Blackbird Presents is excited to announce a major tribute concert, Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson, set to take place on October 17, 2024, at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. This special event will feature a remarkable lineup of artists paying homage to the legendary musician, including Trey Anastasio, Ryan Bingham, Mike Campbell, Eric Church, Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, Warren Haynes, Bruce Hornsby, Jim James, Jamey Johnson, Noah Kahan, Daniel Lanois, Taj Mahal, Van Morrison, Margo Price, Robert Randolph, Nathaniel Rateliff, Allison Russell, Mavis Staples, Benmont Tench, Don Was, Bobby Weir, and Lucinda Williams.
Robbie Robertson, a towering figure in music, is celebrated for his pioneering work as a guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of The Band. His contributions are widely acknowledged as foundational to the Americana genre. Robertson’s songwriting legacy includes classics such as “The Weight,” “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” and “Up on Cripple Creek.” His influential role in music was further immortalized in Martin Scorsese’s 1976 film The Last Waltz, which documented The Band’s farewell concert and featured performances by icons including Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and Joni Mitchell. In 2019, The Last Waltz was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry for its cultural impact.
Following The Last Waltz, Robertson collaborated with Scorsese as a composer, music supervisor, and producer on several critically acclaimed films, including Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, Casino, Gangs of New York, The Departed, Shutter Island, The Wolf of Wall Street, Silence, The Irishman, and Killers of the Flower Moon. The latter, which resonated with Robertson due to his indigenous heritage, earned him a posthumous Oscar nomination.
Robertson’s illustrious career also includes induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. He has received multiple Lifetime Achievement Awards, including honors from the Grammy Awards and the Six Nations community.
Life Is a Carnival will celebrate Robertson’s extensive catalog, from his influential solo work to his celebrated songs with The Band. The event will take place at The Forum, a venue historically significant to Robertson and The Band, marking 50 years since it hosted the final show of Bob Dylan and The Band’s renowned tour.
The concert is executive produced by Martin Scorsese, Jared Levine, and Keith Wortman, with Live Nation serving as the event promoter. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Woodland Cultural Centre, which supports arts, history, and education programs on the Six Nations Reserve in Canada.
