Bust-outs, covers, costumes, guest sit-ins, tricks and treats…a Halloween show just hits a bit different. Explore some of our favorite Halloween concerts from years past, all available to stream with a nugs.net free trial. There’s a lot more out there too, so do some discovery and find the show that’s sure to shake your bones.
- Billy Strings – 2021/10/31 in Asheville, NC
- The Wizard of Oz themed three-night run concluded with debut covers of the Rolling Stones, The Doors, Elton John, and more. Billy was dressed as the Scarecrow.
- Billy Strings – 2022/10/31 in Asheville, NC
- ‘Away from the Shire’ was a three night celebration of The Lord Of The Rings, culminating with special-guest drummer Duane Trucks of Widespread Panic and tributes to Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and Black Sabbath.
- Big Something – 2021/10/31 in Wilmington, NC
- Night three of their 2021 Halloween run billed as “Talking Something”, a tribute to the Talking Heads
- Dave Matthews Band – 1998/10/31 in Oakland, CA
- From one of the most well-regarded tours in the band’s history, and their last Halloween concert to-date, this show has long been hailed a classic and every performance is a highlight.
- Eggy – 2022/10/31 in Charleston, SC
- Dressed as different eras of Elton John, Eggy went undercover and performed nine songs by Elton John, while welcoming special guests from Doom Flamingo to join on keytar and vocals.
- Dead & Company – 2019/10/31 in New York, NY
- This was the first show Dead & Company played together after the passing of lyricist Robert Hunter, and the first two sets featured songs that Hunter had co-written. The show began with the four original Grateful Dead members performing an emotional rendition of “Ripple,” one of Hunter’s many masterpieces.
- The Disco Biscuits – 2015/10/31 in Syracuse, NY
- Their first Halloween show in 5 years, a disco and funk extravaganza with debut covers and guests the Philly Stray Horns plus singer Alita Moses.
- Frank Zappa – 1977/10/31 in New York, NY
- By 1977, Frank Zappa’s Halloween shows were already the stuff of legends, and this special night capped off six historic shows over a course of four nights
- Goose – 2021/10/31 in Worcester, MA
- The Austin Powers’ themed evening consisted of rare covers like the “Dr. Evil Rap”, “My Generation”, “I’m A Believer” and more.
- Gov’t Mule – 2013/10/31 in Oakland, CA
- One of the many special Mule-O-Ween’s, this 2013 show featured Robby Krieger of The Doors for all of set 2, with a setlist focused on The Doors catalog reimagined.
- Gov’t Mule – 2022/10/29 in New Orleans, LA
- The band returned from set break in full costume, inspired by the 1984 rockumentary Spinal Tap. Warren Haynes and co. then ran through tunes from the classic film, with seven debuts and help from The Levee Horns.
- Grateful Dead – 1971/10/31 in Columbus, OH
- There were friendly spirits indeed at play on this Halloween night, a gem of a show from early in Keith Godchaux’s tenure with the Dead.”
- Greensky Bluegrass – 2022/10/29 in San Francisco, CA
- In a venue where the Grateful Dead spent many nights, Greensky Bluegrass went with a Dead themed Halloween set at The Warfield, dressing as the band had in white garb for their 1980 album cover of Go To Heaven.
- Jerry Garcia Band – 1992/10/31 in Oakland, CA
- After three months off the road due to health issues, Jerry Garcia was welcomed by a crowd of 17,000 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena in Oakland, CA. He greeted the crowd with a heart-felt “How Sweet It Is” as his first song back on stage.
- Leftover Salmon – 2013/10/31 in Atlanta, GA
- “Basically Frightened” through “Right Now” with Col. Bruce Hampton. Count M’butu plays congas and percussion the whole show.
- Lotus – 2009/10/31 in Baltimore, MD
- Dubbed “Protein Pills in the Labyrinth”, members dressed up as several David Bowie characters including Ziggy Stardust, Thin White Duke, and Jareth. The band performed 8 Bowie songs that night.
- moe. – 2015/10/31 in Philadelphia, PA
- A “Halloween Star Wars rock fest” with the band members dressed as the movie characters and the show was comprised of Star Wars songs, altered themed lyrics, puns on moe. originals, and never before played covers.
- Pearl Jam – 2009/10/31 in Philadelphia, PA
- The final night of a four-show run at the Spectrum, a massive double encore where in the final set the band came out dressed as Devo and performed live debuts of “Whip It” and “Sweet Lew”.
- Phish – 1994/10/31 in Glens Falls, NY
- Where it all began, a three-set, late-night marathon, with a full-album debut of The Beatles’ The White Album.
- Phil Lesh & Friends – 2017/10/31 in Port Chester, NY
- With special guests Rob Barraco, Nicki Bluhm, Robert Randolph & Preservation Hall Jazz Band
- Pigeons Playing Ping Pong – 2021/10/31 in Columbus, OH
- A “Daft Side of the Moon” Halloween featuring mashups of Daft Punk and Pink Floyd songs throughout the night.
- Pigeons Playing Ping Pong – 2023/10/31 in Austin, TX
- The “Talking Radioheads” show featured mashup of originals weaved in and out of songs by the Talking Heads and Radiohead. Members of Dogs In A Pile joined throughout the night to add to the fun(k).
- The String Cheese Incident – 2004/10/31 in Madison, WI
- First Time Played: Peace Train (Cat Stevens), Rock The Casbah (The Clash), I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag (Country Joe), Rockin’ in The Free World (Neil Young), Revolution (The Beatles) & Take The Power Back (RATM)
- Umphrey’s McGee – 2012/10/31 in Silver Spring, MD
- Dressed as Presidents, a VP, and a First Lady, Umphrey’s McGee threw down in Maryland for a Halloween show for the ages where UM fans got to vote on a full set of covers for an ‘All Night Wrong’ set II.
- Umphrey’s McGee – 2014/10/31 in Boston, MA
- Massive mashups including “Sweet Emotion” x “Walk This Way” x “Funk 49”, “She’s A Bad Mama Jama” x “Give It To Me Baby” and more.
- Widespread Panic – 2015/10/31 in Asheville, NC
- The band debuted 4 covers including “Dooley”, “The Fishin’ Hole”, “Have A Cigar” and “Young Lust”. Fiddle Player Nicki Sanders joined the band on stage for several songs.
- Widespread Panic – 2022/10/29 in Savannah, GA
- A ‘dream’ themed set and production, featuring ‘sleeper’ covers of The Allman Brothers Band, Tom Petty, Metallica, and more.
- Widespread Panic – 2023/10/29 in Savannah, GA
- Donned in Wizard of Oz costumes, the show pulled from the film’s storyline with a heavy dose of Ozzy and Black Sabbath covers intertwined. In total we heard seven debuts, ranging from Ozzy tracks to Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Neil Young, Talking Heads and more.