Story by Claire Levine

It all started on Thanksgiving Day, 1976, when Bill Graham hosted what may be the best-known going away party in music history.

The Last Waltz featured the already iconic group, The Band, along with the most dynamic musicians of the era, in a three-hour concert. Martin Scorsese filmed the whole thing, and many fans rewatch it every year on Thanksgiving weekend.

But we in Portland have been able to do more than stream the video. Since 2011 (minus two Covid years), hundreds of fans have sold out three consecutive nights of The Next Waltz at the Alberta Rose Theatre – a recreation of the original show featuring the amazing talent of local musicians. Portions of the proceeds benefit The Jeremy Wilson Foundation’s Musician Health & Services Program.

But Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Martin Scorsese and even Bob Dylan will forgive us for making a slight adjustment in our schedule. We’re moving it to the weekend before Thanksgiving!

For all these years, the dozens of musicians, technicians and coordinators who volunteer their time have blocked out Thanksgiving weekend to perform three, three-hour shows. And many fans who leave town on Thanksgiving weekend miss it every year.

So this year, we hope the performers and crew will have a long weekend to spend with their families, go to the beach or check out the snowpack. And those who are routinely away for Thanksgiving will have three nights to choose from to watch The Next Waltz.

This year, the Sunday show starts at 5 p.m., for those who may need to go to work on Monday – or those of us old enough to remember the original Last Waltz and who can’t stay up past 10 anymore!

Tickets sell out well before the event, so get yours soon! 

You can read more about Portland’s The Next Waltz on The JWF website.