A Musical Celebration of the BAND –

50th Anniversary Tour, celebrates the songs and music of the iconic Canadian band.

By popular demand, one of Ontario’s most talked about acts makes its return to The Wasaga Beach Blues Fest. This 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 be playing The Wasaga Beach Fest on Sunday Sept 20th 2026.

They are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of THE BAND’s final concert in 1976 and The BAND’s amazing contribution to our shared Canadian musical heritage.

This show has thrilled audiences at the Mariposa Folk Festival, Beaches Jazz Festival, Kitchener Blues Festival, Ottawa City Folk Festival, Peterborough Music Fest, CNE Bandshell and Norfolk County Fair. It has also Sold Out theatres in Ottawa, Peterborough, Uxbridge, London, Orillia, Gravenhurst, North Bay (and many more). In 2016, they completed a successful tour of Western Canada, playing Casinos, theaters and festivals.

This is an all-star line-up, featuring Jerome Levon Avis (Levon Helm’s godson), on drums and vocals with special guests and a nine-piece band. Bill Avis, Jerome’s father and former Road Manager of The Hawks/The Band will also make an appearance with a story of his time on the road with his brothers from his youth. Led by musical director Lance Anderson, the band consists of veteran guitar player Terry Blersh, (Bobby Dupont Band), Wayne Deadder bass (Brooks and Bowskill), Rob Gusevs, organ (Blood, Sweat and Tears) and a four piece horn section of Toronto’s finest players.

Special guests like Chuck Jackson (Downchild Blues Band), and QuishaWint and Matt Weidinger (Matchedash Parish) will join in the celebration.

The performance will recreate the atmosphere of The Band’s final concert, which was captured in Martin Scorcese’s award-winning concert film, The Last Waltz. 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, Eric Clapton, Dr John and Canadians Neil Young and Joni Mitchell and others who performed with The Band on this special night.

In this homage to The Last Waltz, special guests will perform the songs played and sung by these guest artists at the memorable 1976 concert.

“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.”

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 70 min concert set, 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’, ‘The Shape I’m In’, ‘Rag Mama Rag’, ‘Ophelia’ and more, plus music from their special guests.

Don’t miss this opportunity in 2026 to join in our celebration of the music of this legendary group on the 50th anniversary year of The Last Waltz.

(Note: guest artists are subject to change due to shifting schedules.)