Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble at the Holly Theatre

Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble
Tuesday, May 4, 2027

 Doors 6:30 PM | Concert 7:30 PM

For more than five decades, Don Was has moved freely across the landscape of American music as a bassist, producer, composer, bandleader, and one of the industry’s most respected musical minds.

Now, Was brings together the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, a powerhouse group of musicians rooted in the sound and spirit of his hometown, for a concert that connects Detroit groove with one of the most celebrated albums in the Grateful Dead catalog.

Drawing on the wide-ranging influences of Was’s career, the Pan-Detroit Ensemble’s debut album, Groove in the Face of Adversity, channels the soul of the Motor City through steamy jazz, juke-joint blues, loose-limbed funk, and a sound that feels both timeless and deeply personal.

For this special tour, Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble will perform music from Groove in the Face of Adversity alongside a live rendition of the Grateful Dead’s legendary Terrapin Station, celebrating the album’s 50th anniversary and Was’s long musical association with Bobby Weir.

Was’s extraordinary career has placed him at the center of countless musical worlds. As a founding member of Was (Not Was), an acclaimed producer, longtime president of Blue Note Records, and a member of Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros, he has spent decades bringing remarkable musicians together and following great songs wherever they lead.

This night brings those threads together: Detroit soul, jazz, funk, the music of the Grateful Dead, and a band built around the joy of musicians playing together in the moment.

Experience Don Was & the Pan-Detroit Ensemble inside the Olsrud Family Auditorium for a night where Detroit groove meets Terrapin Station and five decades of musical exploration come alive at the Historic Holly Theatre.