Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble to Launch Fall 2026 Tour

Six-time Grammy-winning musician, producer, and composer Don Was has announced fall 2026 tour dates for Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, a group of Detroit-based jazz musicians whose debut album, Groove in the Face of Adversity, is out now on Mack Avenue Records. The ensemble, which includes saxophonist Dave McMurray, trombonist Vincent Chandler, trumpeter John Douglas, drummer Jeff Canady, percussionist Mahindi Masai, guitarist Wayne Gerard, and vocalist Steffanie Christi'an, will perform music from the new record alongside a live rendition of the Grateful Dead's BLUES FOR ALLAH, marking the album's 50th anniversary and reflecting Was's longstanding musical connection with Bob Weir. The fall run follows a set of headlining dates next month and appearances on the Outlaw Music Festival Tour in August.

The Pan-Detroit Ensemble features top-tier jazz musicians from Was's hometown, including longtime collaborator Dave McMurray on saxophone, and additional members include trombonist Vincent Chandler, trumpeter John Douglas, drummer Jeff Canady, 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.'

Over the past five decades, Don Was has become one of music's most respected figures — as a producer, bassist, composer, and longtime head of Blue Note Records. His production credits span The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, and many others, with combined sales exceeding 100 million albums. His honors include a BAFTA Award (Backbeat), an Emmy (The Beatles: The Night That Changed America), and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association.

In addition to leading the Don Was Detroit All-Star Revue for more than 15 years, he co-hosts The Don Was Motor City Playlist on Detroit's WDET-FM and Dinner with Don Was on SiriusXM. Since 2018, he has toured worldwide 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:

Aug 3 - Phoenix, AZ - MIM
Aug 5 - Tucson, AZ - La Rosa
Aug 6 - Santa Fe, NM - The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing
Aug 7 - Telluride, CO - Telluride Jazz Festival
Aug 8 - Fort Collins, CO - The Gardens on Spring Creek
Aug 9 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater
Aug 10 - Beaver Creek, CO - Vilar Performing Arts Center
Aug 18 - Maryland Heights, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheater (Outlaw Music Festival Tour)
Aug 19 - Shakopee, MN - Mystic Lake Amphitheater (Outlaw Music Festival Tour)
Aug 21 - East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley Music Theatre (Outlaw Music Festival Tour)
Aug 22 - Clarkston, MI - Pine Knob Music Theatre (Outlaw Music Festival Tour)
Aug 23 - Noblesville, IN - Ruoff Music Center (Outlaw Music Festival Tour)
Aug 25 - Chicago, IL - Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island (Outlaw Music Festival Tour)
Aug 26 - Cincinnati, OH - The Ludlow Garage
Aug 28 - Wantagh, NY - Northwell at Jones Beach Theater (Outlaw Music Festival Tour)
Aug 29 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts (Outlaw Music Festival Tour)
Aug 30 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Albany Med Health System at SPAC (Outlaw Music Festival Tour)
Sep 29 - Austin, TX - Antone's Nightclub
Sep 30 - Austin, TX - Antone's Nightclub
Oct 1 - Houston, TX - The Heights Theater
Oct 2 - Dallas, TX - The Kessler Theater
Oct 3 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads
Oct 4 - Minneapolis, MN - Dakota (Early Show)
Oct 4 - Minneapolis, MN - Dakota (Late Show)
Oct 6 - Traverse City, MI - The Alluvion (Early Show)
Oct 6 - Traverse City, MI - The Alluvion (Late Show)
Oct 7 - Lansing, MI - Grewal Hall at 224
Oct 9 - Kent, OH - The Kent Stage
Oct 10 - Nelsonville, OH - Stuart's Opera House
Oct 11 - Buffalo, NY - Asbury Hall
Oct 13 - Homer, NY - Center for the Arts of Homer
Oct 14 - New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge
Oct 15 - Fairfield, CT - The Warehouse at FTC
Oct 16 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair
Oct 17 - Groton, MA - Groton Hill Music Center
Oct 18 - Bar Harbor, ME - Criterion Theatre

Photo Credit: Kory Thiebault