| | Festival Express DVD Band / Jerry Garcia / Janis Joplin CDS
 (8 Customer Reviews)
| Category | Rock DVDs, Pop/Rock Movies, Music Video - Rock Videos, Music Video, Documentary, Pop Music Videos, Live Performances, Rock And Roll, Live Concerts, Drugs, 1960s, Trains, Tours, Canada | | Starring | Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Band, Buddy Guy, Sha Na Na, Delaney & Bonnie, Flying Burrito Brothers, Ian & Sylvia | | Director | Bob Smeaton | | Producer | John Trapman |
Festival Express is a rousing record of a little-known, but monumental, moment in rock n' roll history, starring such music legends as Janis Joplin, The Band, and the Grateful Dead. Set in 1970, Festival Express was a multi-band, multi-day extravaganza that captured the spirit and imagination of a generation and a nation. What made it unique was that it was portable; for five days, the bands and performers lived, slept, rehearsed and did countless unmentionable things aboard a customized train that traveled from Toronto, to Calgary, to Winnipeg, with each stop culminating in a mega-concert. The extensive footage was locked away..until now. In the summer of 1970, a rock festival travelled across Canada by luxury train, stopping in Toronto, Calgary, and Winnipeg. Lured by the promise of a mobile party, Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, The Band, Buddy Guy, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and Ian & Sylvia signed on to the tour for a fraction of their usual fees. The performances and the stars' antics on the train were both filmed, only to be locked away for 25 years. The colorful and thrilling results, seen here for the first time, capture these artists at their loosest and most natural. Fans of Joplin and the Dead will find reason to rejoice in the playful footage of these icons enjoying each other's company on the train, as well as their blistering stage performances. The events are also put into context through new interviews with the surviving musicians, including Buddy Guy, the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir, and Mickey Hart, who speak frankly and humorously about the tour. Once buried in reputation by the era's other historic concert events such as Woodstock, or the Rolling Stones at Altamont--FESTIVAL EXPRESS is proof that a monumental live event in '60s rock has been long overlooked. Theatrical Release: JULY 23, 2004 (LIMITED) Festival Express Reviews: "FESTIVAL EXPRESS is most memorable for the charismatic presence of Joplin and Garcia..."
-- Nigel Williamson, Uncut "[A] delicious pop time capsule full of small moments and grand rock 'n' roll gestures."-- Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times "[T]hose fortunate enough to have been on this travelling rock'n'roll circus knew even then they'd never see its like again."
-- Mojo Staff, Mojo "[T]he main focus is the gigs, with uninterrupted performances form the likes of the Grateful Dad, the band and Janis Joplin..."
-- Matthew Leyland, Sight and Sound "FESTIVAL EXPRESS is a likable time capsule....The best reason to see the movie is Janis Joplin, whose volcanic stage presence erupts right out of her dazed instability."
-- Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
This is the only Delaney & Bonnie video. Stars also making their debut in this video: Flying Burrito Brothers, Ian & Sylvia. Festival Express Movie Review Average Rating: (4.3 out of 5 stars)   List All Reviews Counter-culture insight
A fun movie... recommended for fans of the counter-culture generation. Good tunes and interesting footage. Excellent for getting a real life look at the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band, and more.
Submitted by Kelly (Pittsburgh, PA, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No 1 of 1 found this helpful.
 I love the Band
It's always exciting and a delight to see and hear music from these groups,especially the Band
Submitted by TheGrods (Queens, NY, USA) 
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A near perfect time capsule of a time to be cherised
I was pleasantly surprised how well this DVD was done. After seeing the movie in theatres earlier this year, it was a pleasure to be able to watch this at home. The transfer to digital from the original film was done very well, it doesn't look quite as granular now as it did at the cinema. Of course, the film itself is very well done and is a must for any rock enthusiast (even better if you are a fan of the Band, Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead). Since so little footage is available of these bands around the same time, especially the Dead, it is a treat to see these groups in their prime. The performances for the most part are great, as is the footage on the train itself, although i suppose there could be more interview segments.
