Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesCOMING SOON: “Fanny: The Right to Rock” at the CHIRP Music Film Festival

Fanny: The Right to Rock (2021)
Sunday, September 17th 4:15pm

The fact that '70s rock band Fanny isn't in regular rotation on your local "classic oldies" station is very much a testiment to the limits of a music industry with a narrow vision of who should be allowed to rip on stage. As the first all-woman rock band to sign with a major label, the group also had to put up with predjudices of skin color and sexuality. Despite that, the band made their mark on the music world with five albums and a permanent reputation as ground-breakers.

Bobbi Jo Krals documents the band's story and their modern-day reunion as they share stories and look back on what went before. It can be argued that until one has seen and heard the story of Fanny, one's knowlege of Rock and Roll cannot be complete.

"The movie serves as an eye-opening look into one of the most important bands of whom too few people have heard...Heavily punctuated with performance clips, the film gives the kind of visual and aural testimony that mere history books cannot." --Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle

"A little-known story that deserves to be heard, and this documentary is a blast for music lovers old and new." --Louisa Moore, Screen Zealots

The CHIRP Music Film Festival takes place at the historic Davis Theater in Chicago September 14th-17th. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.

CHIRP Radio writesCOMING SOON: “Wattstax” at the CHIRP Music Film Festival

Wattstax (1973)
Sunday, September 17th 2:15pm

Wattstax was a benefit concert organized by Stax Records to commemorate the anniversary of the 1965 Watts riots. The label presented its biggest acts, including the Bar-Kays, Albert King, Carla Thomas, and Chicago's own Staple Singers. Isaac Hayes, in all his '70s Hot Buttered Soul glory, was the headline performance.

Mel Stuart's documentary of the event, which also features appearances by Black icons like Richard Pryor, captures the vitality of the performances and audience while also preserving a window to a part American culture that often doesn't get it tell it's own story.

"Just when you figure that the film industry has exhausted every possible avenue of exploration in the quest to present still another music festival documentary, along comes something with a nice, fresh twist. Such is the case with Wattstax." --Jack Lloyd, Philadelphia Inquirer

"It’s a memorable display of African-American pride—and extravagant 1970s sartorial style—that also makes room for such leading Black cultural figures of the moment as Richard Pryor, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee and Melvin Van Peeble..." --Dennis Harvey, 48 Hills

The CHIRP Music Film Festival takes place at the historic Davis Theater in Chicago September 14th-17th. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.

CHIRP Radio writesCOMING SOON: “Amazing Grace” at the CHIRP Music Festival

Amazing Grace (2018)
Sunday, September 17th 12:00pm

Aretha Franklin's 1972 double album Amazing Grace is conidered a crowing achievement in her massive career. Recorded at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, it remains the best-selling Gospel music recording of all time.

Unlike many live recordings, Franklin's performance was also extensively and crefully filmed in preparation for a documentary release. But technical issues and lawsuits against the producers by Franklin herself delayed the release of anything until 46 years later. Since 2018, Alan Elliott and Sydney Pollack's poduction has been making the rounds, thrilling audiences with the sights and sounds of a monumental achievement by the Queen of Soul.

"In Amazing Grace, Aretha Franklin transcends the blues by saying a little prayer - or singing one - for all of us." --Owen Gleiberman, Variety

"87 minutes of pure joy." --Nell Minow, Movie Mom

The CHIRP Music Film Festival takes place at the historic Davis Theater in Chicago September 14th-17th. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.

CHIRP Radio writesCOMING SOON: “Almost Famous” at the CHIRP Music Film Festival

Almost Famous (2000)
Saturday, September 16th 8:00pm

Before social media, before 9/11, before Covid, before so many things, the idea of the rock-star life was shrouded in myths and legends. Life on the road, the screaming fans, the nonstop antics - to not only document the party but also be a part of it is what some would call a dream come true. Cameron Crowe's semi-autobiographical love letter to finding a place in the world tells the story of a young man who gets the chance to do live that dream as he attempts to tell the story of the band Stillwater, and in doing so, gets a front row seat to the highs and lows of the ultimate lifestyle.

"A blissfully sweet coming-of-age movie in which everyone, young and less young, comes of age." --Peter Rainer, New York Magazine/Vulture

"Almost Famous is a time capsule, a vessel into the past that beams with life. A coming of age jewel with fantastic performances and a nurturing musical embrace. It’ll never stop singing.." --Kristy Strouse, Cinematic Lovelies

The CHIRP Music Film Festival takes place at the historic Davis Theater in Chicago September 14th-17th. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.