In 1970, The Festival Express was the given name to a train that carried bands and a film crew across the Canadian landscape for three festivals, starting at Toronto, to Winnipeg and ending in Calgary; heading west in the traditional sense. The bands that called this train home included Janis Joplin, The Band, The Grateful Dead, Sha Na Na, The Flying Burrito Bros and many more. The train was a living hybrid, that never slept the entire trip. Constantly awake on alcohol and drugs accompanied by many jam sessions. It was a never ending party; with an emergency stop in Saskatoon for more alcohol. The festivals while attracting many fans, sparked protests. People protested in the streets demanding the festival be free admission, which the musicians couldn't afford. The protest followed them from each town, people storming the gates and attacking the countless police; the power of music or scroungy bums?
The footage of The Festival Express was lost when the production company holding this footage went under. On its discovery, the film you see is what you get. The footage is so beautiful, holding the warmth the bands shared with one another. The sound design is so crisp it penetrates your mind, resonating and haunting, craftily creating the illusion of being in the presence of the musicians. The shows are captivating to watch. Absolutely mesmerising is Janis Joplin, singing her heart out on Cry Baby. There is this rawness captured in the performances. All the bands were there to perform and give the best show possible they could conjure from within themselves every time.
With modern day interviews of band members and organisers, with their reminiscent of their times spent with all the bands, the conflicts from the protesters and the hard fact that this will never happen again. There is onus that you either know the bands or you don't. If your unfamiliar with any of the bands, you are left in the dark on who they are. While information about who these people are would help the uninformed, the music and the shows are the real point, not the lives of the bands.
Must see viewing for all lovers of this music, The Festival Express is a runaway train of great music and mind blowing performances.
The footage of The Festival Express was lost when the production company holding this footage went under. On its discovery, the film you see is what you get. The footage is so beautiful, holding the warmth the bands shared with one another. The sound design is so crisp it penetrates your mind, resonating and haunting, craftily creating the illusion of being in the presence of the musicians. The shows are captivating to watch. Absolutely mesmerising is Janis Joplin, singing her heart out on Cry Baby. There is this rawness captured in the performances. All the bands were there to perform and give the best show possible they could conjure from within themselves every time.
With modern day interviews of band members and organisers, with their reminiscent of their times spent with all the bands, the conflicts from the protesters and the hard fact that this will never happen again. There is onus that you either know the bands or you don't. If your unfamiliar with any of the bands, you are left in the dark on who they are. While information about who these people are would help the uninformed, the music and the shows are the real point, not the lives of the bands.
Must see viewing for all lovers of this music, The Festival Express is a runaway train of great music and mind blowing performances.