Due to popular demand, guitarist Warren Haynes and producer/bassist Don Was will bring their re-creation of The Band’s iconic Last Waltz farewell concert to the Saenger Theatre for a second night during Jazz Fest.
Warren Haynes. Photo by Danny Clinch.
The event will take place on Friday, April 29–one day before the originally scheduled show, which sold out almost immediately, headlines the venue.
“Last Waltz New Orleans” will see Haynes and Was joined by John Medeski (keys), George Porter Jr. (bass), Terence Higgins (drums), Dave Malone (guitar), Jamey Johnson (guitar) Mark Mullins (trombone) and more. Additional artists will be confirmed in the coming weeks, and the concert will also welcome a number of surprise guests.
According to Rolling Stone, the show will prominently feature its horn section as a tribute to the late Allen Toussaint. The legendary New Orleans songwriter and producer–who passed away last year–arranged the horn charts for The Band’s iconic concert.
The event will also celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Last Waltz, which went down at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom on November 25, 1976. The performance included a who’s who of special guests, from Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and Neil Young to Joni Mitchell, Dr. John, Ringo Starr and Muddy Waters. It was later immortalized on a live album and in a Martin Scorsese-directed documentary/concert film of the same name.
As previously reported, the upcoming gig marks the latest tribute from Haynes and Was, who have already teamed up for shows that honored Gregg Allman, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, as well Dr. John and the Neville Brothers (both of which took place during Jazz Fest).
Fans of Haynes will also be able to catch Gov’t Mule at the festival proper on Friday, April 22, when the band headlines Jazz Fest’s Gentilly Stage.
Tickets for the newly added Last Waltz New Orleans show are on sale via Ticketmaster.
