If it feels like Widespread Panic has lived at Red Rocks for years, Colorado just went ahead and made it official.
The band will be inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame as the first "Honorary Coloradan" during a ceremony at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Saturday, June 27. The honor lands right in the middle of a three-night Red Rocks run that kicks off Friday, June 26, and wraps Sunday, June 28. Longtime promoter Bill Bass will also be inducted during the same ceremony.
Hall of Fame Induction, Polis' Praise
As reported by Westword, Governor Jared Polis hosted the band and members of the Colorado Music Hall of Fame at the Governor’s Mansion ahead of the shows and hailed Widespread Panic as "the undisputed kings of Red Rocks and a household name in Colorado."
According to Westword, the new Honorary Coloradan category was created to recognize artists who were inspired by the state and have made Colorado a central part of their musical story. Frontman John "JB" Bell called the induction "one of the happiest surprises" and said the band is humbled by the recognition, per Westword.
Red Rocks Run and Livestreams
Widespread Panic's official site lists a three-night Red Rocks stand on June 26–28 and notes that all three performances will be available via livestream. Fans can check the event page on Widespread Panic for exact start times and streaming details.
The Red Rocks event calendar also shows the same dates, and the venue's ticketing pages list the entire run as sold out. For anyone who struck out at the box office, remote viewing through the official livestreams is set to be the main way to catch the shows.
Bill Bass and the Band's Colorado Roots
The Hall will also honor Bill Bass, the veteran Colorado promoter whose work with Small Axe Concerts and Bill Bass Concerts helped shape the state's live music scene. Westword traces Widespread Panic's deep Colorado ties back to a 1995 opening slot for Blues Traveler and the 1996 Bill Bass Sit & Ski tour, which helped cement the band's relationship with both the state and Red Rocks.
Bass worked closely with the group until he died in early 2023, and the Hall's decision to induct him alongside the band links Widespread Panic's cultural clout with Bass's decades of behind-the-scenes work.
About the Colorado Music Hall of Fame
The Colorado Music Hall of Fame describes its mission as "to celebrate, promote and support Colorado’s music community," maintaining exhibits at the Red Rocks Trading Post and the Colorado Convention Center. The organization lists dozens of inductees on its website and runs programs such as Keep The Beat, which provides mental health resources for musicians and industry workers, according to the Hall's site.
This latest induction fits the Hall's ongoing approach of honoring both the artists onstage and the industry figures who help Colorado's live music ecosystem thrive.
Weekend Expectations and What It Means
With all three Red Rocks dates marked sold out on both the band's and the venue's pages, Morrison is bracing for heavy turnout and the usual traffic crunch as fans pour into the park. Those outside the amphitheatre can stay plugged in via the official livestreams linked from the band's pages.
For Widespread Panic, the Honorary Coloradan nod formalizes a relationship that has stretched across decades of Red Rocks appearances and turns a beloved tour stop into a piece of their official story. Local fans, meanwhile, get a weekend-long victory lap with a band that has treated Red Rocks like a second home for years. For schedules, streaming options, and venue details, the band’s site and the Red Rocks calendar remain the go-to sources.
