Warren Haynes Clarifies Warren Haynes Band Keyboardist Situation

When Gov’t Mule frontman Warren Haynes announced he would revisit his Warren Haynes Band project this summer, he revealed Medeski Martin & Wood‘s John Medeski would be on keyboards. Medeski had been missing from the WHB’s recent run of shows supporting Slash on the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival tour and Haynes addressed the keyboardist’s absence in a new interview.

Warren Haynes spoke about the development with Kansas City outlet The Pitch ahead of his first The Dreams and Songs Symphonic Experience concert tonight at The Midland. “I should point out that for this run, John Medeski is being replaced by Matt Slocum, who is fantastic as well, and then John will be back for the next run,” Haynes said when asked about Medeski’s contributions to the band.

The guitarist added John Medeski “had some prior commitments” leading him to miss the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival and upcoming run of The Dreams and Songs Symphonic Experience shows. Medeski was on keys when the Warren Haynes Band launched their 2024 tour in Europe last month. Matt Slocum took time away from his regular role as Railroad Earth‘s keyboardist to join the WHB. Michael Bellar has been covering for Slocum in RRE.

Warren Haynes will be joined by Slocum, bassist Kevin Scott, drummer Terence Higgins and saxophonist Greg Osby for WHB performances this run starting tonight. Each show will feature “two sets of symphonic music plus a third set of Haynes’ signature rock/soul blend alongside the debut of the new Warren Haynes Band.”

Haynes also revealed the Warren Haynes Band has a new album on the way. “Well, this band, minus Greg Osby, just finished a new studio record and we’re hoping to have that record out late September, early October,” Haynes told The Pitch. “We’re even starting to play some of the new material from it now.”