Don Was Announces 2025–26 Tour with Pan-Detroit Ensemble

Photo Credit: Tristan Williams

Six-time GRAMMY-winning musician, producer, and composer Don Was has announced new tour dates for his latest project, Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble. Following the release of their new album Groove in the Face of Adversity (out now via Mack Avenue Records), the group will bring its Motor City–driven sound on the road in early 2025 and 2026. In addition to performing music from the new album, each show will feature a live rendition of Blues for Allah in honor of the Grateful Dead album’s 50th anniversary — a nod to Don’s longstanding connection to the Dead universe.

Listen to Groove in the Face of Adversity: https://lnk.to/dwpdePR

Drawing on five decades of wide-ranging influence, the Ensemble’s sound channels Detroit’s musical DNA with a blend of gritty jazz, juke-joint blues, and loose-limbed funk — a style both timeless and deeply personal. The Pan-Detroit Ensemble features an all-star lineup of hometown musicians, including longtime collaborator Dave McMurray on saxophone and Oscar-winning keyboardist Luis Resto (Eminem). Additional members include trombonist Vincent Chandler, trumpeter John Douglas, drummer Jeff Canaday, percussionist Mahindi Masai, guitarist Wayne Gerard, and vocalist Steffanie Christi’an.

“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.”

Across five decades, Don Was has become one of the industry’s most respected figures — not only as a bassist and composer, but also as one of the most influential producers of his generation. His credits include landmark work with The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, John Mayer, and Willie Nelson, with combined sales topping 100 million albums. His accolades include a BAFTA Award (Backbeat), an Emmy (The Beatles: The Night That Changed America), and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association.

Beyond his studio work, Was has spent more than 15 years leading the Don Was Detroit All-Star Revue, and he hosts two ongoing radio shows: The Don Was Motor City Playlist on WDET-FM and Dinner with Don Was on SiriusXM. Since 2018, he has toured globally with Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros, the group he co-founded with Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir.

Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble – Tour Dates

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

“`