Dave Matthews Band Brings Back Jake Simpson For Both SPAC Shows

Dave Matthews Band returned to SPAC this past weekend for their annual two-night stand at the venue in Saratoga Springs, New York. The group continued a trend of bringing out fiddler Jake Simpson for multiple songs each night, as they had at four other summer gigs.

The Lil Smokies' co-founder and current member of Lukas Nelson's band added to nine tunes on both Friday and Saturday nights. Simpson previously sat in with DMB at Summer 2026 shows in Austin on May 11, West Palm Beach on May 29 and 30 and Kansas City on June 24.

Dave Matthews Band opened with “Louisiana Bayou” on Friday, their 24th consecutive unique opener this tour. A huge surprise followed a few songs later when DMB served up the first full-band version of Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King online-only bonus track “Beach Ball” since February 28, 2020. The septet went on to cover Led Zeppelin’s “Fool In The Rain” to lead into Simpson’s guest appearance.

Jake Simpson first let it rip Friday on the tour debut of Busted Stuff’s “Captain.” Simpson then lent his fiddle to “Rooftop” and “Seek Up,” which each had only been performed once prior this summer. From there, the Montana resident contributed to a one-two punch of “Big Eyed Fish” and “Bartender” before his first-ever appearance on fan-favorite “Grey Street.” The fiddler was also on hand for the “Pig”/”Ants Marching” combo that ended the main set.

Frontman Dave Matthews took aim at U.S. President Donald Trump in remarks ahead of his solo “Making It Great” that opened the encore. Simpson returned to help DMB wrap night one with “Lie In Our Graves.”

Dave Matthews Band broke the unique opener streak on Saturday by kicking off their 50th concert at SPAC with “Granny.” The song written during the band’s formative years previously opened in Dallas on May 9, the second night of the tour.

The pre-Simpson portion of the show was also notable for the return of “If Only,” which hadn’t been played since November 18, 2022. The latest entry struck from the “Liberation List” on fan-site DMBAlmanac.com was followed by a rare mid-set “All Along The Watchtower.”

Jake Simpson came out after the Dylan cover to play on “Broken Things” for the third time. Next, Simpson added his fiddle to “The Song That Jane Likes” and “Dreamgirl” for the first time. The expanded DMB lineup was also shown off on “Crush,” “Drunken Soldier,” “Warehouse,” “Pantala Napa Pampa” and deep cut “Halloween” to close the set.

Dave Matthews began the encore with a solo “Peace On Earth.” Simpson was back in the fold for the “Two Step” finale, as he tore it up on a 15-minute version one of the oldest songs in DMB history.

On Tuesday, Dave Matthews Band resumes their summer tour at Jones Beach in Wantagh, New York. Watch more fan-shot video highlights from DMB’s two-night stand in Saratoga Springs below:

Stream official audio of Dave Matthews Band’s second night at SPAC below with a nugs subscription:

Setlists (via DMBAlmanac.com)

Friday, July 17

Set: Louisiana Bayou, So Much to Say » Anyone Seen the Bridge » Too Much, The Only Thing, Beach Ball, I Did It, Come Tomorrow, Madman’s Eyes, Fool in the Rain, Captain*, Rooftop*, Seek Up*, Big Eyed Fish* » Bartender*, Grey Street*, Pig* » Ants Marching*

Encore: Making It Great^, Lie in Our Graves*

• * – with Jake Simpson on fiddle
• ^ – Dave solo

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Saturday, July 18

Set: Granny, Dancing Nancies, Sweet Up and Down, Joyride, #41, Stay or Leave, She, You Might Die Trying, If Only, All Along the Watchtower » Stairway to Heaven [partial] » All Along the Watchtower [reprise], Broken Things*, The Song That Jane Likes*, Dreamgirl*, Crush*, Drunken Soldier*, Warehouse*, Pantala Naga Pampa* » Halloween*

Encore: Peace on Earth^, Two Step*

• * – with Jake Simpson on fiddle
• ^ – Dave solo