The Last Waltz

Lance Anderson’s critically acclaimed performance of  ‘The Last Waltz - a Musical Celebration of The BAND - Live’

celebrates the  45th Anniversary of the historic concert in 2021. 

Hugh’s Room Live are bringing a virtual experience to you with the outstanding THE LAST WALTZ: A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF THE BAND. Saturday, August 7, 2021 at 8:30pm EST you will hear the music of The Band come to life! Support our artists by purchasing a ticket for each person and then host a viewing party (safely) to enjoy the rich music by Canada’s best musicians/artists and history from The Band’s long time road manager Bill Avis. Not to be missed! Notes: Previous ticket holders for postponed event will be honoured. The show link will be open for 48 hours after the performance.

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 selections from their hit show that recreates the atmosphere of The  Band’s final concert, which was captured in Martin Scorcese's award-winning  concert film, The Last Waltz. 

2021 will mark the 10th year that The Last Waltz has played for Hugh’s Room Live. Their two Sold Out nights in Nov. became an annual must see for the HRL  faithful. 

The full stage show has an all-star line-up, featuring 4 guests. For Covid considerations this virtual concert will feature two of those guests, one of the county’s  top soul and gospel singers Quisha Wint and Kitchener ON phenom Matt Weidinger, both members of MATCHEDASH PARISH. This will be an up close and  intimate experience of the music of the Canadian Music Hall of fame members  The BAND. 

This crowd pleasing show, which 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, Huntsville Festival of the Arts (Algonquin Theatre), Victoria Hall Cobourg, Gayety Theatre Collingwood, Peter’s Players in Gravenhurst, and at Hugh’s Room in Toronto, will make any event an extravaganza! They have headlined the Mariposa Folk  Festival , Kitchener Blues Fest, Southside Shuffle, 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 con cert.  

Backed by a 9 piece band that includes Jerome Levon Avis (godson of Levon  Helm) on drums and vocals, Terry Blersh on guitar, Dennis Pinhorn (Hawks) on  bass, Rob Gusevs (Blood, Sweat and Tears) on organ and 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 sec tion including David Dunlop (Boss Brass) on trumpet, Simon Wallis (Lighthouse)  Bari sax, Gord Meyers (Blood, Sweat and Tears) on trombone and tuba, and  Chris Murphy (Maple Blues Band) on Tenor sax. Truly an all-star band!  

“What makes this performance special is the connection these musicians have to the music,” says Anderson. “They love the music and per form 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 one hour intimate tribute performance of The Last Waltz includes a wide se lection 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 August 7th . 2021 8PM to join in our celebration of the music of this legendary group on the 45th anniversary year of The  Last Waltz.  

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Media contact: Lance Anderson: 705-715-4506 or makeitreal@rogers.com