CIMMfest Full Schedule & Venue Addresses #CIMMfest #ChiILPicksList

CIMMfest makes a great parents' weekend out, but many of our readers do have teen age kids and up, in which case... bring the kids! ChiIL Mama will be there to bring you the best of the fest for the 3rd year running because parent rock and there's life after birth.  Nothing's aimed at the littles, but there are all ages shows and films you can bring the punk kin, rock tots and little folk to. Check out CIMMfest's site for the full line up and decide if it'll be a family affair or a sanity break!

First off, here are the Chi, IL live shows on our radar highlighted in red below--live bands doing movie scores, live shows, and movie screenings this Wednesday through Sunday, and must see panels.

We've also included an easy break down by day, since there's a mind blowing array of great events going on simultaneously (50+ musical acts/70+ movies/special guests/99+ events!!).  We've also got an easy guide to all the venues/addresses so you can make a plan.

VENUES

1^st Ward @ The Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Ave., 773.537.4440

The Burlington, 3425 W Fullerton Ave., 773.384.3243

Comfort Station, 2579 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773.860.6567

Concord Music Hall, 2047 N Milwaukee Ave 773.570.4000

Double Door, 1551 N. Damen Ave., 773.489.3160

East  Room, 2828 Medill, 773.276.9603

Elastic Arts, 2830 N Milwaukee Ave., 773.772.3616

The Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave, 773.276.3600

The Hideout, 1354 West Wabansia, 773.227.4433

Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie, 773.252.6179

The Logan Theatre, 2646 N. Milwaukee Ave, 773.342.5555

Rosa’s Lounge, 3420 W Armitage Ave., 773-342-0452

Society for Arts, 1112 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773.486.9612

Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave, 773.278.6600

ChiIL Live Shows ChiIL Picks List:

• Wednesday, April 30 7:30PM Kickoff Party: Revenge of the Mekons Film, Lincoln Hall

• Davina and the Vagabonds with Windy City Soul Club: CIMMfest No. 6 Kick Off Party – With their high-energy live shows, Davina and the Vagabonds have created a stir on the national blues scene with influences ranging from Fats Domino and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Aretha Franklin and Tom Waits. Opening act Windy City Soul Club brings together "the best rare soul collectors/deejays in Chicago to create the best party this city has ever seen." Wednesday, April 30th, 8pm @ Double Door. FREE, 21+

• *8:00PM Tall Walker, Mighty Fox and North By North. $12 @ Subterranean, 17+ (ChiIL Live Shows will be there shooting stills. Click here to check out our past North By North coverage.)

• Bobby Conn: Sci-Fidelity Night – Travelers of time and space are hereby called to an evening of film and music celebrating all things sci-fi! Teleport to the Hideout for the Martian funk of Bobby Conn, the multidimensional multimedia of Byzantine Time Machine, the Dr. Who-inspired pop of Time Crash and Specimen 318, an original sci-fi short from Univore.  Thursday, May 1 @Hideout.

• Mary Shelley live-scores Battleship Potemkin – Mary Shelley is a powerhouse trio of seasoned veterans of the Chicago music scene. For this event, Scott Lucas – frontman of both Local H and Scott Lucas & the Married Men – rounded up beloved ex-Smashing Pumpkin/Zwan drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and jazz composer Matt Ulery of Loom. This collective, with its broad talent and mixed genre stylings, makes for an interesting vision and live score to Eisenstein's legendary Russian silent film Battleship Potemkin. Friday, May 2, 7:00pm @ 1st Ward. $18/$20, 21+

• Larry Ochs & Friends –Saxophonist Larry Ochs – who appears in the CIMMfest movies Rova Channeling Coltrane and John Coltrane's Electric Ascension – performs with local Chicago jazz musicians Dave Rempis (alto sax) and Darren Johnston (trumpet). Ochs has a new CD out May 1 on Chicago label Aerophonic. Friday, May 2, 8pm @ Elastic Arts. $10, All Ages

• Black Bear Combo: Brasslands After-Party – Four- to six-member brass/reed band Black Bear Combo is a raucous mutt, channeling the common energy between traditional music from Eastern Europe and the Balkans, punk rock and free jazz. Friday, May 2, 10pm @ East Room, $20 combo ticket includes admission to Brasslands film & after-party, 21+

• CIMMFest Welcomes: Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin Performing a Live Score of Dario Argenta’s Suspiria – Italy’s original instrumental prog rock/soundtrack band Goblin – which set the standard for modern horror movie music with its scores for Dario Argento’s ’70s cult classics Profundo Rosso and Suspiria (as well as the European version of George Romero’s 1978 Dawn of the Dead) – returns to the US for a rare live appearance, fronted by founding keyboardist Claudio Simonetti. Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin will perform in front of Suspiria, Saturday, May 3, 9 pm @ Metro. $27/$30

• Booker T. – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Musicians Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Booker T. Jones laid the foundation for soul music. Classic Stax hits like “Green Onions,” “Hang ’Em High,” “Time Is Tight” and “Melting Pot” pushed the music’s boundaries, refined it to its essence and then injected it into the nation’s bloodstream. Sunday, May 4, 8pm @ City Winery. $TBD, all ages

MUSIC SCHEDULE:

Wednesday, April 30

8:00PM CIMMfest No. 6 Kick Off Party: Davina & the Vagabonds with Windy City Soul Club. FREE @ Double Door, 21+

Thursday, May 1

7:00PM The Bridge w/ Rob Mazurek, Mwata Bowden, Matt Lux, Matthieu Sourisseau and Julien Desprez. FREE @ Comfort Station, all ages

7:00PM Califone live-scores Pat O'Neill's Water and Power. $18/20 @ 1st Ward

*8:00PM Tall Walker, Mighty Fox and North By North. $12 @ Subterranean, 17+ (ChiIL Live Shows will be there shooting stills. Click here to check out our past North By North coverage.)

9:00PM CIMMfest & Silver Wrapper Present: Yo La Tengo. @ Concord Music Hall, 18+

9:00PM Sci-Fidelity Night with Bobby Conn, Byzantine Time Machine, Univore and Time Crash. $12 @ Hideout, 21+ 

9:00PM Wrekmeister Harmonies live-scores Häxan: Witchcraft through the Ages with psych rock bands Verma and Dark Fog opening. $10/$12 @ Double Door, 21+

9:00PM Chicago Mixtape Showcase. $8 @ Burlington, 21+

9:30PM Vincent Moon Explores the Small Planet, First Movement. $10 @ Logan Theatre 3, all ages.

