With a seal of approval from The Band’s Robbie Robertson, international touring group Chest Fever, comprised of members of the San Diego Award-winning rock band Mrs. Henry, will revive one of the most recognized music catalogs of all-time at Toronto’s iconic Massey Hall on Saturday, November 18, 2023. For the 45th Anniversary of The Band’s legendary release of The Last Waltz, Chest Fever will present a unique multimedia experience combining live performance and film, with returning friends and special guest artists hosted by Canadian television personality Michael Williams.
A percentage of the show proceeds will also be donated to the North York General Foundation in support of the Gale & Graham Wright Prostate Centre at North York General Hospital in Toronto, with a focus on men's prostate cancer awareness, research and treatment.
“North York General Foundation is honoured to receive support from The Last Waltz performance in November. Funds raised will support the Gale & Graham Wright Prostate Centre which saw an 11% increase in visits last year in addition to a 10% increase in patients requiring prostate cancer care,” said Seanna Millar, President and CEO, North York General Foundation. “It is thanks to support from our donors and events such as this that we are able to provide an interdisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment based on the latest surgical, treatments and clinical trials for our diverse communities.”
The concert will feature performances by Chest Fever alongside newly announced special guests; Moby Grape drummer Don Stevenson; GRAMMY and JUNO Award-winning guitarist, songwriter and producer Colin Linden; guitarist Marc Ford (The Black Crowes); Tom "Bones" Malone and "Blue" Lou Marini (The Blues Brothers); Bill and Jerome Levon Avis; Canadian Americana/Roots Country-Rock group The Red Hill Valleys; Canadian rocker Skye Wallace; Canadian folk group The Pairs; Canadian Americana artist Sleepy Jean; Canadian singer-songwriter Limore Twena and Canadian guitarist Duncan Alistair.
Previously announced special guests that will join the incredible celebration lineup include; legendary violinist Scarlet Rivera (Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue); GRAMMY Award-winning renowned guitarist Albert Lee (The Everly Brothers, Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris); Five-time GRAMMY Award-winning dobro, lap steel and steel guitarist Cindy Cashdollar (Asleep at the Wheel, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison); Canadian singer-songwriter Jerry Leger; Canadian folk singer-songwriter Benjamin Dakota Rogers; JUNO Award nominated Canadian folk-rock singer-songwriter Devin Cuddy (The Devin Cuddy Band); Canadian Folk Music Award nominee John Muirhead; Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Nicole Cerminara and blues/rock artist Sugarmill Slim.
"To bring our celebration of The Last Waltz to Massey Hall is a dream come true. To go from playing the Horseshoe Tavern within a year has been nothing short of crazy. Luckily, we’ve found good company and to quote our northern big brother ‘This is a crazy town’, so we feel at home,” said Dan Cervantes, guitarist/vocalist, Mrs. Henry. “We fell in love with Ontario on our first tour as Chest Fever in August of 2022. As an American band, we can see how our past American comrades Ronnie Hawkins and Levon Helm found solace and shelter from the storm in this incredible country with The Band and their Canadian brothers Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel. It has been open arms and open doors and we learned that when the hand reaches out - you shake it. It takes a village and we can only do what we do because of the rock n’ roll tribe we’ve gathered together. It’s going to be a night to remember that will ring around the world so tell one and all that the circus is coming to town!"
Chest Fever consists of keyboardist Jody Bagley, guitarist Dan Cervantes, and bassist Blake Dean of Mrs. Henry, rounded out with organist/saxophonist Ben Pinnola and drummer Allan Ritter. The stories, legend and community of The Band live on through the passion and magic of Chest Fever, embodied in burning energy they bring to every live performance.
Tickets for Canada’s official celebration of The Band are on sale now starting at $51.90 (plus additional service fees) via the Massey Hall website here.
