Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on January 1, 2026
Photo credit: Daniel Ojeda
Spafford closed out their 2025 at Vivarium from December 29–31 with a standout performance to a packed house in Milwaukee. The band surprised fans mid-set on night two by welcoming Mike Savino of Tall Tall Trees to the stage for a special guest appearance that left the room buzzing.
Savino joined the band on “Hollywood > Motel 6,” bringing his signature experimental banjo style into Spafford’s improvisational landscape. The collaboration added a vibrant new texture to the pairing, lifting the jam into unexpected territory and showcasing both Savino’s dynamic approach and Spafford’s versatility as a live act.
WATCH “HOLLYWOOD” > “MOTEL 6” HERE FEATURING MIKE SAVINO:
The sit-in marked one of the highlights of the band’s three-night New Year’s run at Vivarium, a venue quickly becoming a favorite stop for touring jam and improvisational acts. Spafford closed out Vivarium with a three-set New Year’s Eve show that leaned into deep cuts, fan favorites, and some unique covers.
Set one moved through “Fake the Fate,” “Todd’s Tots,” “Diana,” and “Dissociation Assist,” capped by a driving take on Pink Floyd’s “Run Like Hell.” Set two opened with Dire Straits’ “Money for Nothing,” sung by bassist Shon Gordon, before shifting into “High Beams,” “Be Strange,” and a smooth “Soggy Froggy > Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma.” The band launched set three with the Cory Schechtman-led “Darkness Singularity,” segueing into “Auld Lang Syne” at the stroke of midnight and then into a high-energy “Electric Taco Stand > Weasel > Electric Taco Stand.” The melodic masterpiece “Slip and Squander” closed the set, and the night encored with a “Kiss Off Reprise” and a final return to “Darkness Singularity.”
Spafford continues to build momentum heading into 2026, with dozens of new tour dates and additional announcements expected soon. For more information on Spafford’s upcoming tour dates, or to listen to Spafford’s live shows, visit spafford.net, Spafford’s YouTube page, or your Nugs.net account.
All Tour Dates
01.14 Barley’s Taproom – Knoxville, TN
01.15 Barrelhouse Ballroom – Chattanooga, TN
01.16 Basement East – Nashville, TN
01.17 Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA ^
01.18 Saturn – Birmingham, AL
01.21 The Heights Theater – Houston, TX
01.22 Antone’s – Austin, TX
01.23 Antone’s – Austin, TX
01.24 The Kessler Theater – Dallas, TX
02.17 The Ranch – Fort Myers, FL
02.18 Colonial Oak Music Park – St. Augustine, FL
02.19 Whippersnap Music & Arts Festival – Brooksville, FL
02.20 Terra Fermata – Stuart, FL
02.21 Tigre Island Room – Fernandina Beach, FL
03.03 Ziggy’s – Greensboro, NC
03.04 5 Points Music Sanctuary – Roanoke, VA
03.05 Tally Ho Theater – Leesburg, VA
03.06 The State Theatre – State College, PA
03.07 Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY
03.08 Bearsville Theater – Woodstock, NY
03.10 The Drake – Amherst, MA
03.11 Ardmore Music Hall – Ardmore, PA
03.12 The Westcott Theater – Syracuse, NY
03.13 The Sinclair – Cambridge, MA
03.14 afterthoughts – Waitsfield, VT
03.15 Infinity Music Hall – Hartford, CT
^ w/ FRUTE