10:00PM Impala Sound Champions. FREE @ East Room. 21+

Friday, May 2

7:00PM Mary Shelley (Scott Lucas, Jimmy Chamberlin and Matt Ulery) live-scores Battleship Potemkin. $18/$20 @ 1st Ward, 21+

8:00PM Larry Ochs & Friends. $10.00 @ Elastic Arts, All Ages

9:00PM CIMMfest & Silver Wrapper Present: Escort w/special guests. $20/$23 @ Concord Music Hall, 18+

9:00PM Tim Kinsella Sings the Songs of Marvin Tate with Leroy Bach, Willis Earl Beal and the YEAH babies. $12 @ Hideout, 21+

9:30PM CIMMfest and OrmanMusic Present Blues Legend Eddie Shaw & The Wolf Gang. Send Off Party to the Blues Hall Of Fame Induction In Mempis. $15@ Rosa's Blues Lounge, 21+

10:00PM Brassland After-Party: Black Bear Combo. $20 combo ticket to Brasslands film & after-party @ East Room, 21+ 

10:00PM CIMMfest Closed Sessions Showcase: Blu & Exile and very special guests. $15 @ Double Door, 21+

10:00PM A Minor Forest w/ special guests. $10 @ Empty Bottle, 21+

10:00PM Chicago Singles Club Showcase: Panda Riot, Sexy Fights and Moritat. $10 @ Burlington, 21+

Saturday, May 3

3:00PM Private Eyes - Meet the Residents: screening of Theory of Obscurity plus live performance by Chandeliers. $12 @ The Hideout. 21+

4:30PM Lawrence Peters Outfit celebrates Johnny Cash before The Winding Stream. FREE at Logan Theater Lounge, all ages. ($10 ticket required for the 5:10 p.m. screening)

5:00PM CIMMfest Awards Ceremony with Keynote Speaker/BAADASSSSSS Recipient Louis Black, Co-Founder SXSW, Austin Chronicle with Ron Mann. FREE @ 1st Ward, all ages

7:00PM Vincent Moon Explores the Small Planet, Second Movement. $10 @ Logan Theatre 3, all ages

9:00PM Bloodshot Records 20th Anniversary Showcase: Murder By Death, Andre Williams, Maggie Bjorkland. $20 @ Logan Square Auditorium, 18+

9:00PM Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin Performing a Live Score of Dario Argenta’s Suspiria. Metro, 18+

9:00PM Beware! The Pop Apocalypse w/ Prince Rama and The Buttresss. $15 @ The Hideout, 21+

9:00PM The Chicago Blues Mamas: Mothers Day Tribute to Koko Taylor featuring Peaches Staten, Holly Thee Maxwell and Deitra Farr. $15 @Rosa's Blues Lounge, 21+

9:00PM Parni Valjak: Uhvati Ritam Tour 2014: @ The Concord Music Hall

10:00PM The Hood Internet w/ Superfriends and world premiere of Shapers music video. $13/$15 @ 1st Ward, 21+

10:00PM Boogat: Sound Culture's Fifth Anniversary Celebration. $7 at Subterranean, 17+

10:00PM These New Puritans. $15 @ Empty Bottle, 21+

10:00PM Joyful Noise Showcase: Victor Villarrea, DMA and Busman's Holiday. $10 @ Burlington, 21+

10:00PM Superfriends DJs. FREE @ East Room, 21+

Sunday, May 4

7:00PM CIMMfest, Fulcrum Point New Music Project & International Beethoven Project Present: "Light Is Calling Experimental Film & New Music. $20 @ 1st Ward, all ages.

8:00PM CIMMfest & City Winery Present: Booker T. @ City Winery, all ages

9:00PM EMA, Trust, Mozart's Sister and Downtown Boys. $15 @ Empty Bottle, 21+

10:00PM Ingenuity of Hip Hop w/Psalm One, Serengeti, A-Cross and Ancient Jewlz. $10 @ Subterranean, 17+

MOVIE SCHEDULE:

Wednesday, April 30 

• 7:30PM Kickoff Party: Revenge of the Mekons, Lincoln Hall

Thursday, May 1

7:00PM Boyce & Hart: The Guys Who Wrote 'Em, Logan Theatre 1

6:45PM We Grew Up Here, Society For Arts (Click here to check out our original live show shots & Paper Thick Walls coverage)

We Grew Up Here (Kevin Pickman, USA, 2014, 86min). World Premiere

A musician who is struggling to cope with his split from his lover and muse begins to suspect that his past is being erased in this unnerving film starring members of Chicago band Paper Thick Walls with a score by Luke Ramus. As songs that Liam (Eric Michaels) and Lauren (Kate Schell) recorded together disappear from tapes and mutual friends deny that they know him, Liam hits the road on a desperate journey to prove to himself and everyone else that he’s not insane—that the life that they built together, and that he threw away, was real. Director Kevin Pickman and members of Paper Thick Walls present for a post-show Q&A. Shows Thursday, May 1, 6:45pm at Society for Arts.

7:00PM Opening Night Feature: Butterfly Girl, Logan Theatre 3

7:00PM Califone live-scores Pat O'Neill's Water and Power. $18/20 @ 1st Ward

9:00PM Wrekmeister Harmonies live-scores Häxan: Witchcraft through the Ages w/ Verma and Dark Fog. $10/$12 @ Double Door, 21+

9:15PM A Life in the Death of Joe Meek, Logan Theatre 1

9:00PM Shorts Program: Musical Generations including Koentopp, Society for Arts

9:15PM Vincent Moon Explores the Small Planet, First Movement. $10 @ Logan Theatre 3, all ages

Friday, May 2

6:45PM Bayou Maharajah, Society for Arts

7:00PM Brasslands, Logan Theatre 1

6:45PM Shorts Program: Winnipeg Film Group, Comfort Station (FREE) 

7:00PM Mary Shelley (Scott Lucas, Jimmy Chamberlin and Matt Ulery) live-scores Battleship Potemkin. @ 1st Ward, 21+

7:00PM Led Zeppelin Played Here, Logan Theatre 3

8:55PM Metalhead, Logan Theatre 1

9:15PM I Dream of Wires, Society for Arts

*9:10PM Pleased to Meet Me, Logan Theatre 3-John Doe!

