The Last Waltz – Birmingham Town Hall: Live Review

By John Barlass on 30th November 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

Warwickshire’s WLDFLWRS gather a host of distinguished guests and occupy Birmingham’s Town Hall to celebrate the 49th Anniversary of a seminal concert. And didn’t they celebrate in style?!

A SEMINAL CONCERT – REVISITED

It was history in the making when The Band invited a musical who’s who to join them in bidding a final farewell to their loyal followers at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom on Friday 26th November 1976. The concert, enshrined for posterity on vinyl and celluloid was billed as The Last Waltz and, alongside The Band, featured such performers as Band mentor Ronnie Hawkins, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Dr John, Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, The Staples and, of course, Bob Dylan. It’s a lineup, and a repertoire that anyone with an admiration for the music of The Band has long since committed to memory.

It’s not surprising, therefore, that this seminal concert has been regularly re-enacted on numerous occasions by respectful admirers on both sides of the Atlantic. The one provision that seems to apply is that, if you’re going to attempt to perform The Last Waltz with any measure of credibility, you’ve got to get it absolutely right. And, make no mistake, that’s exactly what Warwickshire American outfit WLDFLWRS and their host of friends achieved at Birmingham Town Hall on 27th November 2025.

AN IMPRESSIVE REGISTER OF GUESTS

WLDFLWRS’ guest list was an impressive one, with names like Nigel Clark (Dodgy), Chris Helme (Seahorses), Neil Ivison (Ginger Wildheart), and At The Barrier faves The Lost Notes. And to top it all, the legendary PP Arnold put in an appearance to blow our socks off with some stunningly soulful interpretations of a few Band favourites. But I’m getting ahead of myself…

WLDFLWRS themselves are a familiar presence around Birmingham and its environs. The band (small case…) are: Katherine Abbott (guitar and vocals), Jack Blackman (guitar and vocals), Wes Finch (bass and vocals), Chris Quirk (drums and vocals) and Jono Wright (guitar and vocals). Observant readers will have noted the preponderance of vocalists amongst that lineup. That’s one of the qualities that help make WLDFLWRS the perfect ensemble to have a convincing crack at The Band’s repertoire.

FAITHFUL RENDITIONS

Birmingham’s magnificent Town Hall was, sadly, only about half full for this splendid concert. Maybe the travel chaos centred around New Street Station had something to do with that but, whatever the reason – if you didn’t manage to make the show, let me tell you: you missed a treat.

At least we able to spread out and take advantage of the space available, before we were roused from our reveries by an earth-shaking blast of Theme From the Last Waltz – the cue for WLDFLWRS to take the stage. They gave early notice of the enjoyment lying ahead with a truly faithful rendition of Up On Cripple Creek before sometime WLDFLWRs Rob Spalton and James McGuire sneaked onto the stage and immediately made their presence felt with their trumpet and sax as the the band slipped seamlessly into a blistering version The Shape I’m In.

And the faithful reproductions kept on coming – no time was wasted as they launched straight into It Makes No Difference. Jack played some wonderful guitar licks and Wes summoned the spirit of the great Rick Danko to inspire his bass playing. Drummer Chris added a vocal contribution (but, then, he’d have to, wouldn’t he?) and James’s sax solo was spine-chilling.

HERE COME THE GUESTS…

Neil Ivison joined the lineup and played some delicious, dirty, swampy guitar on Who Do You Love, before Jack stepped forward to deliver a blistering take on This Wheel’s On Fire. He had the audience sitting on the edges of their seats as he followed an excellent vocal with a guitar solo that was, quite simply, stunning. Keyboardist Elliott Rooney was the next volunteer for lead vocal duties and he duly obliged by subbing for Dr John on a bluesy, sleazy Such a Night that had the whole hall swinging.

Babbajack mainstay Trevor Steger (harmonica) and Stephen Steinhaus (vocals) joined the expanding lineup for a tight, jazzy, run through Caledonia. And, before any of us could draw a breath, Stephen and Trevor exercised their blues chops with an ecstatic, slow-building version of Muddy Waters’ Mannish Boy that convinced each and every one of us that we were, indeed, Hoochie-Coochie people. Then – (it was all happening very quickly) – Jack released the soul in his soul as he replicated Danko’s passion with his delivery of Stage Fright. It was yet another big production number, with oodles of fluid guitar soloing and Rob’s and James’s horns filling any gaps that might have been left.

