The Festival
Festival Express was staged in three Canadian cities: Toronto, Winnipeg and Calgary, during the summer of 1970. Rather than flying in to each city, the musicians traveled by chartered Canadian National Railways train, in a total of 14 cars (two engines, one diner, five sleepers, two lounge cars, two flat cars, one baggage car, and one staff car). The train journey between cities ultimately became a combination of non-stop jam sessions and partying which was fueled by alcohol. One highlight of the documentary is a drunken jam session featuring The Band's Rick Danko, the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir, New Riders of the Purple Sage's John Dawson, as well as Janis Joplin. Montreal and Vancouver were also planned but they cancelled the program of both cities.
Festival Express is a 2003 documentary film about the 1970 train tour of the same name across Canada taken by some of North America's most popular rock bands, including The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band and Delaney & Bonnie & Friends. The film combines live footage shot during the 1970 concerts, as well as footage aboard the train itself, interspersed with present-day interviews with tour participants sharing their often humorous recollections of the events.
The film, released by THINKFilm, was produced by Gavin Poolman (son of the original 1970 film shoot's producer, Willem Poolman) together with John Trapman, and directed by Bob Smeaton, with music produced by Eddie Kramer, and features original footage shot in 1970 by Peter Biziou. The original 1970 footage was filmed by director Frank Cvitanovich. A DVD release followed the film's 2003 theatrical run.
The film/docu:
Songs:
Performed in the film:
"Don't Ease Me In", Grateful Dead
"Friend of the Devil", Grateful Dead
"Slippin' and Slidin'", The Band
"Better Take Jesus' Hand" ("Jordan"), solo on the train by Jerry Garcia
"Comin' Home Baby", Mashmakhan
"Money (That's What I Want)", Buddy Guy Blues Band
"Lazy Day", The Flying Burrito Brothers
"The Weight", The Band
"Cry Baby", Janis Joplin
"Ain't No More Cane", jam session on train including Rick Danko, John Dawson, Janis Joplin, Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir
"Rock & Roll Is Here to Stay", Sha Na Na
"New Speedway Boogie", Grateful Dead
"C.C. Rider", Ian & Sylvia and the Great Speckled Bird (with Jerry Garcia and Delaney Bramlett)
"I Shall Be Released", The Band
"Tell Mama", Janis Joplin
Additional songs on DVD:
"Casey Jones", Grateful Dead (opening credits)
"13 Questions", Seatrain
"Child's Song", Tom Rush
"Thirsty Boots", Eric Andersen
"As the Years Go By", Mashmakhan
"Tears of Rage", Ian & Sylvia and Great Speckled Bird
"Hoochie Coochie Man", Buddy Guy Blues Band
"Hard to Handle", Grateful Dead
"Easy Wind", Grateful Dead
"Kozmic Blues", Janis Joplin
"Move Over", Janis Joplin
Other Festival Express performances:
Filmed performances of "Long Black Veil" and "Rockin' Chair", from July 5, 1970 in Calgary appear on The Band's anthology album, A Musical History.
Other festival performers:
These festival performers were not featured in the film or DVD extras:
Robert Charlebois
Delaney & Bonnie (Delaney Bramlett sits in with Great Speckled Bird during "C.C. Rider" and Bonnie Bramlett can be seen on the train)
The Ides of March
James and The Good Brothers
Mountain (member Leslie West can be seen jamming at the beginning of the film)
Ten Years After (only performed in Toronto - fantastic performances of I'm Goin' Home and Slow Blues In C were filmed, but lead guitarist and singer Alvin Lee wouldn't approve their appearance in the film, saying he thought his guitar was out of tune) (the source for this is Gavin Poolman, producer of the film, in May 2011)
Traffic (only performed in Toronto - didn't ride the train; on the DVD, promoter Ken Walker states that Traffic was on the train but the band's record company wouldn't allow them to appear in the film. 2 performances were filmed anyway, however Steve Winwood's management refused permission for these to appear in the film) (the source for this is Gavin Poolman, producer of the film, in May 2011)
The New Riders of the Purple Sage, which, in mid-1970, featured Jerry Garcia on pedal-steel guitar, as well as Mickey Hart as occasional percussionist. Although, John Dawson is seen in the notorious "Ain't No More Cane" scene, sitting on the couch with Rick Danko and Janis Joplin, as they work through several drunken verses of the tune. Buddy Cage can also be seen, performing as a member of Great Speckled Bird.
Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festival_Express
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