Entertainment, Movie Reviews Tags:
1969,
Ang Lee,
Demetri Martin,
Emile Hirsch,
Eugene Levy,
hippie,
movie review,
music festival,
Taking Woodstock,
Woodstock
Ang Lee literally makes Woodstock the backdrop to his latest film. The famous music festival is both seen from a distance and heard from a distance. If you go into “Taking Woodstock” knowing that, you won’t be disappointed (ie. you won’t expect to hear crazy Jimi Hendrix drum solos or Janis Joplin’s electrifying voice).
It’s clear that Lee and his longtime collaborator, screenwriter James Schamus, were less interested in showcasing the ‘60s festival itself and more interested in exposing the impact that Woodstock had and the impression it left on the era. The main problem is “Taking Woodstock” uses stereotypical characters to explain the impact of a larger-than-life event.
Based on the memoirs of Elliot Tiber, this comedy (which has its fair doses of drama) tells the story of Elliot Teichberg (played by Demetri Martin) and his family of struggling Jewish immigrants living in White Lake, NY. In 1969, Elliot stumbled across Woodstock and found a home for the festival without a home.
Elliot, who felt empowered by the gay rights movement, was originally working as an interior designer in Greenwich Village. However, he also felt he needed to lend a helping hand to his overbearing parents and their rundown motel in White Lake called El Monaco. Conveniently enough, Elliot was also the head of the local chamber of commerce, which allowed him to approve a permit for the three day “peace & music” festival.
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The initial wave of performers has been announced for the third annual iTunes Live: London Festival, which will run throughout July at the Roundhouse in north London.
Flo Rida, Oasis, Kasabian, Snow Patrol, Paolo Nutini and the Saturdays are among the confirmed acts, with more artists expected to be announced shortly.
In total, 62 bands will play over 32 consecutive nights starting July 1.
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Girl Power could be back in a big way in 2010.
It seems that Lilith Fair, the all-female travelling music festival that ran from 1997 to 1999, is set to return next year. In a short Twitter post on Friday, Nettwerk CEO and founder Terry McBride wrote: “Lilith Fair 2010 here we come!!”
No other information has been released, but stay tuned to andPOP for updates on this story.
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Lollapalooza is coming full-circle this year.
The recently reunited Jane’s Addiction, fronted by festival founder Perry Farrell, will headline this year’s edition for the first time since the event debuted in 1991. The other headliners announced by promoters Tuesday are Depeche Mode, Tool, the Killers, Beastie Boys, and Kings of Leon.
They join more than 100 performers confirmed for the festival, which will take place at Chicago’s Grant Park from Aug. 7 to 9.
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Music, Rock Tags:
music festival,
Pitchfork Posted on April 19th, 2009 by
Eva Lam
Lineup additions to this summer’s Pitchfork Music Festival means that the Canadian contingent will now include Montreal’s Plants and Animal, Vancouver’s Japandroids and Calgary’s Women.
They join such previously announced performers as Flaming Lips, the National, Grizzly Bear, the Walkmen and Fucked Up for the event, which will take place at Chicago’s Union Park from July 17 to 19. The festival is now in its fourth year and will showcase a range of international acts on three stages.
Organizers have also introduced a new feature this year, dubbed the “Write the Night: Set Lists By Requests” series, in which fans will get to choose the set lists for all four of Friday’s performers.
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The 2009 Roskilde Festival has lined up a diverse roster of performers, including Coldplay, Kanye West, Nine Inch Nails, Oasis and Lil Wayne.
Now in its 39th year, the event is the world’s longest-running outdoor music festival and will take place outside of Copenhagen, Denmark from July 2 to 5.
Other scheduled performers include Lily Allen, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Pet Shop Boys, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Slipknot, Fleet Foxes and the Mars Volta.
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Our Lady Peace, Finger 11, Sloan and supergroup Chickenfoot are part of the lineup for this summer’s inaugural Canadian Forces Halifax Rock Fest.
The day-long event, which is scheduled to take place on Citadel Hill on Aug. 2, will be broadcast to Canadian troops around the world through Canadian Forces Television.
“This concert is about connecting people,” Frank Cleysen, Canadian Forces Halifax personnel support programs manager and general manager for the event, said in a statement.
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The second annual Mile High Music Festival will return to Colorado this summer with headliners Tool, the Fray and Widespread Panic.
The event, slated to take place July 18 and 19 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Denver, will feature dozens of acts spread out over two stages.
Tool will play on Saturday and the Fray will play on Sunday, while Widespread Panic are scheduled to perform on both days.
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