Spafford Wraps Fall Tour with Sold-Out Evanston Show, Bust-Out Cover, and Massive Improvisation

Photo by Daniel Ojeda

Spafford officially closed out their 2025 Fall Tour a couple weeks ago with shows throughout the Midwest including Missouri, Illinois, and Michigan, highlighted by a sold-out show at SPACE in Evanston, IL on Saturday night.

The Evanston performance delivered exactly what the band’s fans have come to expect: fearless improvisation, setlist surprises, and tight musicianship. The show kicked off with a sprawling, exploratory “Space Jam” that blurred genre lines in a 20+ minute opener. Mid-set, the band surprised the crowd with their first performance of “Mad World” (Tears for Fears) since summer 2024, delivering an emotional and textured version that served as a centerpiece of the night.

Throughout the weekend, the band leaned into fan-favorite originals and signature segues, ending the Fall run on a high note and with momentum heading into winter. The Midwest finale run was full of highlights. In Kalamazoo, MI, Spafford busted out “Lucky Man” (Emerson, Lake & Palmer), marking just the fourth time ever they’ve played the classic prog-rock ballad, and the first since December 2023.

Next up, Spafford will head to The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY on December 19, supporting Pigeons Playing Ping Pong for a high-energy pre-holiday blowout at one of the jam scene’s most hallowed halls. For more information on Spafford’s upcoming tour dates, or to listen to Spafford’s live shows, visit www.spafford.net, Spafford’s YouTube page, or your Nugs.net account.

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