Widespread Panic Cancels Boston & Las Vegas Runs After Jimmy Herring Cancer Diagnosis

Widespread Panic called off three-night stands previously scheduled for August 22 – 24 at Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway and at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas September 20 – 22. The cancelations come a week after the band revealed guitarist Jimmy Herring is undergoing treatment for stage 1 tonsil cancer, which forced Panic to cancel a run in Asheville, North Carolina that was supposed to take place this past weekend.

“The upcoming Widespread Panic concerts scheduled for Boston and Las Vegas have been canceled,” wrote the sextet in a statement announcing the decision. “The Band regrets missing these two runs but wants to give enough fair warning so everyone can adjust their plans with as little inconvenience as possible.” Ticketholders will receive refunds automatically via the point of purchase.

Jimmy Herring’s cancer diagnosis was confirmed by the band last Sunday, July 21. “We will have a clearer picture of our future concert schedule in the next few days,” added WSP in the initial announcement before canceling their Boston and Las Vegas runs. The next shows on Widespread Panic’s itinerary are planned for October 25 – 27 at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee. Herring is expected to make a full recovery.

In other Widespread Panic news, the legendary jam band recently released “Blue Carousel,” a standalone single. The new studio track arrived just over a month after the band put out Snake Oil King, their first studio album since 2015.

“Blue Carousel” features lead vocals by WSP keyboardist JoJo Hermann and includes lyrics penned by late Panic guitarist Michael Houser before his tragic death in 2002. JoJo Hermann debuted the song as “Love And Joy” during a solo show in Nashville last August. “We never had to finish it, but I thought back and I was like ‘Well, maybe I should go ahead and conjure up Mikey’s spirit,’” Hermann told the crowd about the song as per Live For Live Music.

Widespread Panic premiered the full-band version of “Blue Carousel” on September 15, 2023 in Wilmington, North Carolina. Stream the studio single below: