New Found Glory to play EPCOT shows after death of Chad Gilbert

New Found Glory will play two shows at EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida on September 28 and 29, in the band's first live performances since the death of guitarist Chad Gilbert.

The dates are listed by Disney as part of the Eat to the Beat Concert Series, a concert programme held during the park's food and wine event, according to Walt Disney World Resort. The band confirmed the shows will go ahead as planned in a statement reported by Rolling Stone. It has cancelled its appearance at Aftershock Festival in Sacramento following Gilbert's death.

Gilbert was a founding member and lead guitarist of New Found Glory. He formed the band in 1997 with singer Jordan Pundik, bassist Ian Grushka and guitarist Stephen Klein.

The band and Gilbert's wife, Lisa Cimorelli, announced his death on Sept. 20. Gilbert was first diagnosed with liver cancer in 2021.

Gilbert was a dedicated Disney fan. He had worked with his bandmates on the set lists for the EPCOT shows. He had been practising to play them.

The planned set includes "My Friends Over You," "Dressed to Kill" and "Hit and Miss." Those are three songs from the band's catalogue that date back to its early releases.

For fans, this means the EPCOT dates will be both a return and a farewell. The band has not announced further live plans beyond September. Disney continues to list the September 28 and 29 performances on its site.