Orleans started as a Woodstock band in February 1972, worked the Northeast college circuit long enough for Rolling Stone to call them “the best unrecorded band in the country,” and then broke through nationally with “Dance With Me” and “Still The One.” Fifty-four years later, co-founder Lance Hoppen has drawn the line: 2026 is the final year as a live band, and the November 7 stop at UPAC in Kingston puts them back on Hudson Valley ground for one of the last times.
About the Show
The Final Tour frames a catalog that went further than its chart positions suggest. “Dance With Me” peaked at #6 in 1975 and spent 18 weeks on the chart; “Still The One” hit #5 in 1976 and then had a second life when ABC adopted it as a promotional theme for the 1977–78 and 1979–80 television seasons, making it one of the most licensed songs in TV and commercial music. “Love Takes Time” rounds out the three-song commercial core.
The 2026 lineup is not the one that made those records. John Hall, a founding member, left in 1977. Larry Hoppen (Lance’s brother and the band’s other anchor voice) died in 2012. The current touring group is Lance Hoppen on bass and vocals, Lane Hoppen on keyboards, Brady Spencer on drums, Tom Lane on guitar, and Tony Hooper on guitar. Per Hoppen, this version leans heavier on pop, with five singers capable of carrying lead. Reviewers who have caught the current lineup note that the signature harmonies and guitar work have held up.
Hoppen announced the final year in March, citing accumulated wear: weather delays, airline difficulty, rising tour costs, advancing age. He framed the exit without much sentimentality: “It’s time to turn the page.” More than 40 shows are booked for 2026; the run closes with the Rock ‘n’ Romance cruise in March 2027.
Venue & Logistics
UPAC, the Ulster Performing Arts Center, sits at 601 Broadway in Kingston and is operated by Bardavon. At 1,500 seats, it is a workable scale for this kind of show — theater-tight in a way that rewards bands whose sound is built on vocal blend and close harmony. Showtime is 7:30 p.m.
Tickets
Tickets are priced at $39, $49, and $79. Member discounts are available at the box office only. Purchase in person at the Bardavon or UPAC box offices or through Ticketmaster online. Buy tickets