Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-03-16
photos: Erin Crowley @erincrowleyphoto
Spafford continued their Northeast tour this past weekend with back-to-back sold-out performances at The Sinclair and afterthoughts, delivering two nights packed with exploratory improvisation and a mix of covers that kept fans on their toes.
The weekend kicked off in Cambridge, where the capacity crowd at The Sinclair was treated to a high-energy setlist blending originals and crowd-pleasing covers. The first set opened with “Comfortable” flowing into “Motel 6,” before the band launched into a seamless “Dissociation Assist > Mad World” pairing, nodding to Tears For Fears. Spafford’s version of the classic tune was filled with synth textures and spacey beats.
The second set pushed deeper into improvisational territory as the band rolled through “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits before sliding into a lengthy “Double Time.” The set continued with “Nocturnal Emissions” and a jam-heavy “Electric Taco Stand > Dis Go In 5? > Electric Taco Stand.” The night closed with a fitting encore of “West L.A. Fadeaway,” paying tribute to the catalog of the Grateful Dead.
Watch Spafford perform “West L.A. Fadeaway”
Saturday night in Vermont, Spafford kept the momentum going at the intimate afterthoughts venue in Waitsfield. The band opened with “Diana” before moving into a fluid “Broken Wing > Salamander Song” and later “Walls,” showcasing the group’s signature blend of groove-driven rock and open-ended improvisation.
Set two featured another round of creative transitions, beginning with “Gold Glittered Hat,” which incorporated a tease of “Lizards” by Phish — a fitting nod considering the song’s history with the venue. The band then pivoted into a synth-tinged take on “Tainted Love,” the classic originally popularized by Gloria Jones. The set continued with a spirited “Soggy Froggy > Mind’s Unchained,” while the evening wrapped with a groove-heavy encore of “Cantaloupe Island,” the jazz-funk standard by Herbie Hancock.
With sold-out crowds in both Cambridge and Waitsfield and setlists full of surprises, Spafford once again demonstrated the improvisational versatility that has made them a fixture on the modern jam scene. For more information on Spafford’s upcoming tour dates, or to listen to the band’s live shows, visit spafford.net, the band’s YouTube page, or your Nugs.net account.
2026 Tour Dates
March 22
Peaks & Beats
Keystone, CO
April 15
Elevation 27
Virginia Beach, VA
April 16
Bowstring
Wilmington, NC (w/ Domocile)
April 17
Bowstring Brewyard
Raleigh, NC
April 18
Pisgah Brewing Company
Black Mountain, NC (w/ Captain Midnight Band)
April 19
Charleston Pour House
Charleston, SC
June 26
The Get Down
Blain, PA
July 11
Rock the Dock Festival
Lake George, NY
July 24
The Cutting Room
New York, NY
July 25
The Cutting Room
New York, NY
August 7
Domefest
New River Gorge, WV
