A stunning lineup of musical icons — including Bob Weir, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Trey Anastasio, and Mavis Staples — are coming together Oct. 17, 2024, at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles to honor the life and music of Robbie Robertson. The bill for Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson also includes Ryan Bingham, Mike Campbell, Eric Church, Warren Haynes, Jim James, Jamey Johnson, Noah Kahan, Daniel Lanois, Taj Mahal, Van Morrison, Margo Price, Robert Randolph, Nathaniel Rateliff, Allison Russell, Benmont Tench, and Don Was.
“Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson promises to be a night of electrifying performances featuring superstar artists performing a diverse range of Robbie’s most beloved songs, from his iconic solo work to classic tracks from the Band,” reads a press release. “A portion of the proceeds from the concert event will be donated to The Woodland Cultural Centre that funds and operates a range of arts, history and education programs on the Sixth Nations Reserve in Canada.”
The event is being produced by Martin Scorsese, Robertson’s longtime friend and collaborator, along with Jared Levine, Keith Wortman, and Scooter Weintraub. Ticket sales start Aug. 2 on Ticketmaster.com. More info is available on the show’s official website. (It’s unclear if the show will be professionally filmed, but Scorsese’s involvement suggests that is quite likely.)
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Life Is a Carnival will take place just a little over 14 months after Robertson died after a year-long battle with prostate cancer. “This is shocking news,” Bob Dylan wrote in a statement shortly after the news hit. “Robbie was a lifelong friend. His passing leaves a vacancy in the world.”
The Kia Forum (formerly just the Forum) was the site of Dylan and the Band’s final three performances of their 1974 reunion tour. The majority of 1974 Dylan/Band live LP Before the Flood was recorded at those gigs. A 27-disc box set chronicling the entire tour entitled Bob Dylan—The 1974 Live Recordings is coming out Sept. 20. As the title suggests, it’s devoted solely to Dylan’s nightly set. The Band portion of the show is excluded, saved perhaps for another day.