10:50PM The Last Kamikazis of Heavy Metal, Logan Theatre 3

Saturday, May 3

12:15PM Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt, Logan Theatre 3

12:30PM Delinquent Dancers (Aayna Ka Bayna), Logan Theatre 1

12:45PM Shorts Program: Musical Melange, Society for Arts

2:35PM Twist, Logan Theatre 3

2:45PM Shorts Program: Musical Muses, Society For Arts

3:00PM Jingle Bell Rocks!, Logan Theatre 1

3:00PM Theory of Obscurity plus live performance by Chandeliers. $12 @ The Hideout. 21+

4:30PM Every Everything: The Life, Music, & Times of Grant Hart, Logan Theatre 3

4:45PM Rova Channeling Coltrane, Society for Arts

4:55PM The Winding Stream, Logan Theatre 1

*7:15PM Looking for Johnny, Logan Theatre 1-Johnny Thunders!

7:00PM Vincent Moon Explores the Small Planet, Second Movement Special Event

$10 @ Logan Theatre 3, all ages

7:15PM Imagine the Sound, Society for Arts

8:30PM The African Cypher, Logan Theatre 3

9:00PM Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin Performing a Live Score of Dario Argenta’s Suspiria. @Metro, 18+

*9:15PM 20,000 Days on Earth, Logan Theatre 2--Nick Cave!

9:15PM Honeydripper, Society for Arts 10:15PM Death Metal Angola, Logan Theatre 3

Sunday, May 4

11:00AM The Sweet Sisters of Zion, 1^st Ward

12:30PM The World of Goopi and Bagha, Logan Theatre 1

12:45PM Robert Gordon on the Mississippi Blues Trail, Logan Theatre 3

12:45PM Shorts Program: Musical Locations, Society for Arts

2:15PM 9 Muses of Star Empire, Society for Arts

2:45PM The Man Behind the Throne, Society for Arts

2:45PM Romeo and Juliet: A Love Song, Logan Theatre 3

4:15PM Take Me to the River, Logan Theatre 1

4:45PM The Sax Man, Society for Arts

5:00PM Que Caramba es la Vida, Logan Theatre 3

6:45PM Palestine Stereo, Logan Theatre 1

7:00PM The Case of the Three Sided Dream, Society for Arts

SPECIAL EVENT:

Saturday, May 3

5:00PM CIMMfest Awards Ceremony: with Keynote Speaker/BAADASSSSSS Recipient Louis Black, Co-Founder SXSW, Austin Chronicle. FREE @ 1st Ward, all ages

CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL MOVIES & MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES COMPLETE SCHEDULE OF MUSIC AND MOVIES

2014 LINEUP INCLUDES MORE THAN 75 MUSICAL ACTS, SPECIAL GUESTS AND 90+ MOVIES INCLUDING NINE WORLD PREMIERES

MAY 1 - 4 AT VENUES IN WICKER PARK, BUCKTOWN AND LOGAN SQUARE 

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

Chicago International Movies & Music Festival (CIMMfest), the annual four-day showcase celebrating the inseparable connection between movies and music, returns Thursday, May 1 – Sunday, May 4, 2014 for its sixth and boldest year yet. The 2014 festival features more than 90 features, shorts and videos, filmmaker panels and Q&As, 65+ live bands and DJs and special events. 

Music highlights of CIMMfest No. 6 include four live-scoring performances, indie gods Yo La Tengo and Brooklyn disco orchestra Escort at Concord Music Hall, Italian prog rock/soundtrack band Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin at Metro, soul legend Booker T. at City Winery and the Bloodshot Records 20th Anniversary Showcase with Murder By Death at Logan Square Auditorium.

Movie highlights of CIMMfest 2014 include the World Premieres of the feature We Grew Up Here starring members of Chicago band Paper Thick Walls, the Johnny Thunders documentary Looking for Johnny and The Monkees songwriters doc Boyce & Hart: The Guys Who Wrote 'Em. The international film lineup includes: the U.S. Premiere of the animated Indian feature The World of Goopi and Bagha, based on a film by Satyajit Ray; the documentary Led Zeppelin Played Here, about a legendary 1969 concert in a high school gym; and the Chicago Premiere of the Serbia-set documentary Brasslands, about the world’s largest trumpet competition. Opening night feature is the tearjerker Butterfly Girl with filmmaker Cary Bell in attendance.

On Saturday night, Keynote Speaker Louis Black receives the second annual BAADASSSS Award for his contributions to the film and music industries as a writer, producer and co-founder of SXSW. A complete summary of music, movies and special events is below.

Concerts are priced per venue. Individual movie tickets are $10. Most special events are $15. CIMMfest Festival Passes, $75, entitle holders to four days of film premieres, filmmaker Q&As, live music showcases, industry panels, workshops, networking events, after-parties and more. Passes and single tickets can be purchased at www.CIMMfest.org. 

Expanded this year is CIMMCon, the dynamic professional and entrepreneurial industry conference and expo, presented in association the Engineering and Recording Society of Chicago (EARS), Chicago data analytics startup Crowdnoize, and Chicago Actors in Film Meetup (CAFM), a professional networking and support organization. CIMMcon will offer compelling presentations from industry professionals, film icons, artist entrepreneurs, and music makers, including Keynote Speaker Louis Black, co-founder of South By Southwest. In its sophomore year, the conference promises unparalleled access to the people – past, present and future – who create, market, and disrupt the business of making music and movies. CIMMcon events will offer essential insights into the business, the personalities and the profession of music, film, and technology as a global phenomenon at a crossroads. 

“Music has the power like nothing else to bring people together, to communicate a shared humanity, the pain and joy of living on this planet and being alive and part of the human race,” says Dave Moore, co-executive director of CIMMfest. “Music is that universal language, that speaks what cannot be spoken, secrets that we hold in our heart, that we want nothing more than to scream from the mountaintops.”

“That's what CIMMfest is about: screaming from the mountain, or perhaps a skyscraper, or down Milwaukee Avenue, or along the blue line tracks,” echoes co-executive director Lucia Palmarini. “We're here, we're loud and we want you to come out and sing with us, dance with us, be alive with us.”

Festival co-founder Josh Chicoine explains, “Using the mediums of film, live performance, panel discussions and innovative multimedia combinations of all of these, we present a unique experience for both festival-goers and special guests. We set the stage by bringing together visionaries and rabble-rousers, fans and creators, to raise their voices in wonder and praise of music's ability to connect us all.”

Full schedule & show descriptions are below.  Tickets links and a complete schedule can also be found at www.CIMMfest.org.

