OFTEN hailed as one of the greatest music films ever made, The Last Waltz was a concert by legendary rock group The Band, held on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1976, at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco.

Advertised as The Band's farewell concert appearance, the performance featured a host of special guests including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr and Eric Clapton.

Filmed by director Martin Scorsese and released in 1978 the film of the concert continues to inspire musicians to this day as confirmed by two special gigs taking place at Birkenhead's Future Yard venue this weekend. 

The brainchild of Irish but Wirral-based songwriting duo Dave O'Grady and Muireann McDermott Long, who perform as Seafoam Green, the gigs will see them pay homage to the film by recreating many of its songs and performances alongside a number of Merseyside acts including Bobby West, Motel Sundown, Robert Vincent, Skylarks, Ali Horn, Anna Corcoran, Paul Dunbar and Graham Hopkin.

Dave, who lives in New Brighton, said: "We did a number of shows at the Liverpool Philharmonic about seven or eight years ago and they all sold out but we didn't want to get pigeonholed as the band that did the Last Waltz every year so we cracked on as Seafoam Green, made a few of our own records and toured the world.

"Then I met someone at Future Yard who pleaded with me to do it and we love the venue so thought it was a good idea to revisit it."

Dave calls the Last Waltz a "pivotal moment in rock music history" and said he is still inspired by it almost 50 years after it came out.

"It's more about the community and the sharing of music," he added. "You had different musicians all rolling in and off stage and having fun and it never seems contrived or stiff. 

"Obviously it was a celebration of The Band but it was a celebration of music too and it reminds people it's about unity and sharing.

"I play the guitar and sing so I'm like a cross between Levon Helm and Robbie Robertson but it's about celebrating a band in a non-contrived way."

Future Yard presents
The Last Waltz
Film Soundtrack performed live
Friday 29th + Saturday 30th November 2024 
7.30pm doors
75 Argyle Street
Tickets £20 advance (for each individual date)
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