Ted Nugent in Ludington A Hard Rock Night Celebrating Good Friends and a Bottle of Wine
On the evening of August 29, 2025, legendary American guitarist and rock entertainer Ted Nugent brought his Stranglehold 50th Anniversary Tour to Stix in Ludington, Michigan in a show that reminded fans why his career has spanned more than five decades. The concert, set to begin at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 5:30 p.m., was part of a series of live dates marking fifty years since the release of Nugent’s most enduring anthem and showcased a mix of classic songs spanning his prolific output.
Among the tracks performed that night was Good Friends and a Bottle of Wine, a song originally released in nineteen seventy eight on Nugent’s album Weekend Warriors. The tune blends melodic rock hooks with straightforward lyrics about camaraderie and simple pleasures, a theme that resonated with many concertgoers. Originally featured on Weekend Warriors, the song remains one of the memorable compositions from Nugent’s late seventies catalog.
Good Friends and a Bottle of Wine fitted naturally into the setlist alongside harder charging rockers and staples from Nugent’s catalogue. Reviews and fan reports from similar shows on the tour indicate that the song often appeared mid show, bringing a slightly different mood to an otherwise high energy performance.
The Ludington show itself reflected Nugent’s long standing reputation as a live performer with a loyal following. Known for his electric guitar presence and energetic stage delivery, Nugent has sold more than forty million albums and maintained a significant touring schedule over the decades. His continued live appearances at venues like Stix speak to the enduring connection he has with audiences.
While Nugent’s career has not been without controversy outside of music, on the night in Ludington the focus for fans was the music itself. Setlists for the tour consistently mixed classics like Free For All, Wang Dang Sweet Poontang, and Stranglehold with other deep cuts, showcasing both his technical skill and his catalog’s depth.
Good Friends and a Bottle of Wine remains a noteworthy chapter in Nugent’s live repertoire because it underscores the more melodic and communal side of his songwriting within a career often defined by hard rock intensity. The performance in Ludington added another live moment to a longstanding tradition of rock shows that continue to draw dedicated listeners years after the original recordings were released.