Article Contributed by L. Paul Mann
Published on 2026-06-08
Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band | Vina Robles Amphitheatre | Paso Robles, CA | June 6, 2026 | Photo by L. Paul Mann
There is an implicit law at a Ringo Starr concert: check your cynicism at the gates. On a brisk Saturday night in Central California’s wine country, the 85-year-old icon delivered his signature message of “Peace and Love” to a sold-out Vina Robles Amphitheatre. He appeared decades younger than his age, bounding onto the stage in a sparkling black jacket and immediately sweeping the crowd into a warm wave of nostalgia.
But loyal fans know from 36 years of All Starr Band shows that this is not mere nostalgia. It is an energizing display of collaborative rock mastery, built around Ringo’s joyful presence and a rotating cast of musicians who each bring their own history to the stage.
The evening also felt subtly monumental for reasons that extended beyond the music. In May 2026, just weeks before the show, independent entertainment heavyweight Nederlander Concerts officially acquired the 3,300-capacity Vina Robles Amphitheatre and its adjoining mission-style Hospitality Center. Since 2014, Nederlander had served as the exclusive booker. Now, its outright purchase signals a major push to transform this intimate venue into an even stronger year-round entertainment hub.
The venue’s core team remains in place, while early changes — including newly introduced single-show premium box programs — are already operating smoothly. The acoustic clarity beneath the open Paso Robles sky endures, representing just one of the many reasons Nederlander pursued exclusive ownership of this boutique gem.
Ringo’s current lineup is a potent mix of classic rock elites, serving as both his supporting band and stepping forward throughout the night to deliver their own top-charting hits.
Steve Lukather of Toto delivered searing, electrifying guitar solos that sliced through the nocturnal air. Colin Hay of Men at Work offered his signature crystalline, hauntingly preserved vocals to the Central Coast. Hamish Stuart of Average White Band anchored the groove with rich, soulful bass and vocals. Gregg Bissonette shared twin-drumming duties with Ringo, locking into perfect sync when Starr took center stage. Warren Ham and Buck Johnson supplied multifaceted depth, seamlessly handling woodwinds, keyboards, and soaring backing harmonies.
The concert followed Ringo’s proven democratic formula. The set featured Beatles classics and select solo country and pop hits, fresh off his T Bone Burnett-produced 2026 album Look Up. Highlights from his bandmates’ catalogs were incorporated throughout the performance, turning the show into both a Ringo celebration and a living jukebox of classic rock, pop, soul, and sing-along memories.
The night’s energy peaked during Toto’s “Africa.” Lukather’s elaborate guitar work and Warren Ham’s flawless saxophone had the amphitheatre singing along in full voice. The evening’s most intimate, chill-inducing moment belonged to Colin Hay’s raw, soulful rendition of “Overkill,” which cut through the night with quiet emotional force.
When Ringo returned to his drum kit to power his friends’ performances, he radiated pure joy. And when he led the multi-generational crowd through rousing sing-alongs of “Yellow Submarine” and “Photograph,” the venue transformed into a jubilant, wine-country campfire gathering.
The evening also came with an unexpected sky show. A missile launch from nearby Vandenberg Space Force Base lit up the sky in the middle of the concert, giving the already memorable night a surreal Central Coast moment that no lighting designer could have planned.
The show closed, as tradition demands, with an exuberant, peace-sign-waving rendition of “With a Little Help from My Friends,” gracefully transitioning into John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance.” It was a fitting finale: communal, familiar, and completely sincere.
Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band are not reinventing the wheel; they revel in how well it still turns. Coupled with the polished hospitality of the newly Nederlander-owned Vina Robles Amphitheatre, the evening delivered an impeccable night of live music. The crowd left embraced by warmth and joy, a vivid indication that peace and love endure.
Setlist
Matchbox (Carl Perkins cover)
It Don’t Come Easy (Ringo Starr song)
Rosanna (Toto cover) (with Steve Lukather)
Pick Up the Pieces (Average White Band cover) (with Hamish Stuart)
Down Under (Men at Work cover) (with Colin Hay)
Boys (The Shirelles cover)
I’m the Greatest (John Lennon cover)
Yellow Submarine (The Beatles cover) (with “Day Tripper” tease)
Cut the Cake (Average White Band cover) (with Hamish Stuart) (with various songs cut in, including “Honky Tonk Woman” and “Come Together”)
Octopus’s Garden (The Beatles cover)
No No Song (Hoyt Axton cover)
Choose Love (Ringo Starr song)
Overkill (Men at Work cover) (with Colin Hay)
Africa (Toto cover) (with Steve Lukather)
Work to Do (The Isley Brothers cover) (with Hamish Stuart)
I Wanna Be Your Man (The Beatles cover)
Who Can It Be Now? (Men at Work cover) (with Colin Hay)
Hold the Line (Toto cover) (with Steve Lukather)
Photograph (Ringo Starr song)
Act Naturally (Johnny Russell cover)
With a Little Help From My Friends
