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 their hit show on Saturday Nov 11th 2023 at the Gravenhurst Opera House. They will be recreating the atmosphere of The Band’s final concert, which was captured in Martin Scorcese’s award-winning concert film, The Last Waltz.

2023 will mark the 12th year this cast of The Last Waltz has performed Live. The full stage show has an all-star line-up, featuring 4 guests. Matt Weidinger, Johnny Max and Quisha Wint (Matchedash Parish) are the guests scheduled for this show and one special guest. The show also features Jerome Levon Avis (Levon Helm’s godson) and son of The Band road manager Bill Avis. This will be an up close and intimate experience of the music of the Canadian Music Hall of fame members The BAND in a great theatre.

This crowd pleasing show played Peter’s Players over 26 times, more than any other show in the history of that great concert space, and has thrilled audiences at the CNE Bandshell (Toronto), Mississauga Living Arts Centre, the Shenkman Theatre (Ottawa), Centennial Hall (London ON), Peterborough Music Fest, Orillia Opera House, Midland Cultural centre, Regent Theatre Oshawa, Huntsville Festival of the Arts (Algonquin Theatre), Victoria Hall Cobourg, Gayety Theatre Collingwood, and at Hugh’s Room in Toronto. They have headlined the Mariposa Folk Festival, Kitchener Blues Fest, Southside Shuffle, Beaches Jazz Festival Toronto, Wasaga Beach Blues Festival, 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 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 on drums and vocals, Terry Blersh on guitar, Rob Gusevs (Blood, Sweat and Tears) on organ, Wayne DeAdder on bass and musical director 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 all Canadian All-stars.

“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 Saturday November 11th. 2023 to join in our celebration of the music of this legendary group on the 47th anniversary year of The Last Waltz.