Music Film Events Coming to Theaters in 2019

Limited film engagements seem like all the rage right now. The latest band bringing their music to the big screen is INXS, who announced Wednesday (10/16) that their documentary ‘Mystify: Michael Hutchence’ will be coming to theaters for one night only on January 7. The film centers on frontman Hutchence in an attempt to get to know the singer through interviews and “new revelations.” Hutchence passed away in 1997 at the age of 37.

As stated, there are a lot of one-night-only music film experiences coming to theaters within the next few months. These upcoming films vary between concert experiences and documentaries and run the gambit of genres from rock and metal to K-Pop and R&B.

 Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the films headed to theaters this year. Here are eight to keep an eye out for.

1.       INXS: ‘Mystify’ won’t be the first special event INXS is doing this year. On December 9, the band will be bringing ‘INXS: Live Baby Live,’ a concert film shot during their 1991 Wembley Stadium concert, back to the big screen. The film has been restored and includes an extra performance that was left out of the original.

2.       Metallica: In September, Metallica played two special shows with the San Francisco Symphony to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of their historic ‘S&M’ concerts. Dubbed ‘S&M2,’ a film version combining the two performances followed, hitting theaters on October 9. The film became one of the highest-grossing global cinema rock events ever, taking in $5.5 million from more than 3700 showings worldwide. Due to popular demand, the film will be coming back to theaters for one more night on October 30.

3.       Lionel Richie: In 2015, R&B legend Lionel Richie headlined the famed Glastonbury festival during its coveted Sunday teatime slot. ‘Lionel Richie at Glastonbury’ captures that performance for the world to see. Accompanying the film will be a special introductory feature called ‘Road to Glastonbury’ with commentary from Richie, as well as concert and documentary footage. The event takes place November 19. Tickets go on sale Friday.

4.       BTS: Arguably the biggest group to come out of the recent K-Pop explosion, BTS has had special concert film screenings in the past. But those pale in comparison to what they have in store for October 27. ‘BTS World Tour ‘Love Yourself: Speak Yourself’ [The Final]’ finds the group simulcasting the final show of their ‘Speak Yourself’ tour to theaters across the US just hours after it ends in Seoul, South Korea. Theaters in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Japan and South Korea get one step better, the actual livestream of the event as it happens.  

5.       Bruce Springsteen: Even though Bruce Springsteen has decided not to tour behind his latest album, ‘Western Stars,’ that doesn’t mean fans won’t be able to hear the new songs live. For ‘Western Stars’ (the film), Springsteen decided film himself in a nearly 100-year-old barn with a 30-piece orchestra playing the album front to back. Interspersed with the performance is archival footage from throughout his career and new interviews with The Boss. Fans will have two opportunities to see the film in theaters, October 19 and October 23.

6.       John Fogerty: John Fogerty has been traversing North America on his “My 50 Year Trip” tour this year, celebrating a half-century since playing the iconic Woodstock Festival. The former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman will be bringing the tour to the big screen on November 11 with concert film ‘John Fogerty – 50 Year Trip: Live at Red Rocks,’ which captures his June 20^th performance at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.

7.       Lynyrd Skynyrd: Over the last year-and-a-half, Lynyrd Skynyrd has been crossing the globe on their ‘Last of the Street Survivors’ farewell tour, celebrating a more than four decade career on the road. Following its conclusion this weekend, the band will be bringing the tour to the big screen on November 7. The film captures the band’s September 2, 2018 hometown show in Jacksonville, Florida, what was originally supposed to be the final night of the tour.

8.       Neil Young: Last week, Neil Young announced the release date of a documentary called ‘Mountaintop,’ which chronicles the making of this upcoming album ‘Colorado’ with Crazy Horse, their first collaboration in seven years. The film hits theaters for one night only on October 22, just days before the release of ‘Colorado.’ This won’t be the last you hear of Young in the movie department, as the singer has 14 more in the works.

Over the next few months, a lot of top artists are headed to the big screen for once-in-a-lifetime film events. Whether it’s BTS’ livestreamed concert or Neil Young’s album documentary, there are some special music experiences waiting for you at the movie theater this fall. Keep an eye out for the events above and let us know which concert films you’re excited to see on the big screen.

