Lance Anderson’s critically acclaimed performance of
‘The Last Waltz - a Musical Celebration of The BAND - Live’ celebrates the 48th Anniversary of the historic concert Aeolian Hall, London ON
Saturday Apr. 27th 2024
An all-star Canadian cast of award-winning blues and roots musicians, under the direction of Juno award winning producer and musical director, Lance Anderson, will perform selections from their hit show that recreates the atmosphere of The Band’s final concert, which was captured in Martin Scorcese's award-winning concert film, The Last Waltz.
2024 will mark the 14th year this cast of The Last Waltz has performed Live. The 2 hr concert will feature 4 guests. Chuck Jackson (Lead singer of the legendary Downchild Blues Band) Johnny Max, Matt Weidinger and Soul diva Quisha Wint. This will be a celebration and intimate experience of the music of the Canadian Music Hall of fame members The BAND in an wonderful venue - Aeolian Hall in London.
This crowd pleasing show that has thrilled audiences at the CNE Bandshell (Toronto), Casino Regina, Peterborough Music Fest, Century Casino Edmonton, Mississauga Living Arts Centre, the Shenkman Theatre (Ottawa), Centennial Hall (London ON), Showplace Theatre, Peterborough, Orillia Opera House, Huntsville Festival of the Arts (Algonquin Theatre), Regent Theatre, Oshawa, Victoria Hall Cobourg, Gayety Theatre Collingwood, Peter’s Players in Gravenhurst, and at Hugh’s Room in Toronto, will make any event an extravaganza! They have headlined the Mariposa Folk Festival , Kitchener Blues Fest, Southside Shuffle, Wasaga Beach Blues Festival, Stratford Blues and Ribfest, Norfolk County Fair (Simcoe) and Orillia Spring Blues Fest to name a few.
On the American Thanksgiving of 1976 at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom, The BAND invited many of their friends to join in their farewell concert celebration. These friends included Bob Dylan, Ronnie Hawkins, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and others who performed with The Band on this historic night.
In this homage to The Last Waltz, Anderson’s special guests will perform a few of the songs played and sung by these guest artists at the memorable 1976 concert.
Backed by a 9 piece band that includes Jerome Levon Avis (godson of Levon Helm) on drums and vocals, Terry Blersh on guitar, Wayne DeAdder (Jimmy Bowskill) on bass, Rob Gusevs (Blood, Sweat and Tears) on organ and Anderson (Matchedash Parish) on piano and vocals, this is a group of seasoned veterans who love the music. Anderson’s band also features a stellar four-piece horn section including, Londoners Dave Dunlop (trumpet and Simon Wallis (Lighthouse) Bari sax, and includes Gord Meyers (Blood, Sweat and Tears) on trombone and tuba, and Scott Marshall on Tenor sax. Truly an all-star band!
“What makes this performance special is the connection these musicians have to the music,” says Anderson. “They love the music and perform these tunes from the heart.”
Anderson’s production of The Last Waltz has experienced rave reviews at the many festivals where it has appeared over the past few years and has consistently been referred to as the “best of the festival.”
“It wasn’t just the musicianship, which was second to none; it was the energy … these musicians have brought forth a live music gem that is worthy of any stage I know of and probably more that I don’t,” said
P. Rellinger of the Kawartha News after seeing Anderson’s show in
Peterborough.
The Band is a Canadian national treasure, with four members of the legendary roots music group originally from southern Ontario. In the 1960s, they were initially brought together as 'The Hawks’ by Ronnie Hawkins and later gained international recognition as Bob Dylan’s band on his groundbreaking electric tours. This two hour inspired performance of The Last Waltz includes a wide selection of fan favourites, such as The Band’s ‘The Weight’, ’The Night They Drove Ol’ Dixie Down’, ‘Up On Cripple Creek’, ‘Life is a Carnival’, ‘The Shape I’m In’, ‘Rag Mama Rag’, 'Ophelia' and more, plus music from their special guests.
Don’t miss this opportunity in 2024 to join in our celebration of the music of this legendary group on the 48th anniversary year of The Last Waltz.
[Note: guest artists are subject to change due to shifting schedules.]
