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Festival Express
Rated R · 90 minutes · 2003
In 1970, post Woodstock, promoters had
the well-meaning idea of taking some of
the world’s greatest bands on a
cross-Canada tour by train, providing
day-long
music festivals for a $16 ticket. The
Grateful Dead, The Band, Janis Joplin
and Buddy Guy among others got on
the tracks, drank a lot of booze and played
their hearts out. This film boasts some
incredible concert footage, as well as
some tasty on-train jams from mightily
intoxicated musical superstars. But it’s
most interesting when retelling events in
certain Canadian territories where
protesters refused to pay for music and
demanded free entrance. The protests
often erupted into violence, with
policeman and civilians getting major
injuries and performers like The Grateful
Dead’s Bob Weir becoming enraged.
Due to the protests, the festival lost a lot
of money, and some people missed out
on music history. As for the
performances, Buddy Guy steals the film
with his rendition of "Money," although
Joplin is no slouch with "Cry Baby." This
is an intriguing and entertaining concert
film/documentary.
Official Site: www.festivalexpress.com
Director: Bob Smeaton
Producer: Gavin Poolman and John Trapman
Cast: Janis Joplin and The Grateful Dead
Director: Bob Smeaton
Producer: Gavin Poolman and John Trapman
Cast: Janis Joplin and The Grateful Dead
