Martin Scorsese to direct Robbie Robertson tribute concert movie
Legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese is set to direct a new concert film celebrating the life of the late Robbie Robertson.
In July, the tribute concert was announced in memory of The Band founder at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, which is set to take place on October 17th. Initially, Scorsese was announced as an executive producer of the show, but now it has been revealed that he’ll be tasked with directing proceedings, and creating a concert film.
The event is titled, Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson, and is set to feature performances from the likes of Mavis Staples, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Noah Kahan, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Trey Anastasio, Daniel Lanois, Jim James, Warren Haynes and Bruce Hornsby.
Furthermore, guest performers will be joined by the house band consisting of Ryan Bingham, Jamey Johnson, The Heartbreakers’ Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench, Don Was, John Medeski, Dave Malone, Terence Higgins, Cyril Neville, Mark Mullins and the Levee Horns.
Robertson passed away in 2023. While specific details of his death have been kept under wraps, his manager, Jared Levine, confirmed that Robertson had privately battled with a long illness, and died surrounded by his loved ones.
At this stage, no details have been announced regarding the Life Is a Carnival: A Musical Celebration of Robbie Robertson concert movie, and when it will be available to watch. However, Scorsese’s involvement is fitting, considering he previously directed the 1978 documentary, The Last Waltz, which captured The Band’s iconic farewell in San Francisco.
Martin Scorsese’s relationship with Robbie Robertson
Following The Last Waltz, Scorsese established a tight-knit relationship with Robertson that saw the musician create the soundtrack to a number of the director’s movies, including Raging Bull, Casino, The Departed, and The Irishman.
Their final project was Killers of the Flower Moon, which was released after Robertson’s death. Following the release of the film, Scorsese said of losing Robertson in an interview with Variety, “I just miss Robbie, period. The friendship, the work, the tales he told — all of it.”
“It meant a lot to both of us that we did this project together,” Scorsese explained about the Golden Globe-nominated soundtrack of their final collaboration. He also stated that “Killers of the Flower Moon was a kind of culmination” of their entire friendship.
Looking ahead to the future, Scorsese admitted that Robertson would be irreplaceable, adding, I’ll work with people who bring something different. But I would never imagine that someone could replace Robbie.”
Confirmation of Scorsese’s involvement with crafting a concert film on Robertson’s career comes after he recently rubbished retirement rumours. His comments arrived after he postponed work on The Life of Jesus and a biopic on Frank Sinatra, which fuelled speculation that he planned to quit directing.
Thankfully, during a press conference at the Museum of Cinema in Italy, the filmmaker said: “I’m not saying goodbye to cinema at all, I still have more films to make, and I hope God gives me the strength to make them.”
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