MUSIC PROGRAMMING

LIVE SCORING EVENTS

• Califone live-scores Pat O'Neill's Water and Power – At the center of Pat O'Neill's Water and Power (Winner, Sundance Jury Prize, 1990), is the Los Angeles basin seen through its relationship to water.  Through striking imagery, superimposed text and optical printing work, the film is a ghostly, surrealistic composition, revealing the complex and mysterious bond between civilization and nature. Califone is an experimental indy folk band born in Chicago and currently residing in Los Angeles. They've released 12 records, and their latest, Stitches, was released in September on Dead Oceans. This World Premiere live scoring collaboration was borne out of the friendship between Califone frontman Tim Rutilli and director Pat O'Neill. Thursday, May 1, 7pm @ 1st Ward. $18/20
• Wrekmeister Harmonies live-scores Häxan: Witchcraft through the Ages – Experimental collective Wrekmeister Harmonies, the brainchild of sound artist and filmmaker JR Robinson, is a beautiful and haunting fabricated experience. His ambient composition accompanies the film Häxan: Witchcraft through the Ages. Verma is bent equally on bristling psychedelic squall and driving motorik that constructs and explores cinematic sonic landscapes, rooted in the dark and hypnotic. Dark Fog opens with intense, guitar-driven crunch that sublimates into reverb-drenched ruminations as this duo blends garage, space rock, shoegaze and psych. Thursday, May 1, 9pm@ Double Door.  $10/$12, 21+

• Mary Shelley live-scores Battleship Potemkin – Mary Shelley is a powerhouse trio of seasoned veterans of the Chicago music scene. For this event, Scott Lucas – frontman of both Local H and Scott Lucas & the Married Men – rounded up beloved ex-Smashing Pumpkin/Zwan drummer Jimmy Chamberlin and jazz composer Matt Ulery of Loom. This collective, with its broad talent and mixed genre stylings, makes for an interesting vision and live score to Eisenstein's legendary Russian silent film Battleship Potemkin. Friday, May 2, 7:00pm @ 1st Ward. $18/$20, 21+

• CIMMFest Welcomes: Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin Performing a Live Score of Dario Argenta’s Suspiria – Italy’s original instrumental prog rock/soundtrack band Goblin – which set the standard for modern horror movie music with its scores for Dario Argento’s ’70s cult classics Profundo Rosso and Suspiria (as well as the European version of George Romero’s 1978 Dawn of the Dead) – returns to the US for a rare live appearance, fronted by founding keyboardist Claudio Simonetti. Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin will perform in front of Suspiria, Saturday, May 3, 9 pm @ Metro. $27/$30
• Fulcrum Point New Music Project, International Beethoven Project and CIMMfest present Light is Calling – Experimental films and new music program includes: Beethoven's Concerto 4, Movement 1 accompanied by film by James Kruml of Robotoaster, featuring George Lepauw on piano; Paranoid Cheese with music by Marc Mellits, accompanied by film by François Pain, featuring Cristina Buciu on violin; Fuel with music by Julia Wolfe, accompanied by film by by Bill Morrison; Light is Calling with music by Michael Gordon, accompanied by film by Bill Morrison, featuring Rika Seko on violin, with electronics and video; and "Love Obsession" with music by Mischa Zupko, accompanied by the world premiere of Movement of Memory by Rachel Monosov, featuring Nick Photinos on cello, and Mischa Zupko on piano. Sunday, May 4, 7pm @ 1st Ward. $20, all ages

