Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble Celebrate 50 Years of the Grateful Dead’s “Blues for Allah” on Tour
Don Was took his new band, the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, on tour earlier this year, and he’s about to hit the road again. The outfit will begin in their home state of Michigan before heading southeast throughout October.
Together, they’ll be performing songs from their upcoming debut album (due out this fall) as well as a full performance of The Grateful Dead’s Blues for Allah to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Was is tied into the Grateful Dead camp as he’s a member of Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros. Combine that with the fact that he calls the Pan-Detroit Ensemble a “nine-piece soul jazz group from Detroit,” and you can expect some incredible renditions of the songs.
If you’re not familiar with Don Was, you should be.
“A Detroit native, Don Was has spent five decades as a producer, bassist, composer, and the longtime head of Blue Note Records. He has produced landmark albums for The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, and more, with combined sales approaching 100 million records,” a press release explains. “His accolades include a BAFTA Award for Best Original Score (Backbeat), an Emmy for Music Direction (The Beatles: The Night That Changed America), and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association.”
The Pan-Detroit Ensemble tour will kick off in Traverse City, Michigan, at The Alluvion. They’ll snake through Michigan, Illinois, and Kentucky before reaching Charlottesville, Virginia. The final date is slated for October 18th in Buford, Georgia.
Check out the band’s sound with this new video for “Midnight Marauders”:
Don Was & The Pan-Detroit Ensemble Tour Dates:
| Date | Location | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| October 8 | Traverse City, MI | The Alluvion |
| October 9 | Lansing, MI | Grewal Hall at 224 |
| October 10 | Evanston, IL | Space |
| October 11 | Detroit, MI | The Majestic Theatre |
| October 15 | Louisville, KY | Headliners Music Hall |
| October 16 | Charlottesville, VA | Jefferson Theater |
| October 17 | Saxaphahaw, NC | Haw River Ballroom |
| October 18 | Buford, GA | Lanier Islands |
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.
