Festival Express (2003)

96% of critics liked it
(77 reviews)
79% of users liked it
(3,994 ratings)

In 1970, with seemingly every North American city of any size holding a rock festival after the success of Woodstock, Ken Walker and Thor Eaton, a pair of Canadian entrepreneurs and music buffs, had an idea: instead of setting up one massive show with a bunch of top-name acts, why not stage a series… More In 1970, with seemingly every North American city of any size holding a rock festival after the success of Woodstock, Ken Walker and Thor Eaton, a pair of Canadian entrepreneurs and music buffs, had an idea: instead of setting up one massive show with a bunch of top-name acts, why not stage a series of them across the country? With this in mind, Walker (then only 22 years old) and Eaton (whose family owned one of Canada's most successful department store chains) signed up Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, the Band, Buddy Guy, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and several others and hired out a private train that would carry the musicians in high style for a string of five shows from Toronto to Calgary. The jaunt was called "The Festival Express," and a camera crew tagged along to capture the shows on film, as well as the constant party that took place en route. The tour proved to be a financial bust and, as a result, the footage sat on the shelf for over thirty years until director Bob Smeaton recut the material into Festival Express, which not only documents the glorious folly of the tour, but offers a hindsight look at the events from some of the surviving participants. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Bob Smeaton, Frank Cvitanovich
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Documentary

In Theaters: Sep 9, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Nov 2, 2004
Studio: ThinkFilm Inc.

Critic Reviews

Richard Harrington, Washington Post
There are sterling concert performances by several bands in peak form.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
A delirious piece of pop ephemera, a time capsule set on the cusp between the Summer of Love and the Day the Music Died.
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle
What's most revealing and human about Festival Express are its candid looks at artists bonding aboard the choo-choo.
Steve Morse, Boston Globe
It's the overnight jam sessions that steal the show.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here's a chance to listen to the soundtrack for the social upheaval of the late '60s and early '70s.
Larry Rodgers, Arizona Republic
A treasure for baby-boomer rockers and a miniature history lesson for younger music fans.
Prairie Miller, Long Island Press
Festival Express would have scored more of an impact, had it digressed a little down the roads not taken, to mull issues touching on the enduring classic rock echo that serves as musical and also social legacy.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
A good snapshot of an earlier, simpler, more innocent time that seems now even longer ago than it was.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The music was fabulous--a reason enough to cherish this first-rate documentary.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
ultimately feels a little like warm leftovers
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
This is a wonderful experience for fans of Garcia, Joplin and those heady days when rock stars actually connected with the people.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bob S

some filler - but great concert footage of Janis, The Band and the Dead
Mark A

Back in the summer of 1970, an historic event took place that few here in the states knew about. A year after Woodstock, a promoter put together another festival with several big-name acts, including, among others, The Grateful Dead, The Band, and Janis Joplin, and scheduled three,… More
Back in the summer of 1970, an historic event took place that few here in the states knew about. A year after Woodstock, a promoter put together another festival with several big-name acts, including, among others, The Grateful Dead, The Band, and Janis Joplin, and scheduled three, outdoor, day-long concerts at three separate cities across Cananda. What made it historic, was that the bands travelled across Cananda together on one chartered train that became a week long jam session. This film records that entire experience and brings just a taste of it to the screen. This viewer happened to be one of the lucky few to have not only heard about the Festival Express, but actually attended the concert in Toronto that kicked it off. What a show, and what a time the musicians had. This film shows them on-stage and on the train, making music, and just plain having a great time. The commentary is provided by those who were there, remembering a time that can never be recaptured as several performers are no longer with us. Watching Janis reminded me of what a great talent she was and what a great loss that she met an early end. She definitely held nothing back in her performances and left it all on stage. Five stars!
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Fesitval Express" is a documentary about a series of music festivals that took place across Canada in the summer of 1970. In order to get from one end of the country(Toronto) to the other(Calgary), the musicians involved took a rented train that had… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Fesitval Express" is a documentary about a series of music festivals that took place across Canada in the summer of 1970. In order to get from one end of the country(Toronto) to the other(Calgary), the musicians involved took a rented train that had been chartered by a promoter. The musicians included the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band and others. The various musicians came together on the train which allowed them to spend time together, party and jam pretty much for 24 hours straight.[/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Festival Express" is a rollicking tale of music which balanced idealism vs commerce - protesters saying all music was free and not wishing to pay(did this also happen at the Isle of Wight festival?) vs the right of the musicians to make a living. In Toronto, at least they found a compromise. Overall, the movie was very enjoyable with lots of great performance footage and music. Plus, it does really capture the joy of cross-country train travel. Further proof this really is the only way to go.[/font]