---

Find music from these film-worthy artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a range of genres to suit the tastes of most music fans. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CD, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

New Music Documentaries Set for Release in Fall 2018

The first half of 2018 has already seen its fair share of music documentaries. These films have run the gambit in terms of watch-ability, from the acclaimed (Grace Jones) to the panned (Whitney Houston) to the controversial (Michael Jackson). While it’s nice to look back though, there are still a whole bunch of documentaries still to come this year.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, loves a good, informative music documentary. That’s why we are bringing you a list of some of the upcoming music documentaries still to come in 2018. Here are five making their way to a movie / television / computer screen near you this summer / fall.

1.       New Order: On August 13, it was announced that New Order would be releasing a concert documentary. According to Billboard, the documentary, titled ‘Decades,’ will feature the band preparing to re-stage their ‘So It Goes’ collaboration with Liam Gillick in 2017.  The documentary is set to premiere on UK arts channel Sky Arts on September 22.

2.       Ed Sheeran: Premiered in the United States during the Tribeca Film Festival this year, Ed Sheeran’s documentary ‘Songwriter’ is set for release this month. The film was shot during the writing of Sheeran’s latest album, ‘÷,’ by his cousin Murray Cummings, attempting to give the intimate back story of the singer’s life and creative process. ‘Songwriter’ will run for one-night-only screenings in New York (August 17) and Los Angeles (August 24) before it begins its exclusive stream on Apple Music August 28.

3.       Joan Jett: Joan Jett has had an amazing career in rock and roll as a founding member of The Runaways and fronting her own band, the Blackhearts. ‘Bad Reputation’ aims to tell the story of her rise to fame, showing that women can rock just as hard as men. The film will get a theatrical release on September 28, the same day it begins streaming on-demand, iTunes and Amazon.

4.       M.I.A.: A refugee of the war in Sri Lanka, M.I.A. has used her voice in the music industry to enact change. Her new documentary, ‘MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A.,’ attempts to tell her story through family videos, concerts and music video segments. The film won the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, so this will probably be the one to watch for upon its theatrical release September 28.

5.       Quincy Jones: Earlier this month, it was announced that a documentary about Quincy Jones would be coming to Netflix. ‘Quincy’ is being co-directed by Jones’ daughter, actress Rashida Jones, and will be taking a look at the influential jazz artist and music producer’s life and prolific music career. The film will be available for streaming September 21.

Even though 2018 is already half over, there are still many music documentaries set to be released this year. From docs about pop artists writing hit albums and backstage looks into live performances to those about the life and times of legendary artists, there is a lot to look forward to. Watch for the documentaries above and let us know which ones you’re excited to see in the comments below.

---

Find music from these documentary-worthy artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777. Long Island’s favorite new independent record shop has thousands of titles in a wide variety of genres to choose from. Browse our selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Tribeca Film Festival 2018 Music Documentaries

The 2018 Tribeca Film Festival is in full swing. Running from April 18 through the 29, brings the best of independent cinema to the city for two weeks of non-stop screenings and panels.

Every year, the festival includes a bevy of music documentaries in its schedule. This year’s festival is no different, supporting a full list of thought-provoking musical films and documentaries. These films bring new and interesting perspectives to the stories behind the music. And even though the festival is half over, there are plenty of these films you still have a chance to see.

With the Tribeca Film Festival still in town for the next week, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the festival’s most interesting music documentaries. From stories about New York’s musical history to those pinpointing awe-inspiring artists of all genres, here are 10 festival films you can still catch that will leave you with a fresh perspective on music.

(Note: There was a Patti Smith documentary this year, but it is no longer being shown during the festival, so it was not included.)

