On March 3rd, 2026, legendary artist Warren Haynes brought his "Winter of Warren Tour 2026" to the Kodak Center in Rochester, NY. The Grammy Award-winning icon hardly needs an introduction. With a career spanning over forty years, including time with the Allman Brothers Band and the Dead, Haynes is also a founding member of Gov't Mule. His solo career has also been highly successful, and he has collaborated with countless artists from hard rock to country music. For this particular 16-date tour, the first 11 dates are a stripped-down, 2-set solo performance; no two shows will be alike as he draws on songs and influences from throughout his career. As the tour nears its end, he is closing out this special run by adding his band to the last five shows, continuing the solo-show theme, and creating a unique experience for each audience.
The venue doors opened promptly at 7:00 PM. Fans made their way toward the merch table, eager to purchase T-shirts, signed records, and a limited-edition tour poster created especially for these final dates. A moderate-sized fan base filled the seats, waiting for the show to start at 8:00 PM. The house lights dimmed, and the band made their way to the stage to loud applause. From the very first notes of the WHB intro song, Haynes had the full attention of the audience. Haynes kicked off the show with "This Life As We Know It," the first single from his 2024 album "Million Voices Whisper." The band's sound was incredibly tight, and the quintet had a full, rich sound. Haynes engaged with the audience only briefly throughout the set. Haynes only spoke a few words of "Thank You" and introduced each band member. He spoke to the fans with expressive guitar solos and his soulful vocals. The fans loved it! Playing through the set, which featured popular songs and deep cuts, the band often traded off on extended jams, with each musician delivering incredible solos. One of my favorites from the set was "Go Down Swinging." It was authentic and had a feel-good vibe; there was no Auto-Tune wizardry at this show! Closing out the set was "Man In Motion," a perfect choice for the end of the first set. At 9:15 PM, Haynes announced that the band would take a short break and return shortly.
At 9:45 PM, Haynes kicked off the second set with the funkified bluesy tune "Terrified." Continuing with the musical magic, the band started in the first set and played a fun "Big Legged Woman (with a short, short miniskirt)." The light show seemed to ramp up for the second set with a kaleidoscope of swirling colors and flashes—candy for the eyes! The night had an authentic, natural feel to it and never felt rushed; the music breathed, creating a show that felt both polished and comfortable. The songs flowed effortlessly, and before you knew it, that band was closing out their second set with "Invisible." The audience cheered as the band left the stage for a brief moment before the encore song. With fans still on their feet, the band broke into an epic version of "Soulshine." The venue was filled with fans singing along to the band. At 11:05 PM, the last notes of the song faded away, and the band waved to the audience and exited the stage. Fans were on their feet, giving a standing ovation, cheering loudly for a memorable show. The current tour is almost over, but if you get a chance to see Warren Haynes, do it, and you can create these memories for yourself!
The Band: Warren Haynes (vocals & guitar), Kevin Scott (bass), Matt Slocum (keys), Terence Higgins (drums)
Setlist:
Set 1:
WHB Intro> This Life As We Know It, Tear Me Down, You Ain't Above Me, Just Another Rider, Go Down Swinging, Banks Of The Deep End, Hottentot, Man In Motion
Set 2:
Terrified, Big Legged Woman (With A Short Short Mini Skirt) (Elenor Rigby tease), Lies, Lies, Lies, > Monkey Dance > Lies, Lies, Lies, Tattoos And Cigarettes, Beautifully Broken, Instrumental Illness, Thorazine Shuffle, Invisible
Encore: Soulshine
Per Warren Haynes' Facebook page