END OF PART ONE…

It’s always a huge pleasure to welcome The Lost Notes to one of Birmingham’s showcase stages, and so it was as Ben, Lucy and Ollie joined the fun to add their delightful, precise backing vocals to close the half of the show with Down South in New Orleans and a choppy, funky, Don’t Do It. We were having fun – and the fun, as it turned out, was only just beginning…

…PART TWO

During the interval, sundry Lost Notes were spotted onstage, placing mic stands in strategic positions – a sure-fire indication that things were about to start getting REALLY hot – and so it proved.

WLDFLWRS got Part Two of the show underway with a fantastic, brass-drenched Ophelia. Vocals switched from side-to-side and the harmonies were the sharpest yet, as I was reminded, once again, of how funky The Band could be. Introduced as having come “…all the way from Moseley…” The Lost Notes returned to the stage to thrill us with their own familiar harmonies in each chorus of Evangeline. According to Ben, WLDFLWRS and The Lost Notes had only found the time to rehearse together once before the show; you’d never have guessed – so seamless was their combined sound.

A MAGICAL COMBINATION

“Do you all know the words?” asked Ben before the ensemble reached for the sky with a version of Arcadian Driftwood that was perfect in every respect. Indeed, I found myself wondering what could happen if this combination of musicians could get together on a more frequent basis. Just imagine THOSE harmonies charming the crowd at Shrewsbury, Cambridge or Cropredy! We can dream, can’t we?

And, as if to echo those sentiments, Jono asked the obvious question: “Can you think of a better way to spend a Thursday night?” before the band ploughed on, with an adept, rocky take on Further On Up the Road. Jono served up a tasty Claptonesque guitar solo and James’s sax filled the hall, before Elliott’s swirling organ took over, on a song that, under normal circumstances, would be a sure-fire show-closer. But, just now, we were still only getting going.

IS THAT JONI UP THERE?

Katherine Abbott, absent so far from the evening’s proceedings, made up for lost time with a version of Joni Mitchell’s Coyote that was simply stunning. Nobody needed to close their eyes and imagine it really was Joni up there on stage; as well as sounding just right, Katherine even LOOKED the part and Jack and Jono rounded off an excellent song with a couple of lovely, melodic, guitar solos.

Messrs Steinhaus, Steger and Ivison all made their welcome returns to the stage for a funky run through Mystery Train – a guaranteed crowd-pleaser under any circumstances and particularly so tonight, especially when Trevor set the house alight with his red hot, up-too-late, harmonica solo.

AND IS THAT VAN THE MAN?

“One more song that you might know, before we bring on a couple of very special guests,” cried Jono – “…and sing along, if you DO know it!” We did know it, and we did sing along. After all, everyone knows The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, don’t they? Jack’s passionate vocal delivery was one his best, and James’s sax and Rob’s trumpet drove the song to a soaring climax.

The first of those promised very special guests was Nigel Clark and he demonstrated that he was already immersed in the spirit of the evening by entering the stage toting a guitar, a music stand and a pint. “Feel free to dance,” he assured us, as he dived, head first, into Caravan. And, close your eyes, this time, and you’d be convinced that The Man himself was up there on the Town Hall stage, such was the earthy soul in Nigel’s voice.

“I’m going to be Neil Young now,” said Nigel and, to be fair, he had the voice and the posture spot-on . OK, there was no big blob of coke on his upper lip (as far as I could see) as he delivered a faultless Helpless but he was, otherwise, thoroughly convincing. And, he was equally convincing as Bob Dylan as he rouynded off his guest spot with a raunchy Baby Let Me Follow You Down. And, still, the best was yet to come…

PP ARNOLD!

It’s impossible not to love PP Arnold. Her presence and her demeanor could charm a flesh-eating zombie, but, without doubt, it’s that powerhouse of a voice that really wins the day. And, in Birmingham Town Hall on 27th November 2025, she was on top, top form. “Dedicated to everyone here tonight,” her delivery of Forever Young was truly beautiful and she made the sincerity in Dylan’s lyrics sound even more convincing, just by singing them. And, if anything, her heartfelt I Shall Be Released – with The Lost Notes back on stage to add an even stronger dose of ‘oomph’ was even more heartfelt. And the band (small case…) kept us grounded with their tight, precise, backing, even as PP reached for the heavens.

What a show. What an evening. And it wasn’t quite over. I’d never realised that there was so more soul inherent in The Weight, but there is, and PP brought it out for us all to savour in her own unique take on one of the best songs ever written. We had a great time – and, by all appearances, so did the throng up there on stage.