CONCERTS AND LIVE MUSIC

• Black Bear Combo: Brasslands After-Party – Four- to six-member brass/reed band Black Bear Combo is a raucous mutt, channeling the common energy between traditional music from Eastern Europe and the Balkans, punk rock and free jazz. Friday, May 2, 10pm @ East Room, $20 combo ticket includes admission to Brasslands film & after-party, 21+
• Bloodshot Records 20th Anniversary Showcase: Murder By Death, Andre Williams and Maggie Bjorkland – Bloodshot Records 20th Anniversary Showcase features the brooding, anthem-riding balladry and orchestral indie rock of Bloomington, Indiana’s Murder by Death. In their 10+ year career they have created their own niche of orchestral indie rock with an array of styles including waltzes, jigs and gospel music. Their songs have been called the sonic equivalent of No Country For Old Men. R&B legend Andre Williams has written some bad-ass soul shakers. Opener Maggie Bjorklund is a pedal steel player, guitarist and composer, hailing from Copenhagen, who produces haunting soundtrack-friendly Americana. Saturday, May 3, 9pm @ Logan Square Auditorium. $20, 18+
• Blu & Exile and special guests: Closed Sessions Showcase – The duo Blu & Exile comprises rapper Blu (Johnson Barnes) and hip-hop producer Exile (Aleksander Manfredi). Blu is more thought-provoking than bling-related, as his content reflects the joy and pain of working class youth. Exile has a production style of “laid back soulful vibes.” Closed Sessions is an independent Hip Hop label with deep roots in Chicago’s music scene started in 2009. Building a community and giving guidance to young artists starting their music careers, more than 50 artists have released records and documentaries via the label. Friday, May 2, 10pm @ Double Door. $15, 21+
• Boogat: Sound Culture's Fifth Anniversary Celebration – Rapper writer-producer Boogat (Daniel Russo Garrido) is a global force: a Quebec City native of Mexican-Paraguayan descent, who came of age in a multicultural space and brought these different reference points together to crystallize his identity. Although Boogat’s music is heavily influenced by Latin groove, the audio samples and looping beats all arrive courtesy of Montreal’s progressive electronica scene. Saturday, May 3, 10pm @ Subterranean. $7, 17+
• Booker T. – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Musicians Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Booker T. Jones laid the foundation for soul music. Classic Stax hits like “Green Onions,” “Hang ’Em High,” “Time Is Tight” and “Melting Pot” pushed the music’s boundaries, refined it to its essence and then injected it into the nation’s bloodstream. Sunday, May 4, 8pm @ City Winery. $TBD, all ages
• The Bridge – The Bridge is an ambitious cross-cultural project – based half in Chicago and half in France – that allows jazz and improvising musicians the opportunity to travel overseas to collaborate on special one-off performances. This special event includes Rob Mazurek, Mwata Bowden and Matt Lux from Chicago and Matthieu Sourisseau and Julien Desprez from France. Thursday, May 1, 7pm @ Comfort Station. Free, all ages
• Chandeliers: Private Eyes + Theory of Obscurity screening – Synth-tastic Chicago group Chandeliers plays a set of classic Residents music in conjunction with an exclusive advance preview screening of the new Residents documentary Theory of Obscurity with never-before-seen Residents footage. Includes a filmmaker Q&A and more surprises. Saturday, May 3, 3pm @ The Hideout. $12, 21+
• The Chicago Blues Mamas: Mothers Day Tribute to Koko Taylor – Three powerhouses of Chicago Blues – Deitra Farr, Holle Thee Maxwell and Peaches Staten – take the stage to pay tribute to the Blues Mother of them all and Queen of the Blues, Koko Taylor. With her brash, forceful vocal style and her enthusiastic stage presence, Taylor made sure blues women of Chicago had a voice at the top of the list. She inspired, nurtured and mentored the next generation and The Chicago Blues Mamas keep the legend rolling with their own power, soul and grace. Saturday, May 3, 9pm @Rosa's Blues Lounge. $15, 21+
• Chicago Mixtape Showcase – Chicago Mixtape offers a free compilation of the best original Chicago music happening in town each week. Recently celebrating its third anniversary, the Mixtape has solidified its position as an institution prized by fans and bands alike. Thursday, May 1, 9pm. @ Burlington. $8, 21+
• Bobby Conn: Sci-Fidelity Night – Travelers of time and space are hereby called to an evening of film and music celebrating all things sci-fi! Teleport to the Hideout for the Martian funk of Bobby Conn, the multidimensional multimedia of Byzantine Time Machine, the Dr. Who-inspired pop of Time Crash and Specimen 318, an original sci-fi short from Univore. 
• Davina and the Vagabonds with Windy City Soul Club: CIMMfest No. 6 Kick Off Party – With their high-energy live shows, Davina and the Vagabonds have created a stir on the national blues scene with influences ranging from Fats Domino and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Aretha Franklin and Tom Waits. Opening act Windy City Soul Club brings together "the best rare soul collectors/deejays in Chicago to create the best party this city has ever seen." Sunday, May 4, 8pm @ Double Door. FREE, 21+
• Eddie Shaw & The Wolf Gang, Sendoff Party to the Blues Hall Of Fame Induction In Memphis – Blues legend Eddie Shaw is headed to Memphis to be inducted into The Blues Hall of Fame, and CIMMfest is throwing a party in his honor. Blues royalty, Shaw has been blowing his sax in Chicago since 1957 when Muddy Waters discovered him in Itta Bena, Mississippi. He's played with everyone from Howlin' Wolf to Magic Sam, Otis Rush and Freddie King. Tonight he leads The Wolfgang at Rosa's. Gary Vincent's TV movie Down at the Crossroads, featuring Eddie Shaw, George Thorogood and Morgan Freeman, shows before the concert. Saturday, May 3, 7:30pm @ Rosa's Blues Lounge. $15, 21+
• EMA, Trust, Mozart's Sister and Downtown Boys – Erika M. Anderson, aka EMA, arose from the LA noise scene, and her second album, The Future's Void, dropped last April. Canadian Trust (Robert Alfons) mixes synth-goth/dark-wave doom with dreamy melodic lushness. Former Stars and Shapes singer-instrumentalist Caila Thompson-Hannant alternately coos and belts soulfully over catchy synth-pop tunes as Mozart's Sister. And Downtown Boys is a bilingual political sax dance punk party from Providence. Sunday, May 4, 9pm @ Empty Bottle. $15, 21+
• Escort – “Brooklyn 's finest disco orchestra," fronted by lead singer Adeline Michèle, was initially known for its critically acclaimed 12" singles, until its self-titled album was named one of Rolling Stone’s Top Albums of 2012. The New York Post and Time Out New York both described Escort as the "city's best live band," and Pitchfork describes its single "All Through the Night" as "one of the best New York disco tracks since West End Records' early 1980s heyday.” Friday, May 2, 9:00pm @ Concord Music Hall, 18+
• The Hood Internet – Aaron Brink (ABX) and Steve Reidell (STV SLV) – local mash-up faves with their signature genre-jumping blends, have continued to grow and evolve as evident on their debut studio album, FEAT. Chicago experimental outfit Shapers premiere the longform music video for their new double album Pierce Islands. DJ collective Superfriends – Mikey, Johnny and Travas – kicks off the party. Saturday, May 3, 10pm @ 1st Ward. $13/$15, 21+
• Impala Sound Champions brought to you by Jameson. DJ Collective. Thursday, May 1, 10 p.m. @ East Room. Free, 21+
• Ingenuity of Hip Hop with Psalm One, Serengeti, A-Cross and Ancient Jewlz – Hologram Kizzie aka Psalm One is second to none. Her ability on the mic and effortless swagger brings life to forward-thinking songs and instills vibrancy in live shows. Serengeti follows the theme of stirring hip hop in this exhibition, delivering his outlook on alternative rhythmic music and spoken lyrics. With appearances by up and coming Chicago talents Alexander Ross (known as A-Cross) and young MC’s Ancient Jewlz. Sunday, May 4, 10pm @ Subterranean. $10, 17+
• Joyful Noise Showcase: Victor Villarreal, DMA, Busman's Holiday – Hailing from Indianapolis, Joyful Noise Recordings presents a showcase of diverse genres that encompass the indie labels quest to “bridge the gap between pop and noise.” Experimental guitarist Victor Villarreal, most widely known for his participation in Joan of Arc, Owls and Cap’n Jazz, is regarded as an authority in modern indie rock. DMA, aka David “Moose” Anderson, is a crust-funk musical-based project that exudes and embraces the weird, the creepy and unorthodox. The charming duo Busman’s Holiday mixes the soothing resonance of acoustics and classic rock. Saturday, May 3, 10pm @ Burlington. $10, 21+
• Tim Kinsella Sings the Songs of Marvin Tate, plus Willis Earl Beal – Tim Kinsella, Leroy Bach, performance artist Melina Ausikitas and Ben Boye will perform songs created for poet Marvin Tate's stories and melodies in a unique and original collaboration. Willis Earl Beal shows his animated short Principles of a Protagonist and conducts a deep listening performance art piece providing the audience with an exclusive release. Columbus, Ohio quartet the YEAH Babies opens with a compelling mix of trippy, quirky electronics and eccentric rhythms topped off with soulful vocals and melodies.  9:00pm @ The Hideout. $12, 21+
• Larry Ochs & Friends –Saxophonist Larry Ochs – who appears in the CIMMfest movies Rova Channeling Coltrane and John Coltrane's Electric Ascension – performs with local Chicago jazz musicians Dave Rempis (alto sax) and Darren Johnston (trumpet). Ochs has a new CD out May 1 on Chicago label Aerophonic. Friday, May 2, 8pm @ Elastic Arts. $10, All Ages
• Lawrence Peters Outfit celebrates Johnny Cash – Lawrence Peters Outfit's sound is deep-rooted in generations of country music tradition. This four-piece tips its hat to Mr. Johnny Cash by playing a short set of his songs prior to the screening of The Winding Stream. 4:30pm at Logan Theater Lounge. FREE, all ages. ($10 ticket required for the 5:10 p.m. screening of The Winding Stream.)
• A Minor Forest w/ special guests – San Francisco math-rock trio A Minor Forest returns to the Empty Bottle for their first Chicago show in more than 15 years. Noisy and cerebral and possessing the ability to stop, start and shift directions on a dime, A Minor Forest's dynamic, intricately crafted songs were played with a primal urgency that made for one hell of a roller coaster ride. This could be the last chance to see this highly influential band live. Friday, May 2, 10pm @ Empty Bottle. $10, 21+
• Panda Riot, Sexy Fights and Moritat – Ambitious collective Chicago Singles Club is an online record label that produces an original recording of two songs, a video interview and a photo shoot every month with a different independent Chicago band, then gives it away for free. This specially curated evening will feature the dream pop of Panda Riot, the spacey synth sounds of Sexy Fights and the avant rock of Moritat. Friday, May 2, 10pm @ Burlington. $10, 21+
• Parni Valjak: Uhvati Ritam Tour 2014 – After an epic performance at the Belgrade Kombank Arena and sold-out shows throughout the former Yugoslavia, Parni Valjak is primed and ready for their long-awaited USA/Canada tour. This legendary band performs their hits in what promises to be an unforgettable night. Saturday, May 3, 9pm @ Concord Music Hall
• Prince Rama and The Buttress: Beware! The Pop Apocalypse – In addition to a ceremonial live performance, Prince Rama – the controversial Brooklyn band known for its hallucinatory mix of new age and new wave – will screen its short film Never Forever, in which sisters Taraka and Nimai Larson team up with visionary director Lily X. Wahrman for a “revalation-ary” mix of disco and ritual. The evening begins with the avant-garde rap stylings of The Buttress and a screening of their psychedelic horror film Ghost Gang. Saturday, May 3, 9pm @ The Hideout. $15, 21+
• Superfriends – DJ set. 10pm @ East Room. FREE, 21+
• Tall Walker, Mighty Fox and North By North – Pragmatic pop- and rock-friendly trio Tall Walker entices crowds with its solid delivery and musing lyrics. Up-and-comers Mighty Fox convey a euphoric, well rounded sound. North By North features the juxtaposition of infectious melodies, haunting lyrics and bombastic live instrumentation. Thursday, May 1, 8pm @ Subterranean. $12, 17+
• These New Puritans – Extending the limits of rock ’n’ roll, musicians Jack Barnett, George Barnett and Thomas Hein focus on avant-garde sonic structures. These New Puritans revitalize themselves on their third album Fields of Reeds, proving that change can often bring mysterious reinvention. Saturday, May 3, 10pm @ Empty Bottle. $15, 21+
• Vincent Moon Explores the Small Planet – Indie French filmmaker and sound experimentalist Vincent Moon presents his latest work and talks passionately about how music unites humanity. “First Movement” Thursday, May 1, 9:30 PM @ Logan Theatre, $10, all ages; “Second Movement” Saturday, May 3, 7pm @ Logan Theatre, $10, all ages.
• Yo La Tengo w/ special Guests – The quintessential critics' band, Yo La Tengo – singer/guitarist Ira Kaplan, his wife, drummer/vocalist Georgia Huble and bassist James McNew – explore the extremes of feedback-driven noise rock and sweetly melodic pop, shading their work with equal parts scholarly composure and fannish enthusiasm. Prolific and mercurial, they have ultimately transcended their myriad influences to ensconce themselves as a beloved institution of the indie community. Thursday, May 1, 9pm @ Concord Music Hall. 18+

