Dickey Betts Celebrates 80th Birthday At Allman Betts Family Revival Tour Stop

The Allman Betts Family Revival tour pulled into Sarasota, Florida on Tuesday, which was co-founding The Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts‘ 80th birthday. Dickey was in the house at Van Wezel Performing Arts Center to watch The Allman Betts Band and guests perform a number of songs from The Allman Brothers Band live repertoire, including many he wrote.

The Allman Betts Band is led by Dickey’s son, Duane Betts, and Devon Allman, the son of fellow ABB co-founder the late Gregg Allman. Guests of The Allman Betts Band in Sarasota included vocalist/harmonica player Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie, blues guitarist Ally Venable, North Mississippi Allstars guitarist Luther Dickinson and drummer Cody Dickinson as well as virtuosic bassist Tal Wilkenfeld.

This year marks the seventh year for The Allman Betts Family Revival, which was previously known as The Allman Family Revival. While past incarnations paid tribute to Gregg Allman, the 2023 run also honors Dickey Betts. So it was fitting Dickey celebrated the milestone occasion by attending the tour’s stop in his longtime hometown.

Dickey was presented with a cake in the shape of his iconic gold-top Les Paul guitar. The crowd and musicians honored him on stage following the “Seven Turns” that opened the evening’s second set. “No One To Run With,” “Blue Sky,” “Pony Boy,” “Jessica” and “Ramblin’ Man” were among the Dickey Betts compositions sprinkled into the evening’s setlist.

Hall came out in the first set for “Statesboro Blues” and returned at the end of the second set to sing a “Whipping Post” that started with a bass solo from Tal Wilkenfeld. All of the evening’s guests contributed to the “Midnight Rider” finale.

View fan-captured video from Tuesday’s Allman Betts Family Revival concert below:

The Allman Family Revival tour continues tonight in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Stops in Nashville and Mobile (Alabama) follow before the tour ends in Austin on Monday, December 17.