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Stage Fright is a band composed of musicians from New York and Pennsylvania.

At 7 p.m. next Friday, Nov. 25 in the Coolidge Theatre at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro, the five members of Stage Fright joined by seven guest musicians will perform a tribute to The Band, a Canadian-American roots rock group formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1968.The 12 performers will recreate The Last Waltz, The Band’s 1976 Farewell Concert given on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1976. It was one of the most spectacular events in rock history.

Stage Fright is a band composed of musicians from New York and Pennsylvania.

At 7 p.m. next Friday, Nov. 25 in the Coolidge Theatre at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro, the five members of Stage Fright joined by seven guest musicians will perform a tribute to The Band, a Canadian-American roots rock group formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1968.

The 12 performers will recreate The Last Waltz, The Band’s 1976 Farewell Concert given on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1976. It was one of the most spectacular events in rock history.

At 5 p.m., turkey dinners were served to all 5,000 people attending followed by ballroom dancing to music by the Berkeley Promenade Orchestra and readings by poets Michael McClure and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. The Band’s show began at 9 p.m. and ended at 2 a.m.

The farewell concert kicked off with The Band’s “Up On Cripple Creek” and continued with other hits from “The Shape I’m In” to “It Makes No Difference”, “Life is A Carnival”, “Weight” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.”

Among the musical legends that performed that night were Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Neil Diamond, Ronnie Hawkins, Bobby Charles, and Paul Butterfield. Taking part in two spontaneous jam sessions were Ringo Starr, Stephen Stills and Ron Wood. 

“From 1968 to 1975, The Band was one of the most popular and influential rock groups in the world,” according to Bruce Eder who wrote about them in an article published in the “All-Music Guide.” “Their music was embraced by critics as seriously as the music of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.”

Members of Stage Fright are: Joe Callahan of Wellsboro on guitar; Sean Monroe of Horseheads, N.Y. on upright bass; Mike Watkins of Addison, N.Y. on organ, keyboards, fiddle, mandolin and accordion; and from Corning, N.Y., Mike Nickerson on drums and Joe Narde on percussion.

Joining them for this performance are: singer Karin Knaus of Westfield; saxophonist and harmonica player Kenn Wenner of Jerry Duty, the Tribute Band to Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead based in Northern Pennsylvania; singer, guitarist and banjoist, Josh Sperrick of Corning, N.Y.; and singers and guitarists, Molly Cary, Brandon Lusk and Scott Turner, all of Wellsboro, and Houston Baker of Mansfield. They will play and sing some of the music by the famous artists that entertained during the Last Waltz concert. 

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 $25. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult; however seats must be reserved to accommodate them. For tickets and to reserve a table, call 570-724-6220 or visit www.deanecenter.com.