Watch Sturgill Simpson Break Up a Fight During Concert

Sir Elton must have gotten something wrong. Saturday night is most definitely not alright for fighting, at least not when Sturgill Simpson is the referee in the ring. 

During a sold-out show last weekend in Covington, Kentucky, Simpson paused his band’s performance of “Sometimes Wine” — a barn-burning tune originally recorded in 2004, back when Simpson was fronting the group Sunday Valley — in order to stop a fight that had broken out in the front row. 

“Come on, now,” he said, pointing out the guilty parties after the music screeched to a halt. “Everyone came to have a good time. It doesn’t matter who started it; all that matters is that it’s over.”

Then, while the rest of the audience cheered and hoisted their drinks into the air in salute, Simpson wheeled around to face drummer Miles Miller. The two launched back into “Sometimes Wine,” with bassist Kevin Black and guitar wiz Laur Jomets following closely behind. The disruption lasted less than 50 seconds, and while it’s unclear if the rumblers were kicked out of the venue by security, no further incidents occurred during the rest of the 22-song set. (Watch a video of the incident above.)

Simpson, whose Metamodern Sounds in Country Music is up for Best Americana Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards on February 8th, has already sold out the majority of his tour dates this winter and spring. Once warmer weather arrives, he’ll hit the festival circuit, making appearances at Bonnaroo, Coachella, Forecastle, Governor’s Ball and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Meanwhile, recording sessions have already started — and possibly wrapped — for Simpson’s follow-up to Metamodern Sounds, with producer Dave Cobb reprising his role behind the control board.