1.       ‘Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes’: When Blue Note Records was founded in 1939, it became the foundation of the New York jazz scene, building up the careers of some of the most important and popular artists of the genre. ‘Beyond the Notes’ documents the label’s history and importance, as well as what keeps it so relevant in today’s musical landscape, through archival photos and performance footage and interviews with label artists past and present. (Site)

2.       ‘Cosmic Debris’: ‘Cosmic Debris’ is a short that, according to the Tribeca website, details “the friendship between animator Gabor Csupo and musician Frank Zappa.” (Site)

3.        ‘Mr. Soul!’: ‘Mr. Soul!’ takes a look at the late 1960-early 1970s variety show ‘SOUL!,’ which acted as a home for black voices in “literature, poetry, music and politics” at a time where those voices were nearly silenced. The film uses interviews with participants as well as archival clips of the show to showcase its importance and lasting impact. (Site)

4.        ‘Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda’: Composer Ryuichi Sakamoto has led a musical career that has spanned multiple genres and earned him several awards. Director Nomura Schible followed Sakamoto for the last five years documenting the process of the artist’s latest work, an album inspired by the Fukushima nuclear disaster and his cancer diagnosis. Since the film has not premiered as of writing this, there is also still a chance to see a Q & A on Wednesday with both Sakamoto and Schible. (Site)

5.       ‘Satan & Adam’: Compiled using two decades-worth of archival footage, ‘Satan & Adam’ tells the story of the collaboration between harmonica player Adam Gussow and blues guitarist Sterling “Satan” Magee. The two musicians formed a bond in 1986 that transcended race at a time when New York City’s neighborhoods were still very segregated. (Site)

6.       ‘Songwriter’: Ed Sheeran collaborator and music video director Murray Cummings makes his feature film directing debut with ‘Songwriter,’ a documentary that follows the creation of Sheeran’s 2016 album ‘÷.’ While the film mainly focuses on the collaborative spirit of the album and Sheeran as a songwriter, it also goes into depth on how the singer got to where he is, using family home movies to give the viewer perspective on his childhood leading up to his massive stardom. (Site)

7.       ‘Studio 54’: A documentary about the rise and fall of Studio 54, this film uses “never-before-seen footage, period music” and interviews with co-owner Ian Schrager and former regulars and staff to tell the story of New York’s most infamous nightclub. This film gives the viewer an exclusive look at what made Studio 54 the place to be in the late 1970s and why its time ended so abruptly. (Site)

8.       ‘The Velvet Underground Played at My High School’: Running only eight minutes, ‘The Velvet Undergound Played at My School’ tells the story of the pre-punk pioneers’ first show. Taking place at a high school in New Jersey, the show preceded their work with Andy Warhol and Nico, showcasing what it was like to first hear the band’s groundbreaking rock sound. (Site)

9.        ‘Nico 1988’: Speaking of The Velvet Underground, ‘Nico 1988’ details the story of Warhol superstar Nico’s final years. The biopic, written and directed by Susanna Nicchiarelli, follows a drug-addicted Nico as she embarks on a European tour while trying to regain custody of her child. (Site)

10.   ‘Lambchild Superstar: Making Music In The Menagerie of the Holy Cow’: More performance art than film, ‘Lambchild Superstar’ finds Chris Milk and Damian Kulash (OK Go) taking pairs of participants on a collaborative musical experience. Participants get to experience what it is like to make a song within a fantasy world “replete with magical music-making contraptions, friendly animals and robots.” (Site)

Music documentaries give viewers a chance to see music and its creation in a whole new light. As the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival continues to bring quality independent film to New York City for the rest of the week, there is still a chance to see many new music documentaries and films, such as the ones above.

---

Find music from some of these documentary subjects and more at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s favorite new independent record shop. We have thousands of titles to choose from in a wide array of genres to choose from. Browse our ever-growing selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.

Music Documentaries Announced for 2017/2018

It was announced on Monday that a new documentary about the Velvet Underground is in the works. The film will be directed by Todd Haynes, the same director behind the critically acclaimed Bob Dylan film, ‘I’m Not There,’ and tell the band’s story through interviews with surviving band members, contemporaries and footage gleaned from Andy Warhol’s archives and “experimental film.” The band has most recently been celebrating the 50^th anniversary of their debut album, ‘The Velvet Underground & Nico.’

This isn’t the only music documentary making waves right now. Green Day’s new film, ‘Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk,’ was just released this week and is touring theaters across the country. Now through Thursday, you can see the film at the IFC Center in Manhattan.