MOVIE PROGRAMMING

Feature Fiction

• Delinquent Dancers (Aayna Ka Bayna ) (Samit Kakkad, India, 2012, 94min).  Chicago Premiere

It’s Bollywood by way of Slumdog Millionaire in this tale of nine youthful offenders in a harsh correctional facility who learn to dance as a form of art therapy. When the brutal warden refuses to let them take part in a national dance competition, they escape, using their street smarts to stay ahead of the cops, tie up loose ends from their various backstories and prepare for the big show. Kinetic camerawork and editing, electrifying dance numbers and the gritty reality of poverty combine in a one-of-a-kind experience. Shows Saturday, May 3, 12:30pm at Logan Theatre 1

• Palastine Stereo (Falastine Stereo) (Rashid Masharawi, Palestine/Tunisia/France/Norway/UAE/Switzerland/Italy, 2013, 90min).  Chicago Premiere

Palestinian director Rashid Mashawari (Laila’s Birthday) helms this compelling and ironic drama about two brothers – Samy (a deaf sound technician) and Stereo (a wedding singer) — on the West Bank who, rendered homeless by an Israeli air strike, hustle odd jobs to raise enough money to emigrate to Canada. Shows Sunday, May 4, 6:45pm at Logan Theatre 1

• Honeydripper (John Sayles, USA, 2007, 124min).

SXSW cofounder Louis Black will introduce and discuss John Sayles’ criminally underseen allegory of the birth of rock ’n’ roll in the hotbed of the American South under Jim Crow. Sayles’ canny, lyrical film posits rock as an all-inclusive cultural force – there's room for everyone in this new music, for strutting youngsters with cobbled-together guitars, for old-timey ivory-ticklers and grizzled sax players, for big-tent revivalists, and for blues belters. Danny Glover, Keb Mo and Charles S. Dutton star. Director Louis Black present for a post show Q&A. Shows Saturday, May 3, at 9:15pm at Society for Arts

• Metalhead (Málmhaus) (Ragnar Bragason, Iceland, 2013, 97min). Chicago Premiere

When her metal-loving older brother dies in a tragic accident, teenage Hera takes refuge in the darkness and rebelliousness of heavy metal. Rebellious, misunderstood and encased in black leather and death’s-head facepaint, she dreams of becoming a rock star and escaping the dreary life that seems to be her destiny. The arrival of a cool young priest who also worships Judas Priest seems to offer her a lifeline, but to paraphrase the immortal Rob Halford, she’s got another thing comin’. Shows Friday, May 2, at 8:55pm at Logan Theatre 1

• *Pleased to Meet Me (Archie Borders, USA, 2013, 88min).  Chicago Premiere

John Doe plays the lead singer of a disbanded punk band who, with his producer (Aimee Mann) turns to the Classifieds and Craigslist in a desperate attempt to assemble a band for a one-day gig. The motley crew comprises an eccentric, elderly Theremin player (Loudon Wainwright), a muse-worthy but abused punk rock bassist, a Christian guitarist who sings like an angel, a butch, hardened, but happy-to-be-here drummer, a former lounge singer turned real estate agent singer, and an almost-past-his-prime electric violinist with anger management issues.  Pleased to Meet Me is a funny, unexpected look into the unrealized dreams and possibilities of artists. Director Archie Borders present for a post-show Q&A. Shows Friday, May 2, at 9:10pm at Logan Theatre 3. 

