'The Last Waltz' for Philly school kids
by thenotebook on Nov 27 2013 Posted in Latest news
'Last Waltz' for Philly school kids: Philly musician Ali Wadsworth and Andrew Lipke rehearse songs
by Kevin McCorry for NewsWorks
In the wake of the Philadelphia School District's budget crisis, a group of prominent area musicians have banded together to stage a Thanksgiving weekend benefit concert.
They're drawing inspiration from the Martin Scorsese concert film that documented the farewell performance of The Band.
It's "The Last Waltz" for Philadelphia schoolchildren.
In the film, Robbie Robertson, lead guitar player and chief songwriter in The Band, explains to Scorsese that he had to call it quits because of the tremendous strain the group had undergone after a decade-plus of touring on the road.
"It's a goddamned impossible way of life," Robertson told Scorsese.
It's a sentiment that students, parents and teachers in the Philadelphia School District can relate to after a decade-plus of financial volatility.
This year, as the school district closed 24 schools and reduced its staff by 20 percent, Fergus Carey – the owner of Fergie's Pub and Monk's Cafe among other bars and restaurants – was having a revelation.
"I've been dreaming about putting on 'The Last Waltz' Philly-style for years," he said.
When the film -- which features not just The Band, but some of the top artists of
