Sound+Vision Ballina Arts Centre’s annual film festival returns this year for a week-long programme celebrating music in film. The festival, now in its seventh year, is an integral part of Ballina Arts Centre’s film programme and each year takes a theme. This year the theme is ‘In Concert!’ and the programme will feature a number of classic concert movies. From the celluloid Valhalla of The Song Remains the Same to Jonathan Demme’s innovative Stop Making Sense, Sound+Vision: In Concert! Will have something for everyone and will truly celebrate music in film.
As with previous years the programme of film screening will be augmented by a live performance. This year, we welcome Dublin-based The Group with their live recreation of the greatest concert film of them all – The Last Waltz, a fitting way to round off a week of classic performances.
The programme kicks off on Monday July 30 with Lou Reed’s Berlin: Live at St Ann's Warehouse. Recorded in 1973, it was the record that almost broke him. Berlin was a financial flop and a critical calamity; dismissed as "a disaster" by Rolling Stone magazine. Three decades on, the same publication was hailing it as one of the greatest albums ever made.
Sound+Vision 2012 continues on Tuesday, July 31, with Stop Making Sense (1984 ). Over the course of three nights at Hollywood's Pantages Theatre in December 1983, director Jonathan Demme joined creative forces with cinematographer Jordan Cronenweth and the band Talking Heads... and miracles occurred.
Fans of classic rock will be salivating at the prospect of seeing The Song Remains the Same, on Wednesday, August 1. Led Zeppelin's film mixes their 1973 concert at Madison Square Garden with fantasy scenes and footage of the group members backstage and at home.
Ireland’s U2 have, like most other major bands, committed themselves to celluloid on more than one occasion, most successfully with 1989’s Rattle and Hum. And on Thursday, August 2, younger viewers will get a chance to see what all the noise was about.
The screenings programme concludes on Friday, August 3, with Elvis: That’s the way it is! (1970 ). Released in 1970, it documents the rehearsals and the six-night stand at the Hilton Hotel in Ls Vegas, presenting the dawn of Vegas Elvis, the legendary showman whose rhinestone-studded attire established the oeuvre for the growing desert oasis. In addition to this legendary showman, we see Elvis the person, wolfing down hamburgers and suffering from pre-show jitters.
Sound+Vision: In Concert! will finish on a high note on Saturday, August, 4 with a re-enacting of probably the greatest concert movie of them all. The Last Waltz, Martin Scorsese’s classic document of the farewell concert by The Band, is one of the best loved music movies of all time. Now, Dublin rock'n'roll troupe The Group have brought their own spin to The Band's magical farewell concert, by creating the ultimate tribute to this sensational show. The concert starts at 8pm and tickets are €20 and €18 (concession rate ). Booking is essential.
For more information on Sound+Vision: In Concert! contact Ballina Arts Centre: 096 73593 / ballinaartscentre.com
