Shinedown brought the pyro, emotion and explosive energy to a sold-out SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire, for the Dance, Kid, Dance Act 2 Tour.
The air was electric as we made our way toward SNHU Arena. Lines stretched in several directions through the surrounding streets, disappearing so far into the distance that the end was impossible to see. The arena is an ideal place to experience live music, with strong sightlines throughout the venue. Add in Shinedown’s massive stage extending toward the center of the floor, and nearly every fan felt close to the action.
It had been 14 years since Shinedown last brought their contagious energy to SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. That is not to say the band has stayed away from the region. Shinedown tours New England extensively, typically stopping at BankNH Pavilion in Gilford, New Hampshire, or TD Garden in Boston. With a sold-out crowd filling the arena, Manchester was more than ready to welcome them back.
Before Shinedown made their long-awaited return to the stage, From Ashes to New kicked off the night. Hailing from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the band blends rap, rock and electronic elements into a sound that is distinctly their own, driven by the dynamic contrast between Matt Brandyberry’s sharp rap delivery and Danny Case’s gritty, powerful rock vocals.
The band kicked off their seven-song set with “New Disease” from their 2026 album, Reflections. It was the perfect song to launch a night of heavy music and begin building the crowd’s energy for what was still to come.
From there, they dove into “Nightmare” and “Heartache” from 2023’s Blackout. A cool moment came during “Heartache” when guitarist Lance Dowdle made his way down the extended stage and paused to pose in one of his signature anime masks. It is something he has incorporated into his performances since joining the band, inspired by Wes Borland of Limp Bizkit. The masks never overpower the rest of the group or take away from the music. Instead, they match the energy around him and feel like extensions of his different onstage alter egos. It has become a part of the show that fans look forward to, and Lance remains excited to continue exploring and evolving the characters
VIDEO FROM MIKE BEDNARCHIK
From there, the band moved into “Drag Me” from Reflections and “Barely Breathing” from Blackout before launching into their newest single, “Die For You.” Looking around the crowd, fans could be seen singing along and feeling every word and emotion behind the song. It has quickly become an anthem for so many members of the FATN family, resonating deeply while giving both Matt and Danny the opportunity to showcase their individual vocal talents and the powerful chemistry between them.
The band has always leaned heavily on their own experiences with bullying, isolation and overcoming difficult moments, transforming those struggles into music that helps fans feel understood. That honesty has created a strong connection between From Ashes to New and their audience, turning each performance into something that feels personal and shared.
The set concluded with the title track from their 2020 album, Panic. Their entire performance offered a preview of the emotion and intensity we were about to experience throughout the rest of the night. By setting the tone with vulnerability, connection and explosive energy, From Ashes to New proved to be the perfect band to prepare the crowd not only to hear the music, but to truly feel it.
VIDEO FROM FROM ASHES TO NEW / DIRECTOR PARADA
FROM ASHES TO NEW SETLIST FOR SNHU ARENA IN MANCHESTER, NH – JULY 20th, 2026
1. New Disease
2. Nightmare
3. Heartache
4. Drag Me
5. Barely Breathing
6.Die For You
7.Panic
Up next was Coheed and Cambria, hailing from Nyack, New York. The band brought a completely different layer of music to the night, blending progressive rock, heavy riffs and intricate storytelling into a sound unmistakably their own. Their music feels expansive and cinematic, with soaring guitars and Claudio Sanchez’s distinctive vocals coming together to create something both powerful and immersive.
They opened with “A Favor House Atlantic” from 2003’s In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3, immediately pulling longtime fans into the set and kicking the entire arena into a massive sing-along before moving into “Searching for Tomorrow” from their newest album, Vaxis – Act III: The Father of Make Believe.
From there, Coheed and Cambria moved through their extensive catalog with “Ten Speed (Of God’s Blood & Burial)” from Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One, “Shoulders” from Vaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind and newer songs “Blind Side Sonny” and “Play the Poet” from The Father of Make Believe.
The band has stayed busy on the road, with recent appearances including a stop at The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts, and a main-stage performance at Warped Tour DC. No matter the size of the stage, Coheed and Cambria bring their energy to 100, and that was never more evident than during their closing performance of “Welcome Home.”
Sanchez had remained on the main stage for much of the set, but the moment he was handed his double-neck guitar, he charged down the extended ramp and played to every side of the arena, creating one final connection with the crowd. The band brought the set to a thunderous close with “Welcome Home” from 2005’s Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness, delivering the massive riffs, theatrical energy and unmatched musicianship fans had been waiting for. Coheed and Cambria are truly a band that needs to be experienced live.
COHEED AND CAMBRIA SETLIST FOR SNHU ARENA IN MANCHESTER, NH – JULY 20th, 2026
1. A Favor House Atlantic
2. Searching for Tomorrow
3. Ten Speed ( Of God’s Blood and Burial)
4. Shoulders
5. Blind Side Sonny
6. Play the Poet
7. Gravemakers & Gunslingers
8. Delirium Trigger
9. The Liars Club
10. Welcome Home
As the night continued, the lights dimmed for the final time, and everyone’s attention quickly shifted from the conversations around them to the commotion unfolding onstage. Shinedown’s iconic Dance, Kid, Dance dancing man, complete with a television for a head, appeared surrounded by dancers moving to Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer.” As he made his way toward center stage, a single spotlight followed him while his television screen and the massive displays above rapidly flipped through channels. The screens eventually landed on the Shinedown logo as the familiar ATTENTION ATTENTION alarm echoed throughout the arena.
As the dancing man was led offstage, the words “Nobody Is Safe and Sound” repeatedly flashed across the towering screens. The red lighting deepened, smoke began rising from the stage and the band emerged as the opening notes of “Safe and Sound,” from their brand-new album EI8HT, rang throughout the arena. Fire erupted from every corner of the stage as Shinedown launched into a night filled with emotion, explosive production and the powerful sense of connection they have spent more than two decades building with their fans.
VIDEO FROM STEVES CONCERT VIDEO
From there, the setlist took the sold-out crowd through Shinedown’s entire career, reaching all the way back to their 2003 debut album, Leave a Whisper. Blue tones drenched the stage as the band rolled into the fan favorite “Fly from the Inside,” before the energy exploded with “Diamond Eyes” from 2008’s The Sound of Madness, complete with fire and fireworks.
One of the things we love most about Shinedown is how genuinely they enjoy performing together. There is a brotherhood between the four members that runs deep, making their interactions just as entertaining to watch as the performance itself. Whether they are goofing around, trading playful banter or moving effortlessly around one another onstage, their connection is undeniable. It strengthens not only the bond between the band members, but also the one they share with the fans.
The connection between Brent Smith on vocals and Zach Myers on guitar is particularly captivating to watch. The two frequently circled around one another, exchanged smiles and fed off each other’s energy, creating moments that felt spontaneous while still perfectly in sync with the performance.
It goes deeper than that when you turn that energy and connection into how the band creates a bond with its fans. Shinedown fans love them deeply because, for so many, Shinedown has written the stories of their lives, album after album and song after song. Reaching from personal experiences and life experiences, the songs they write are not just surface level. Fans feel the emotion, the pain and the heartache, and latch onto the songs as a way to survive and get through their own lives.
Shinedown are storytellers, especially during their live shows. Brent Smith has a way of bringing emotions many of us push deep down to the surface, while the setlist is carefully arranged to build upon those feelings. For the sold-out SNHU Arena crowd, that journey moved from “How Did You Love,” off the band’s 2015 album Threat to Survival, into a deeply personal introduction to “Three Six Five” from their 2026 album, EI8HT.
Brent slowed the night down and asked everyone to picture the loved ones they had lost over the years. He asked whether they could see them and reminded the crowd that those people were still right there with them. As his words gave way to the lyrics of “Three Six Five,” images of those who had been lost flashed across the screens, including legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen. There was hardly a dry eye in the arena.
These are the moments that separate a Shinedown concert from a typical rock show. Their music reaches beyond the stage, creating an experience felt so deeply in the soul that few bands could ever recreate it.
VIDEO FROM STEVES CONCERT CORNER
The band continued to push and pull the crowd between emotional extremes, reaching one of the night’s highest points with “DEVIL” from ATTENTION ATTENTION before slowing things back down with “Searchlight,” another massive single from EI8HT. Brent asked the crowd whether the night had become too sentimental, telling everyone they could be honest with him, before asking whether they wanted Shinedown to take things high or low. The response was overwhelmingly clear: Manchester wanted to go high.
The moment did not end there. Brent brought the rest of the band into the conversation, building anticipation as he asked just how high they were willing to go. He speaks to an arena in a way that somehow feels personal, as though he is talking directly to each individual person in the crowd. Then the opening notes of “Enemies” off of 2012s Amaryllis hit, and everyone knew exactly what to do. Thousands of fans rose to their feet, jumping in time with the beat and matching the explosive energy coming from the stage. Seeing an entire sold-out arena move together in unison was something that had to be experienced in person.
VIDEO FROM STEVES CONCERT CORNER
Shinedown’s massive stage extended deep into the crowd, nearly reaching the soundboard and giving the band a unique opportunity to break up the set while shifting its mood and tone. The B-stage allowed the members to move even closer to the audience, where they spoke about how much they loved Manchester’s energy and declared it the best night of the tour so far. They also reflected on the fact that it had been 14 years since they last stepped inside SNHU Arena, promising they would return long before another 14 years passed.
It was also the point in the show when the band acknowledged that bassist Eric Bass was missing from the lineup. Before the second leg of the tour began, Eric announced that he would be stepping away from its opening dates to focus on his mental health.
Shinedown have always been open and honest about mental health through their music. It is one of the qualities fans admire most about the band: their willingness to speak openly about their struggles and remind listeners that they are not alone. Even members of one of rock’s biggest bands sometimes need to step back, ask for help and take care of themselves.