With all this news of new documentaries, we here at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, started thinking about other music documentaries that are in the works. Here are seven rock docs coming out in 2017 / 2018.

1.       ‘Don’t Break Down: A Film About Jawbreaker’: Jawbreaker was one of the most influential bands coming out of the early east coast emo/hardcore scene. Along with Fuguzi, Minor Threat and Rites of Spring, the band was a legend of the underground. ‘Don’t Break Down’ was filmed in 2007, when all three original members met up to discuss their time together and listen back to their old music. It also features interviews with the band, as well as producer Steve Albini, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, Foo Fighters’ Chris Shifflet and more. The film will be premiering at the Alamo Drafthouse Theater in San Francisco, CA on August 11 with no word on if it will have a wider release. Jawbreaker are also officially reuniting for a one off show at this year’s Riot Fest in Chicago, the first time they will be performing on stage together in more than 21 years.

2.        ‘Sidemen: Long Road To Glory’: ‘Sidemen’ follows Pinetop Perkins, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Hubert Sumlin, three bluesmen who have played with some of the greats in the genre, including Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, on their 2009 tour as The Perfect Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll Blues Band. The premise for writer and director Scott Rosenbaum was to capture these musicians “performing live versions of classic blues songs with the musicians they had so heavily influenced.” This film comes out on August 18, with its first screenings at the Landmark Sunshine Theater in New York.

3.        ‘May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers’: ‘May It Last’ chronicles the making of the Avett Brothers’ latest album, ‘True Sadness,’ released in 2016. It’s directed by Michael Bonfiglio and Judd Apatow, who is usually known for his work in comedy rather than documentary. The film is having a one-night-only screening on September 12 at theaters across the country.

4.       ‘Other Music: The Story Of An Iconic Independent Record Store’: Other Music was a record shop in the East Village of Manhattan specializing in indie rock and avant-garde releases. In June 2016, the shop closed after 21 years in business. The film, which was successfully funded through Kickstarter, features interviews with former employees and artists who played in-store there over the years, including Vampire Weekend, Interpol and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, as well as footage shot during the shop’s final month.

5.       Untitled Sublime Documentary: Last week, it was announced that a new documentary about California ska-punks Sublime is being produced. Spearheaded by the band, who is celebrating the 25^th anniversary of their debut album, ‘40oz to Freedom,’ this year, they have chosen Bill Guttentag to direct. The film is set to feature footage and rare, unreleased tracks from the band’s archives, and tell the story of the band, the loss of lead singer Bradley Nowell, and how they are moving forward. It is set to come out sometime in 2018.

6.        ‘The Quiet One’: ‘The Quiet One’ takes a look at the life and career of Bill Wyman, the original bassist for the Rolling Stones. The film will take advantage of Wyman’s extensive archive that includes hours of film footage, photographs and memorabilia, as well as a diary that he kept updated daily. Bill Wyman told Deadline (as quoted by Rolling Stone) about the film that “The time feels right to delve into the archive and tell my story before I croak.” The film is currently filming and will most likely be released in 2018.

7.       Untitled Tupac Documentary: Another Tupac documentary is being made this year, and this time it’s official. The project does not have a title yet, but is being produced by Amaru Entertainment and Tupac’s estate, and has tapped Steve McQueen to direct. Gloria Cox, Tupac’s aunt and sister to Tupac’s mother, told Rolling Stone about the film that “Our goal has always been to tell the true story, which has never been done before in such a complete way,” going on to say that “My sister always said to me, ‘We are not in the business of defending Tupac. Our job is to allow him to be seen in the most complete way, so his actions, his choices and his words will allow him to speak for himself.” There is no release date for the film as of yet.

Although the Velvet Underground documentary does not have a title or release date, there are still a lot of other exciting new music documentaries coming out in the next year. From ones being released in the next few weeks to those still in production, there is a lot to look forward to if you are a music fan.

---

Find music from these documentary-worthy artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in an array of genres. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia in store or online. With more titles being added to our selection every day, you never know what you will find when you drop by Vinyl Bay 777.