stage collaborator Jimmy Herring will now step up and join the band with his first show being the tour opener at Radio City Music Hall in September - which I'll be at.

Here's the news blurb from Relix....

Jimmy Herring will join Widespread Panic this fall. The Georgia-based guitarist will assume lead guitar duties in Widespread Panic beginning with its Radio City Music Hall performance on September 14. Herring, who rose to promise playing in Aquarium Rescue Unit, also clocked in time with The Dead and the Allman Brothers Band after both group’s lost their lead guitarist. Herring first performed with Widespread Panic in 1991 at Athens’ Georgia Theatre and, as revealed in an upcoming Relix cover story, was asked to join the veteran ensemble after the untimely passing of its original guitarist, Michael Houser. Widespread Panic will perform at Columbia, MD’s Merriweather Post Pavilion on Friday.