Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule guitarist Warren Haynes and bassist/producer Don Was will lead a re-imagining of The Band’s famed Last Waltz farewell concert. The Jazz Fest after show will take place on Saturday, April 30 at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans.
Warren Haynes. Photo by Danny Clinch.
“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.
The upcoming gig marks the latest tribute from Haynes and Was, who have previously 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.
Ticketing information for the Last Waltz show will be available in the near future. A comprehensive list of Jazz Fest after shows can be found here.
