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.