Little Feat

About this event

Playing is the joy

and satisfaction of touring, but it comes with the hard part -- travel, the

endless miles on a bus. There’s no dodging the wear and tear, and Little Feat

has been playing for quite a while.

With tongue stuck

somewhat in cheek, Little Feat announces “The Last Farewell Tour,” which will

begin in April 2026.

It’s definitely not

an absolute, never-gonna-play again statement. This wind-down will take several

years to accomplish, and while it does, Feat will continue to perform and

record as long as they are able. It’s a retirement from the travel of touring.

Little Feat began in

1969 when Frank Zappa told Lowell George he should start his own band. As

Lowell happened to have a pretty small shoe size, the name became obvious. He

found a partner/keyboard player in Bill Payne and a drummer in Richie Hayward.

After a few

transitions, they added Kenny Gradney (bass), Sam Clayton (percussion), Paul

Barrere (guitar) and eventually Fred Tackett (guitar), and began a now 56-year

journey that has produced dozens of songs “Dixie Chicken,” “Oh, Atlanta,”

“Willin’,” “Fat Man in the Bathtub” and a thousand memories. One result was

one of the best live albums in the history of rock ‘n’ roll, Waiting for

Columbus.

The road (see

above!) is hard, and it cost them first Lowell George in 1979, Richie Hayward

in 2010, and Paul Barrere in 2019. The everlasting Little Feat groove demanded

playing, and they added Scott Sharrard (guitar) and Tony Leone (drums), and may

well be playing at the very height of their powers, recently releasing a

well-received album of original material, Strike Up the Band. Their inimitable

blend of rock, New Orleans swamp boogie, jazz, and blues is not only unique but

an ongoing source of delight.

Feat has an

incredible legacy of music and the celebration that comes with it, and the near

future will see them honoring their own past with more playing.

But it’s time to

give the trusty tour bus, however comfy, a rest.