• Romeo and Juliet: A Love Song (Tim Van Dammen, New Zealand, 2013, 100min).  Chicago Premiere

Shakespeare’s most popular play has seemingly been played every which way, but never like this – a Kiwi rock opera that sets the Bard’s timeless words to modern pop, rock and hip hop and transfers the feuding Montagues and Capulets from Renaissance Verona to a seaside trailer park. Baz Luhrmann meets Carmen: A Hip Hopera in Tim Van Dammen’s radical reimagining of the fearful passage of Romeo and Juliet’s death-mark’d love. It’s Shakespeare as you’ve never heard him before. Shows Sunday, May 4, 2:45pm at Logan Theatre 3.

• We Grew Up Here (Kevin Pickman, USA, 2014, 86min). World Premiere

A musician who is struggling to cope with his split from his lover and muse begins to suspect that his past is being erased in this unnerving film starring members of Chicago band Paper Thick Walls with a score by Luke Ramus. As songs that Liam (Eric Michaels) and Lauren (Kate Schell) recorded together disappear from tapes and mutual friends deny that they know him, Liam hits the road on a desperate journey to prove to himself and everyone else that he’s not insane—that the life that they built together, and that he threw away, was real. Director Kevin Pickman and members of Paper Thick Walls present for a post-show Q&A. Shows Thursday, May 1, 6:45pm at Society for Arts. 

• The World of Goopi and Bagha (Goopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya) (Shilpa Ranade, India, 2012, animated, 78min). US Premiere

In a reboot of a story first filmed by Satyajit Ray in 1969, two bumbling musicians banished from their hometowns for annoying the neighbors gain the magical ability to enchant people with their music. This leads to a cushy gig as court musicians, but when the kingdom is threatened, they vow to save the day in exchange for wedded bliss with two beautiful princesses. The appealing marionette-like 2D animation is a far cry from either Disney or anime, and the charming story and amusing songs will captivate audiences of all ages. Shows Sunday, May 4, 12:30pm at Logan Theatre 1

Feature Documentary

• 20,000 Days On Earth (Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard, UK, 2014, 95min).  Chicago Premiere

Fresh from its premiere at Sundance 2014, where it was awarded the directing and editing awards, this unique blend of documentary essay and cinematic fiction features Nick Cave as both subject and coconspirator, intimately documenting his artistic process and combining it with a fictional staged narrative of his 20,000th day on Earth. Shows Saturday, May 3, 9:15pm at Logan Theatre 1

• 9 Muses of Star Empire (나인뮤지스 오브 스타엠파이어) (Hark-Joon Lee, South Korea, 2002, 82min.) Chicago Premiere

This no-holds-barred look into the multibillion-dollar K-pop industry tracks the manufacture of a girl group by Star Empire, the fifth largest company in South Korea. It documents the inhuman conditions that aspiring stars endure for the chance of becoming the next big thing. Grueling rehearsals, verbal and emotional abuse from ruthless managers and the knowledge that they’re replaceable combine to push the band members to the brink of exhaustion, forcing them to decide each day whether the ever-increasing price of fame is worth paying. Shows Sunday, May 4, 2:15pm at Logan Theatre 1

• The African Cypher (Bryan Little, South Africa, 2012, 88min.) Chicago Premiere

Across South African cities and townships, young people use dance as a way of dealing with, transforming and transcending the harshness of ghetto life. The African Cypher follows several street dance crews as they prepare for a nationwide dance competition, providing an overview of the different styles but focusing on one magnetic duo, the Movers & Shakers, who combine dazzling moves with social consciousness as they mentor the next generation to help break the cycle of crime and poverty. Shows Saturday, May 3 8:30pm at Logan Theatre 3

• Bayou Maharajah (Lily Keber, USA, 2013, 98min.) Chicago Premiere

Dr. John called James Booker “the best black, gay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced,” but you can remove most of those adjectives, leaving just “piano genius,” and it would still be accurate. Through never-before-seen concert footage and interviews with the people who knew and idolized him, Bayou Maharajah traces Booker’s tumultuous life from his beginning as a chart-topping child prodigy to his ending as a self-destructive eccentric, looking beneath the adjectives and illuminating both the tortured artist and the city that helped create him. Shows Friday, May 2, at 6:45pm at Society for Arts

• Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt (Margaret Brown, USA, 2004, 99min).

SXSW cofounder Louis Black served as executive producer of this documentary about the late Austin singer-songwriter. Instead of offering a by-the-numbers chronology of his life, the film paints an impressionistic portrait, allowing his songs, his friends (including Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett), and beautiful shots of his Texas to fill in what details they can without telling us what to think about the man who said "I think my life will run out before my work does. I think I’ve designed it that way.” Producer Louis Black present for a post show Q&A. Shows Saturday, May 3, 12:15pm at Logan Theatre 3. 

• Boyce & Hart: The Guys Who Wrote 'Em (Rachel Lichtman, USA, 2014, 88min.) World Premiere

Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart were best known for writing some of The Monkees’ most popular hits, but that’s really only the beginning. From overnight success to devastating failure to unlikely political crusaders, their story is an extraordinary tale of rock 'n’ roll meets Hollywood in the turbulent 1960s. Skipping the usual talking heads and using their own movies, photos and personal archives instead, this is a bold, original film that lets the guys who wrote ’em tell their own story. Star/narrator Bobby Hart and director Rachel Lichtman will be in attendance for post-show Q&A. Shows Thursday, May 1, 7:00pm at Logan Theatre 1.

• Brasslands (Meerkat Media Collective, USA, 2013, 84min).  Chicago Premiere

As half a million trumpet fans descend on the tiny village of Guča, Serbia, for the world’s largest trumpet competition, historical and ethnic tensions still smolder beneath the surface of the small Balkan country. Brasslands follows three musical groups who seek the crown. The reigning champions represent generations of acclaimed Serbian musicians; a Romani group struggles against racism for the right to make a living from their music; and an unlikely American band must win over an audience that still resents America's role in the NATO bombings of two decades ago. Meerkat Media Collective filmmakers Adam Pogoff and Karim Tabbaa present for a post show Q&A. Shows Friday, May 2, 7:00pm at Logan Theatre 1. After-party/concert with Black Bear Combo follows at East Room.

