FOURTEEN MUSICIANS TO PERFORM MUSIC FROM THE LAST WALTZ CONCERT IN TRIBUTE TO THE BAND NEXT FRIDAY, NOV. 29 IN WELLSBORO
Fourteen singers and instrumentalists, including the five members of Stage Fright and nine guest musicians, will perform selections from The Last Waltz, the famous “farewell” concert given on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1976 by the Canadian-American roots rock group known as The Band.
One of the most spectacular events in rock history, The Last Waltz was presented in the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, California, the same venue where The Band debuted in 1968.
The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. next Friday, Nov. 29 in the Coolidge Theatre at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro.
The 1976 concert opened with “Up On Cripple Creek” and continued with other hits by The Band, such as “The Shape I’m In”, “It Makes No Difference”, “Life is A Carnival”, “Weight” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.”
Invited to perform with them for The Last Waltz were the musical collaborators and significant influencers from every stage of the group’s career, such as Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton and Neil Diamond. Taking part in two spontaneous jam sessions that night were Ringo Starr, Stephen Stills and Ron Wood.
Playing and singing music by the famous artists that entertained during The Last Waltz will be Stage Fright including Joe Callahan of Wellsboro on guitar; Sean Monroe of Horseheads, N.Y. on bass guitar; Mike Watkins of Addison, N.Y. on keyboards, accordion, mandolin and fiddle; and Mike Nickerson on drums and Joe Narde on percussion, both of Corning, N.Y.
Also on stage will be singers Karin Knaus of Westfield, Brandon Lusk of Wellsboro and Mike Callahan, Josh Sperrick and Kira Woods, all of Corning, N.Y.; singers and guitarists, Molly Cary and Scott Turner, both of Wellsboro and Houston Baker of Blossburg; and Dave Driskell on saxophone.
The concert is BYOB with audience members encouraged to reserve a table, bring their own favorite beverages and snacks and sit with family and friends to enjoy the music.
Admission is $30. For tickets and to reserve a table, call 570-724-6220 or visit www.deanecenter.com. Tickets will also be sold at the door beginning at 7 p.m. on Nov. 29, if available.