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.

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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.

Films About Fictional Musicians

The new remake of ‘A Star Is Born’ hits theaters this Friday, October 5. A retelling of the classic film, Bradley Cooper plays Jackson Maine, a seasoned musician who discovers up-and-comer Ally (played by Lady Gaga), making music and falling in love. The film is Cooper’s directorial (and musical) debut. Early reviews are positive, with critics raving about both the film and its music.

Of course, ‘A Star Is Born’ is not the only film in history to base its storyline around the musicians. There have been plenty of movies portraying the ins and outs of music and the music industry.  Some of these films take a comedic approach to the topic while others head in a more dramatic direction.

With ‘A Star Is Born’ ready to hit movie screens, Vinyl Bay777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of the other films based around music. Here are nine that feature fictional musicians as the main protagonists.

1.       ‘Singles’: ‘Friends’ before ‘Friends’ even existed, ‘Singles’ was the quintessential early 1990s young adult story, centering on a group of friends (some of them musicians) trying to make it in Seattle. Director Cameron Crowe based the film off the real life artists in the scene and how they worked to finance their music. Not only was ‘Singles’ about creating music, but it featured artists from the Seattle scene as well, including members of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam.

2.       ‘8 Mile’: ‘8 Mile’ is the story of a white rapper trying to make it in the predominantly black Detroit underground hip-hop scene as he tries to clean up his life. Based loosely on the career of Eminem, who also makes his acting debut in the starring role, the film was a massive success. The lead single from the film’s soundtrack, “Loose Yourself,” went on to win both Grammys and Academy Awards.

3.       ‘This Is Spinal Tap’: A comedy about a fictional metal band reuniting for an American tour, ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ became a cult hit following its release. The film has been lauded for its realism, with many people (including rock stars) believing that the band was real. Of course, the band did become real, releasing a handful of records and performing live together.

4.       ‘Almost Famous’: Less so about the bands performing and more about what happens behind the scenes, ‘Almost Famous’ comes at you from the perspective of a young reporter tasked with going on tour with a national headlining band. Based off director Cameron Crowe’s own experiences writing for ‘Rolling Stone,’ the film gives a real, if exaggerated, view of the 1970s rock scene.

5.       ‘Hustle & Flow’: ‘Hustle & Flow’ tells the story of a man trying to find a new life for himself as a rapper. The film shows the power of music to save people and change lives, as well as the struggle to be heard.

6.       ‘Blues Brothers’: Started as a ‘Saturday Night Live’ skit, ‘Blues Brothers’ finds brothers Jake and Elwood Blues (the classic comedic duo of Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi) reuniting their old blues band to help raise money to save the orphanage where they grew up. Based on Aykroyd’s love of blues, the film is mired in it, featuring appearances from legends like Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and more. Like with ‘Spinal Tap,’ the Blues Brothers become an actual band, releasing a handful of albums and playing live.

7.       ‘School of Rock’: ‘School of Rock’ is a comedy about a former rocker who impersonates a substitute teacher and drafts his class into becoming his new band. In the end, the class learns about working together towards a common goal. The story has become a modern classic, spawning a short-lived television show and a very well-received Broadway stage adaptation.

8.       ‘Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny’: ‘School of Rock’ isn’t Jack Black’s only musical foray. He and real life music partner Kyle Gass also starred in their own musical film, ‘Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny,’ a fantasy about a musical duo (Tenacious D) that goes on a “quest” to obtain a mystical guitar pick that will increase their skills. Tenacious D has released a couple of albums in the intervening years since the film and currently have a new animated YouTube series and album on the way (the first episode is out now).

9.       ‘Once’: The little indie film that could, ‘Once’ featured two artists who met while the male musician was busking and end up making music together. ‘Once’ stars Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, who performed together as The Swell Season before disbanding a couple years later. The film’s signature song, “Falling Slowly,” also became a minor hit.

Over the years there have been a lot of films where music and musicians take center stage as the main characters. Musicians have been portrayed in both comedic and dramatic lights, in love stories and in epic adventures, all dealing with the music as a unifying theme. The latest remake of ‘A Star Is Born’ joins the pantheon of these films, hopefully doing the subgenre proud.

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Find music from these films and more at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop. From soundtracks to rock, jazz, hip-hop and more, we have thousands of titles in stock. Browse our wide 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.