• Butterfly Girl (Cary Bell, USA, 2014, 77min).  Chicago Premiere

Abbie Evans grew up in hospitals, cared for by her protective mother and father. She then came into her own in honkytonks, selling merchandise for her dad's band. An intimate portrait of what it’s like to be a seemingly typical teenage girl with a rare life-threatening skin disease, directed by TV news veteran Cary Bell. Director Cary Bell and performer John Evans present for a post-show Q&A and performance. Shows Thursday, May 1, 7:15pm at Logan Theatre 3. 

• The Case of the Three Sided Dream (Adam Kahan, USA, 2014, 87min).  Chicago Premiere

Rahsaan Roland Kirk was more than a blind musician who could play three horns at once, more than the most exciting sax player who ever lived. He was also a warrior against racial injustice and a tireless campaigner for wider appreciation of jazz in American society. Packed with electrifying archival footage of Kirk and his music, Adam Kahan’s film is an absorbing look at the man who wouldn’t even let partial paralysis keep him from pursuing what he called “the religion of dreams." Shows Sunday, May 4, 7:00pm at Society for Art 

• Death Metal Angola (Jeremy Xiso, Angola/USA, 2012, 83min).  Chicago Premiere

The orphans of Angola’s four decades of war have seen the absolute worst that humanity is capable of. In one orphanage, they’re learning to deal with their emotional scars through an unusual therapy—death metal, which one musician calls “a scream in revolt against what happened in our past that helps us remove the debris and suffering of war." Against the stark backdrop of their ravaged city, the death-metal orphans struggle to realize an impossible dream—the first national rock concert in Angola’s history. Shows Saturday, May 3, 10:15pm at Logan Theatre 3

• Every Everything: The Music, Life & Times of Grant Hart (Gorman Bechard, USA, 2013, 93min).  Chicago Premiere

Gorman Bechard’s followup to 2011’s Color Me Obsessed presents the co-founder and drummer of Hüsker Dü coming to terms with his career and himself. In a series of frank conversations, he covers topics ranging from the destruction of the band that made him famous to his second career as a visual artist, fatherhood, addiction and the glories of the Studebaker. The film captures Hart as he creates what is arguably the most ambitious album of his career, The Argument, inspired equally by John Milton and William S. Burroughs. Director Jan Radder present for a post show Q&A. Shows Saturday, May 3, 4:45pm at Logan Theatre 3. 

• I Dream of Wires (Robert Fantinatto, Canada, 2014, 93min.) Chicago Premiere

The vintage revival scene of the 1990s has grown into a worldwide phenomenon as electronic musicians have begun to turn away from laptops to embrace the sound, physicality and unpredictability of modular synthesizers. I Dream of Wires, co-written and produced by house music veteran Solvent, takes us along for an informative history of the modular synth and a look at the musicians who are part of its comeback, including Trent Reznor, Carl Craig, Erasure’s Vince Clarke and many more. Director Robert Fantinatto present for a post show Q&A. Shows Friday, May 2, 9:15pm at Society for Arts. 

• Imagine the Sound (Ron Mann, Canada, 1981, 91min.)

Ron Mann’s first feature documentary brings together interviews and performances with the prime innovators of the once controversial free jazz movement of the 1960s. In order to introduce this forbidding topic, Mann profiles four essential figures in the music’s development: pianists Cecil Taylor and Paul Bley, saxophonist Archie Shepp and trumpeter Bill Dixon. Director Ron Mann will be in attendance for a post-show Q&A. Shows Saturday, May 3 at Society for Arts

• Jingle Bell Rocks! (Mitchell Kezin, Canada/USA, 2013, 93min).  Chicago Premiere

Join Christmas music junkie Mitchell Kezin as he tracks down the stories behind 12 of his favorite holiday tunes. There’s no tired shopping-mall muzak here: instead, Kezin unearths songs that, like rock ’n’ roll itself, are barometers of their times, addressing racial inequality, religious freedom, nuclear war, and being alone. From Schoolhouse Rock creator Bob Dorough to Miles Davis to Chicago’s beloved Sound Opinions crew, Jingle Bell Rocks! guarantees you’ll never listen to Christmas music the same way again. Director Mitchell Kezin present for a post show Q&A. Shows Saturday, May 3, 3:00pm at Logan Theatre 1

• The Last Kamikazis of Heavy Metal (Biliana & Marina Grozdanova, USA, 2014, 102min).  Chicago Premiere

Sisters Biliana and Marina Grozdanova co-direct this Kickstarter-funded doc following the five young guns of Chicago band HËSSLER as they journey west and conquer audiences across America. Both on and off the stage, the band members are bonded by their passion for music-making and by their allegiance to the legacy of heavy metal and rock 'n' roll. Directors Biliana Grozdanova, Marina Grozdanova and members of Hëssler present for a post show Q&A. Shows Friday, May 2, 10:50pm at Logan Theatre 1

• Led Zeppelin Played Here (Jeff Krulik, USA, 2013, 80min).  Chicago Premiere

On the night of Richard Nixon’s inauguration in January 1969, in the middle of their first US tour, Led Zeppelin played in the gym of a Maryland youth center to a crowd of about 50 people… or did they? Jeff Krulik (Heavy Metal Parking Lot) investigates this urban legend, in the process illuminating the vagaries of human memory and the difficulty of documenting the disreputable history of rock ’n’ roll in the years before Woodstock and rock docs. Director Jeff Krulik present for a post show Q&A. Shows Friday, May 2, 7:15pm at Logan Theatre 3. 

• A Life in the Death of Joe Meek (Susan Stahman and Howard S. Berger, USA, 110 min). Chicago Premiere

Joe Meek was a brilliant pop craftsman, a veritable magician in the studio and one of the most important record producers of all time. He was also a paranoiac, a drug addict and a closeted homosexual who died by his own hand at the age of 37. A Life in the Death of Joe Meek explores the enigma of the musical genius who couldn’t play an instrument, the producer who discovered Jimmy Page but passed on the Beatles (“just another bunch of noise”), and the DIY pioneer who invented the modern recording studio. The band Gaspra, an instrumental electronic psych duo featuring Nick Broste (Mucca Pazza) & Tyson Torstensen (Magical Beautiful), pays homage to Joe Meek with a free concert before the show, 8 p.m. in the Logan Lounge. Directors Howard S. Berger and Susan Stahman present at the screening for a post show Q&A.  Shows Thursday, May 1, 9:15pm at Logan Theatre 1

• Looking for Johnny (Danny Garcia, USA, 2014, 90min).  World Premiere

Danny Garcia (The Rise and Fall of The Clash) directs the definitive documentary on legendary guitar player Johnny Thunders, from his beginning in the early ’70s as a founding member of the highly influential New York Dolls to his demise in New Orleans, where he died under mysterious circumstances in 1991. