Fourteen musicians to recreate ‘The Last Waltz’ concert in Wellsboro
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At 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27 in the Deane Center's Coolidge Theatre at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro, Stage Fright will be joined by nine guest musicians to recreate The Waltz, the iconic farewell concert given by the Canadian-American roots rock group, The Band.
According to a news release, the five members of Stage Fright sharing vocals and harmonies are: Joe Callahan of Wellsboro on guitar; Sean Monroe of Horseheads, N.Y. on bass guitar; Mike Watkins of Addison, N.Y. on keyboard, accordion, mandolin and fiddle; Mike Nickerson on drums; and Joe Narde on percussion. Narde and Nickerson are both from Corning, N.Y. Monroe, Callahan and Watkins write the music and all collaborate on the arrangements.
The nine guest artists include: singers Karin Knaus of Westfield and Kira Woods of Corning, N.Y.; singer, guitarist and banjoist, Josh Sperrick of Corning, N.Y.; singers and guitarists, Trevor Clark of Corning, N.Y. and Molly Cary and Brandon Lusk, both of Wellsboro; singer and electric and acoustic guitarist, Houston Baker of Blossburg; Dave Driskell of Wellsboro on sax and piccolo; and Jason Bump of Wellsboro on drums.
"Fifty years ago on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1976, The Band took the stage at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, California for what is now regarded as the greatest concert in music history," the news release said. "They had debuted there in 1968."
"Performing live, first as the backing musicians for Bob Dylan and then as headliners, The Band's original members had reached a crossroads in 1976 after creating some of the most influential music of the late 1960s and early 1970s," the news release continued. "Their Thanksgiving concert was a celebration and the last time this revered rock group would ever perform live again."
The 5,000 people attending were served turkey dinners and then danced to music by the Berkeley Promenade Orchestra and heard readings by poets Michael McClure and Lawrence Ferlinghetti.
The Band's show began at 9 p.m. on Nov. 25 and ended at 2 a.m. the next morning. The musical collaborators and significant influencers from every stage of the group's career were invited to perform. Among them were musical legends 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.
The farewell concert kicked off 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." It ended with them performing "Don't Do It (Baby, Don't You Do It)."
Those selections and others by the famous artists that entertained during the Last Waltz concert will be performed on Nov. 27.
Stage Fright presented their first tribute concert to The Band 11 years ago in August of 2015, the news release said. They perform songs from the Band's entire catalog, including their hits and their under-appreciated gems.
Audience members can sit on chairs or reserve a table for four or eight, bring their own favorite beverages and snacks and sit with family and friends to enjoy the music.
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 for four or eight or for more information, visit https://www.deanecenter.com or call 570-724-6220.