Nearly 48 years after capturing the farewell performance of The Band in The Last Waltz, Martin Scorsese will return to the director’s chair for another monumental tribute to his longtime friend and collaborator at the upcoming Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson.
Slated for this Thursday, October 17th, the star-studded tribute will feature Trey Anastasio, Bob Weir, Elvis Costello, Warren Haynes, Jim James, Margo Price, Eric Church, and Noah Kahan, as well as The Last Waltz veterans like Eric Clapton and Van Morrison at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum. Initially announced in July, the concert will now become a full-scale film under the direction of Scorsese himself, a pivot from his original role as an executive producer.
Scorsese’s decision to take the helm of this project feels particularly poignant given his long history with Robertson, who passed away in August 2023 at the age of 80. Their creative partnership spanned decades, with Robertson serving as the music producer and composer for many of Scorsese’s iconic films, including The King of Comedy, Casino, Gangs of New York, The Irishman, and, most recently, Killers of the Flower Moon. Scorsese’s deep admiration for Robertson transcended the professional realm, with the director referring to him as one of his “closest friends” and “a constant” in both his life and work.
In a touching tribute penned for Rolling Stone following Robertson’s passing, Scorsese reflected on the profound personal and artistic bond they shared: “I could always go to him as a confidante. A collaborator. An advisor. I tried to be the same for him.” This sentiment will likely resonate throughout Life Is a Carnival, which is poised to be not just a concert film, but a cinematic elegy to a friendship that helped shape the soundtracks of so many lives.
For those familiar with The Last Waltz, this film will surely feel like a full-circle moment, with Scorsese paying one final tribute to the man whose songs helped define not only the final chapter of The Band but also the soundscape of his own storied career.
Tickets for Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson are available here.