Mich-Spring kicks off with a great concert from Michigan’s best musicians. On Saturday, April 10th, Mackinac Island’s Last Waltz, a tribute to The Band’s epic rockumentary The Last Waltz takes place at the Magic Bag Theatre in Ferndale, Michigan.
Last summer, musicians from all over Michigan with a strong connection to Mackinac Island and Detroit put on the concert of the season at the annual Mackinac Island Music Festival (www.mackinaislandmusicfestival.org) at Mission Point Theatre. Because ii was such a great event, they have decided to bring the show to Detroit this spring.
The idea of the Last Waltz was to pay tribute to the musicians that influenced the artists performing original works in at the festival. “It was a great way for all of us to get together and play our favorite songs with our friends and entertain a diverse summer audience” said festival director and musician Mary McGuire. “I don’t think any of us would be the musicians we are today without the influence of such great artist as The Band, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Neil Diamond, Muddy Waters or Eric Clapton. The music from this film really was influential in shaping so many of us for the past 35 years.” The show will feature festival musicians performing their interpretations of the music of The Band along with the music of Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Neil Diamond, Neil Young, Van Morrison and more legendary singer/songwriters from the 70’s.
The concert will feature Detroit Music Award winning musicians The Forbes Brothers (Scott Forbes, Dennis Forbes, Ronny Jacobs, Tom Hollyer, Jon Ross, George Canterbury and Dave Jack), singer/songwriters Charlie Springer, John D. Lamb, Jill Jack, Barbara Payton and Chris Brantley with a special Ash Can Van Gogh reunion featuring Billy Brandt, Mary McGuire, JC Whitelaw, Gary Rasmussen and Nino Dmytryszyn. In addition, Billy Brandt will appropriately take on the songs of Bob Dylan while Mary McGuire will cover Joni Mitchell's song "Coyote" with a special appearance by Grand Hotel Musical Director and acclaimed jazz saxophonist Alex Graham
Northern Michigan Musicians coming down for the show include veterans acoustic rocker Michelle Chenard, blues harp player Charlie “Wong” Teeny, drummer Donny Sorensen, bassist Pam Finkel and singer/guitarist Paul Bedour.
Emceed by John D. Lamb and Miss Michigan Nicole Blaszczyk, this tribute show will pay homage to the music of the past by some of Michigan’s best musicians.
Tickets are $10, doors open at 8pm
Magic Bag Theatre
22920 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale, MI 48220-1737
(248) 544-3030
About Mackinac Island Music Festival
www.mackinacislandmusicfestival.org
This three day festival celebrates all genres of music every August on Mackinac Island, Michigan. The festival has found considerable recognition since its beginnings, and has become one of Mackinac Island's most exciting festivals of the season. Prestigious local, statewide and nationally acclaimed artists have covered a wide range of musical genres including folk, bluegrass, classical, jazz and country.
About the Last Waltz
The Last Waltz was a farewell concert for The Band at Winterland Arena and became known as the first Rockumentary directed by Martin Scorsese. It was filmed in 1976 and released in 1978.Featuring The Band, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Ronnie Hawkins, Dr. John, Neil Diamond, Eric Clapton, and more well known Folk/Rock/Blues/Country and Singer/Songwriters well known in the 70's, the film is still hailed today as one of rock's best, but it is more...it is a historic document of the musicians of the era and their exploration of American music styles that still influences musicians today.
Age limit: 21+