The bonus footage available for the first time on the DVD is great too. The highlight for me is the two bonus Grateful Dead songs, both featuring the much-missed Pigpen on lead vocals. Why these didn't make the movie is beyond me - the 'Easy Wind' is quite spectacular. Which isn't to say the rest of the bonus footage isn't great as well. It is, and this is one historial time capsule that is worth taking the time to investigate.
Submitted by sean (Hamilton, ON, Canada)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  A great trip back through time
You know, I could watch Janis Joplin all night long. I could listen to that B3 in the Band all night long. I only wish the movie was longer! Pretty chincy on the second disc, but that wasn't why I bought it. Highly recommend to all current and ex-hippies of the era.
Submitted by reed (St. Louis)
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¡¡¡THE COOLEST RIDE BY FAR!!!!
This is probably one of the best visual documents of the festival era, Imagine!!! The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Buddy Guy, The Band, and a lot more musicians in a train having jams all the time and eventually stopping to play a concert,,,great music,,,I love Janis Joplin, Cry Baby, she is sweeter than honey,in Grateful Dead "New Speedway Boogie" you can see how far was Garcia from our dimension, you can see his eyes looking further in space. The Jams in the train are incredible,there is one with Rick Danko from the Band,Janis,Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir.Its like being there, actually for the Garcia fans that never got to see it, this is it, you will see how he flirt with Janis while they play. Buddy Guy perfomance is hot, it burns. To See Levon Helm from The Band singing the Weight and Richard Manuel singing I Shall be released is incredible. Pigpen at his best doing "Easy Wind",he died 2 years later,,here he is full of power ...I think Its the coolest ride I have ever saw...
Submitted by Alan Brain (Lima, Peru)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No List All Reviews | Have you seen this movie? |  |
Festival Express DVD Festival Express is a rousing record of a little-known, but monumental, moment in rock n' roll history, starring such music legends as Janis Joplin, The Band, and the Grateful Dead. Set in 1970, Festival Express was a multi-band, multi-day extravaganza that captured the spirit and imagination of a generation and a nation. What made it unique was that it was portable; for five days, the bands and performers lived, slept, rehearsed and did countless unmentionable things aboard a customized train that traveled from Toronto, to Calgary, to Winnipeg, with each stop culminating in a mega-concert. The entire experience, both off-stage and on, was filmed but the extensive footage remained locked away -- until now. A momentous achievement in rock film archeology, Festival Express combines this long-lost material with contemporary interviews nearly 35 years after it was first filmed.
Source: Warner Home Video
Region 1
Keep Case
Full Frame -
1.33
Audio:
Dolby Surround 5.1 - English
Dolby Surround Stereo 2.0 - English
Additional Release Material:
Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer
DVD-ROM Features:
Festival Express Video Bob Dylan World Tours 1966-1974 - Through the Camera of Barry Feinstein, Complete Monterey Pop Festival, Doors - Soundstage Performances, Gimme Shelter, Jimi Hendrix - Live at Woodstock, Jimi Plays Monterey/Shake! Otis at Monterey, Joe Cocker - Live: Across From Midnight Tour, John Lennon - Imagine, Message to Love: The Isle of Wight Festival - The Movie, Monterey Pop, No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, Woodstock: Three Days of Peace & Music (The Director's Cut) Purchase Festival Express Movie To buy, Click on price to add to cart | Last Waltz DVD (1978) Special Edition; Subtitled; Widescreen
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Those familiar with the Live Adventures album these two recorded at the Fillmore West know how brilliant they could be on stage, and here's another gem, recorded at the Fillmore East this time and featuring 'One Way Out,' 'It's My Own Fault' (with Bloomfield trading licks with Johnny Winter...Johnny was signed to Columbia after this gig!). Newly remastered & now with 4 bonus tracks, 'Albert's Shuffle' (2002 Remix w/o Horns), 'Season of the Witch.' (2002 Remix w/o Horns), 'Blues For Nothing' (Studio Outtake) & 'Fat Grey Cloud' Previously Unreleased Live Track). Features 12-page booklet with unpublished photos from the recording session, new liner notes by Al Kooper & the Rolling Stone Hall Of Fame review by David Fricke. 60 scintillating minutes! 13 tracks. Colunbia/Legacy. 2003.
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Standard Screen; Soundtrack Spanish
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