Bass has played a vital role in Shinedown’s recent creative journey, producing 2018’s ATTENTION ATTENTION, 2022’s Planet Zero and the band’s new 2026 album, EI8HT. He and the other members have spoken about how deeply he immerses himself in the production process. Combined with Shinedown’s extensive touring schedule and the demands of everyday life, that level of commitment can take a toll. Josh Sturm and Zack “Poncho” Mack have stepped in to help fill Eric’s role while he is away.
As the band took their places on the B-stage, Zach Myers spoke about the great Eric Bass and his seemingly endless list of talents. From bass and piano to banjo, guitar and vocals, there is very little Eric cannot do. Zach told the crowd that Eric sent his love and that the best way they could return it was by singing his favorite song as loudly as possible. The band then launched into “Call Me” from 2008’s The Sound of Madness, with thousands of voices carrying the song throughout the arena.
From there, Shinedown performed the title track from 2012’s Amaryllis. Zach joked that the album had been released the same year the band last played the arena before adding, “I’m serious—can we just play here every night?” They continued with “If You Only Knew” from The Sound of Madness before closing out the B-stage portion of the night with “GET UP” from ATTENTION ATTENTION.
VIDEO FROM STEVES CONCERT CORNER
As the final stretch of the concert came into view, Shinedown made their way back to the main stage, trading acoustic guitars and intimacy for pyro and chaos as they launched into “Bully” from 2012’s Amaryllis. From there, they brought the setlist all the way into 2026 with “Young Again” from EI8HT, which recently reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Hard Rock Songs chart.
“Young Again” is a love letter to everyone who remembers what it felt like to be younger and still holds tightly to those childhood memories. It brings listeners back to a time when there was not a care in the world and the biggest concern was making it home before the streetlights came on.
That feeling of nostalgia runs throughout the entire tour. For a few hours, fans can escape the hardships and responsibilities life throws their way and replace them with the carefree feeling of being a kid again.
Shinedown are no strangers to chart-topping success. The band currently holds the record for the most No. 1 songs in the history of Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, with an impressive 23 career chart-toppers. That total includes four songs from EI8HT: “Dance, Kid, Dance,” “Killing Fields,” “Searchlight” and “Safe and Sound.” With EI8HT also reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Albums chart, Shinedown continue to prove just how deeply their music resonates with fans through every season of life.
VIDEO FROM SHINEDOWN
They continued the set with Planet Zero’s “A Symptom of Being Human,” “Cut the Cord” from Threat to Survival and “GET UP” from ATTENTION ATTENTION. A stand out moment was when Zach Myers came down to the B Stage and began singing and playing Three Doors Down Song Kryptonite.
The music world received devastating news earlier this year when Brad Arnold, the beloved frontman of 3 Doors Down, died following his battle with stage 4 kidney cancer. His loss was felt deeply by fans and musicians alike, as Arnold had always been a source of light and inspiration to so many. Shinedown’s heartfelt recognition of their friend became a beautiful tribute to an incredible musician whose voice and spirit left a lasting impact on the rock community.
The tributes continued with a powerful performance of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man.” Shinedown dedicated the song not only to Arnold, but also to Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell and Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington, honoring three unforgettable voices whose legacies continue to live through their music.
VIDEO FROM STEVES MUSIC CORNER
The title track from The Sound of Madness brought one of the night’s biggest surprises when Smith’s son, Lyric, joined the band onstage to play guitar. It was a special moment made even more memorable by the pride clearly visible on Brent’s face as father and son shared the stage.
As the night came to a close, Shinedown launched into another chart-topping hit, “Second Chance” from The Sound of Madness. Brent paused to reflect on how special the Manchester crowd had made the night before the arena erupted into one final massive sing-along.
It was a night filled with emotional highs and lows—the kind of lows that are good for the soul and allow healing to begin. Shinedown fans are deeply connected to the music, feeling every lyric in a way that can be seen on the faces throughout the crowd. That connection is something special and uniquely Shinedown, creating an experience few other bands can come close to matching. If you have never seen Shinedown live, they are an absolute must-see.
There are still plenty of opportunities to catch Shinedown on the Dance, Kid, Dance Act Two Tour, with the band touring across the United States through the end of September before heading overseas through November. Do not wait too long to grab tickets, though, as many dates are already nearing capacity or completely sold out.
SHINEDOWN SETLIST FOR SNHU ARENA IN MANCHESTER, NH – JULY 20th, 2026
MAIN STAGE
1. Safe and Sound
2. Fly From The Inside
3. Diamond Eyes
4. How Did You Love
5. Three Six Five
6. Devil
7. Searchlight
8. Enemies
B STAGE
9. Call Me
10. Amaryllis
11. If You Only Knew
12. Get Up
MAIN STAGE
13. Bully
14. Young Again
15. A Symptom Of Being Human
16. Cut The Cord
17. Monsters
18. Kryptonite (3 Doors Down Cover) (Zach on Vocals)
19. Simple Man (Lynyrd Skynyrd Dedication to Brad Arnold, Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell)
20. Sound Of Madness
21. Second Chance
SHINEDOWN
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COHEED AND CAMBRIA
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FROM ASHES TO NEW
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