Don Was Takes Detroit’s Groove Nationwide with a Massive 2026 Tour
Just after releasing a new album called Groove in the Face of Adversity, Don Was has announced a massive tour with his Pan-Detroit Ensemble for 2026. The bassist will be bringing the sound of Motor City to much of the United States from January to February.
“There’s a unique sound and feel to Detroit that permeates the music in a way that resonates all over the globe,” says Was. “There’s a rawness, a lack of pretension, and an unmistakable underlying groove that reflects the people and culture of the entire city.”
The tour kicks off January 9th with two nights at the Blue Llama in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They’ll hit major cities like New York, Washington DC, and Pittsburgh as they focus on the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. They’ll cut across the states for three dates between Colorado and California before zipping back to Nashville on February 4th. The last two weeks focus on the Southeast, wrapping up at the Lyric Theatre in Stuart, Florida on February 15th. Was and the crew will be appearing at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee on March 28th.
Was has had a storied career as a bassist and producer, working with artists including Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, and more. He’s also the President of Blue Note Records.
He plays upright bass with the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, which will be performing a mixture of songs from Groove in the Face of Adversity as well as a live rendition of the Grateful Dead’s Blues For Allah. (Was also plays with Dead guitars Bob Weir in the Wolf Bros.)
Check out his slinky groove on the Baby Bass on “Nubian Lady”:
Don Was & The Pan-Detroit Ensemble 2026 Tour Dates:
| Date | Location | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 9 | Ann Arbor, MI | Blue Llama (Early/Late Shows) |
| Jan 10 | Ann Arbor, MI | Blue Llama (Early/Late Shows) |
| Jan 12 | New York, NY | Blue Note (Early/Late Shows) |
| Jan 14 | Ardmore, PA | Ardmore Music Hall |
| Jan 15 | Washington, DC | Atlantis |
| Jan 16 | Pittsburgh, PA | Thunderbird Café & Music Hall |
| Jan 17 | Cleveland, OH | Beachland Ballroom & Tavern |
| Jan 18 | Morgantown, WV | Mountain Stage (NPR) |
| Jan 20 | Indianapolis, IN | The Vogue |
| Jan 22 | Decatur, AL | Princess Theater |
| Jan 23 | Germantown, TN | Highland Performance Hall (GPAC) |
| Jan 24 | Edwardsville, IL | Wildey Theatre |
| Jan 25 | Chicago, IL | Garcia’s |
| Jan 29 | Denver, CO | Newman Center for the Performing Arts |
| Jan 30 | Aspen, CO | Wheeler Opera House |
| Feb 1 | Aliso Viejo, CA | Soka University |
| Feb 4 | Nashville, TN | Basement East |
| Feb 5 | Atlanta, GA | Variety Playhouse |
| Feb 6 | Birmingham, AL | Alys Robinson Stephens PAC |
| Feb 7 | Savannah, GA | District Live at Plant Riverside District |
| Feb 10 | Sarasota, FL | The Venue at Harvest House |
| Feb 11 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | Parker Playhouse |
| Feb 12 | Clearwater, FL | The Capitol |
| Feb 13 | Orlando, FL | Phillips Center PAC at Judson’s Hall |
| Feb 14 | St. Augustine, FL | Fort Mose Historic State Park |
| Feb 15 | Stuart, FL | Lyric Theatre |
| Mar 26 | Winston-Salem, NC | The Ramkat |
| Mar 28 | Knoxville, TN | Big Ears Festival |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
