Backstage Pass: Music Documentaries 1967 to 2009

Screenings daily at 5PM. Free Admission

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Atlantic Film Festival and its long-time commitment to music, the Dalhousie Art Gallery's annual collaboration with the AFF will feature these classic music documentaries.

Thursday 16 September- Monterey Pop

D.A. Pennebaker, USA, 1967, 78 minutes. The quintessential "Summer of Love" event, the Monterey Pop Festival - Organized by the Mamas & the Papas (featuring Halifax's Denny Doherty on lead vocals) - witnessed breakthrough performances by Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Otis Redding and Ravi Shankar.

Friday 17 September - Don't Look Back

D.A. Pennebaker, USA, 1967, 95minutes. A touchstone of the cinema verite movement, this on-the-fly portrait of Bob Dylan's acoustic 1965 UK tour sees the singer/songwriter confronting and confounding the machinery of celebrity and fame.

Saturday 18 September- Gimme Shelter

The Maysles Brothers, USA, 1970, 95 minutes. The disasterous Altamont Festival and the Rolling Stones' 1969 tour leading up to the concert gets self-consciously de-constructed, right down to Mick Jagger reacting to footage of the violence. 

Sunday 19 September- The Kids Are Alright

Jeff Stein, UK, 1979, 99 minutes. The Who in all their glory, revealed through archival footage, interviews and live shots. Released just after the passing of the band's drummer Keith Moon.

Monday 20 September- Stop Making Sense

Jonathan Demme, USA, 1984, 88 minutes. The New Wave finally hits the big screen, with art-punkers Talking Heads delivering a standout performance with songs like 'Psycho Killer', 'Once In A Lifetime' and 'Burning Down the House'. Cue the giant suit!

Tuesday 21 September- Down From the Mountain

Chris Hegedus, USA, 2000, 98 minutes. A film of the concert of the American Roots music associated with the Coen Brothers' classic film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Down From the Mountain features bluegrass mainstays like Ralph Stanley, Alison Krauss and Emmylou Harris at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

Wednesday 22 September- Festival Express

Bob Smeaton, Canada, 2003, 90 minutes. The summer of 1970 saw a train-ful of musicians- including Janis Joplin, The Band, Ian and Sylvia and The Grateful Dead - tour across Canada whistle-stop style. The footage was fashioned into a feature film 33 years later.

Thursday 23 September- loudQUIETloud

Matthew Galkin/Steven Cantor, USA, 2006, 85 minutes. Alt-rock greats the Pixies are caught on film during their 2004 reunion tour doing what they do best, with Frank Black and Kim Deal.

Friday 24 September- Anvil! The Story of Anvil

Sacha Gervasi, USA/Canada, 2008, 80 minutes. The hard-luck Toronto rocker's manic European tour manages to revive their fortunes and reputation.

and

Heavy Metal Parking Lot

Jeff Krulik, USA, 1986, 17 minutes. Krulik captures all the energy and insanity of a mid-80s Judas Priest tailgate party in this short film.

Saturday 25 September- The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights

Emmett Malloy, Canada/USA, 2009, 92 minutes. The red, white and black minimalist duo's 2007 tour of Canada, with emphasis on the North and a moving conclusion amongst Jack White's relatives in Glace Bay, Cape Breton.