June 12, 2026 

Gilford, New Hampshire

On a beautiful early summer night in Gilford, New Hampshire, Jack Johnson brought the first stop of his SURFILMUSIC tour to a sold-out BankNH Pavilion, and it felt like summer had officially arrived. Families, longtime fans, and concertgoers of every age filled the venue Friday night, soaking in the kind of easygoing, feel-good atmosphere that has always made a Jack Johnson show feel more like a shared experience than just another concert.

Before Johnson took the stage, brothers Alejandro and Estevan Gutiérrez of Hermanos Gutiérrez opened the night with a 45-minute instrumental set that felt like desert rock meeting surf soundtrack under the New Hampshire sky. The duo shared that more than 20 years ago, they had started out playing Jack Johnson songs, making this tour stop feel especially meaningful for them. Their set was hypnotic and cinematic, with rich guitar textures that created a calm, transportive mood and quietly drew the crowd in. Later in the evening, the brothers returned to the stage during Johnson’s short film segment, helping bring the visual storytelling to life with live instrumental accompaniment that was as beautiful as it was understated.

When Jack Johnson finally hit the stage, the crowd was more than ready. From the opening notes, the BankNH Pavilion turned into the soundtrack of summer: warm air, waterfront energy, and thousands of voices singing along. Johnson mixed newer material with the songs that have defined so many summers for his fans, keeping the audience on its feet and fully locked in. His relaxed presence, effortless guitar work, and the playful way he worked in musical detours and cover teases kept the crowd guessing and smiling all night long. One standout moment came when keyboardist Zach Gill stepped into the spotlight for his own brief vocal feature, reminding everyone just how much personality Johnson’s band brings to the stage.

Then came “Banana Pancakes,” one of the night’s biggest singalongs, and with it, one of the most joyful moments of the evening. Gill, accordion in hand, turned the song into a full-body celebration, dancing across the stage and somehow making the accordion feel like the coolest instrument in the building. It was one of those moments that summed up the night perfectly: playful, communal, and impossible not to love.

For anyone who has never seen Jack Johnson live, Friday night in Gilford was a reminder of what makes his music endure. It is not flashy. It does not need to be. It is honest, warm, and rooted in the kind of songs that make people want to gather with the people they love and sing along. With Hermanos Gutiérrez adding a stunning instrumental layer to the evening, the opening night of the SURFILMUSIC tour felt less like a concert and more like the way summer is supposed to sound.