Martin Scorsese to direct Robbie Robertson tribute concert film
It’s one last waltz for Robbie and Marty.
Variety reports that Martin Scorsese is directing the filming of a tribute concert dedicated to his late friend and collaborator Robbie Robertson for a concert film. The Blackbird Presents (Outlaw Music Festival)-produced concert, called “Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson,” will take place Thursday at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. Plans for the release of the future film have not been set.
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Robertson, the legendary musician and songwriter best known for his work with the legendary roots rock outfit The Band, died in 2023 at age 80. His relationship with Scorsese went back to the 1970s, when Scorsese directed “The Last Waltz,” the 1978 star-studded concert film commemorating The Band’s final performance. Robertson then worked as a composer, music supervisor, or consultant on many of Scorsese’s films, including “Raging Bull,” “The Color of Money,” “Casino,” and “The Irishman.” He composed some of the score for “Killers of the Flower Moon” shortly before his death, and received a posthumous Academy Award nomination for his work. The film is dedicated to him.
Scorsese said after Robertson’s death, “Robbie Robertson was one of my closest friends, a constant in my life and my work. I could always go to him as a confidante. A collaborator. An advisor. I tried to be the same for him.”
He added, “There’s never enough time with anyone you love. And I loved Robbie.”
Performers at “Life Is a Carnival” include Eric Clapton and Van Morrison, both of whom appeared in “The Last Waltz,” as well as Trey Anastasio, Eric Church, Warren Haynes, Bruce Hornsby, Jim James, Daniel Lanois, Taj Mahal, Margo Price, Robert Randolph, Nathaniel Rateliff, Allison Russell, Mavis Staples, Bobby Weir, and Lucinda Williams.
According to Variety, the house band will feature Ryan Bingham, Jamey Johnson, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Don Was, John Medeski, Dave Malone, Terence Higgins, Cyril Neville, Mark Mullins and the Levee Horns.
Scorsese is an executive producer of the concert, along with Jared Levine, Keith Wortman, and Scooter Weintraub.
Scorsese has directed numerous music documentaries throughout his career, including the Bob Dylan docs “No Direction Home” and “Rolling Thunder Revue,” the Rolling Stones concert film “Shine a Light,” and “George Harrison: Living in the Material World.”
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