Life Is a Carnival: Last Waltz Tour ’24 Brings Spirit of 1978 Film to Life

Content sponsored by AEG Presents Rocky Mountains.

The 1978 concert film The Last Waltz wasn’t just a music movie; it captured a defining moment that represented the crossroads of rock, folk and Americana. It documented the Thanksgiving Day 1976 final performance of The Band, one of the most exceptional groups to bridge the gap between roots music and rock and roll. And both The Band and The Last Waltz’s music and spirit continue to inspire and resonate decades later, thanks to a tour with an all-star lineup that captures the collaborative energy of the film.

Life Is a Carnival: Last Waltz Tour ’24 features an incredible lineup led by Ryan Bingham, Lukas Nelson, Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Don Was, John Medeski, Dave Malone, Terence Higgins, Cyril Neville, Mark Mullins & The Levee Horns (featuring the original horn arrangements of Allen Toussaint). Notably, this tour will serve as the first time that original Heartbreakers members Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench have toured together since 2017 (prior to the passing of Tom Petty), and Lukas Nelson, son of Willie Nelson, will join the tour for the Colorado dates.

AEG Presents brings Life Is a Carnival: Last Waltz Tour ’24 to Mission Ballroom on Thursday, October 24.

The Last Waltz hit theaters at a time when rock music was undergoing major shifts. Punk and disco were on the rise, and the idealistic, collaborative spirit that defined the late ’60s and early ’70s was fading. The film is like a time capsule into the musical mix that was peaking just as punk and disco were about to take pop music into new directions. Some of the greatest musicians of the time — Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, the Staple Singers, Van Morrison — shared the stage in the movie, commemorating the close of one chapter in rock history. This was a celebration of American music at its core, where folk, blues, country and rock collided in a joyous, sometimes chaotic harmony.

Now, Life Is a Carnival: Last Waltz Tour ’24 reaffirms the original concert’s legacy in a way that feels fresh and relevant, not just a nostalgia trip. Sure, it’s an ode to The Band and its late guitarist and songwriter Robbie Robertson, who died in 2023, but it’s also a reminder that great music never fades. This live tribute isn’t about replicating the past. It’s about reviving it, breathing new life into songs like “The Weight” and “Up on Cripple Creek” while drawing new audiences into the magic that was The Last Waltz.

The tour doesn’t just pay homage to The Band; it honors the entire idea of musical collaboration that The Last Waltz embodied. There’s something special about seeing today’s musicians — some of whom weren’t even alive when the original film came out — come together and reinterpret these songs. It’s a testament to the idea that music transcends time, constantly evolving yet staying rooted in a shared heritage.

The Last Waltz was more than a concert film. It was a document of community, of creative genius and the emotional power that music holds. And the Last Waltz tour reaffirms the importance of these connections. We don’t just listen to music; we live it, share it, pass it on. That’s what The Last Waltz did, and that’s why its influence still echoes today.

The Last Waltz lives on — not just in the film or the songs, but in the continued reverence for the kind of collaborative, genre-defying creativity that defined that magical night.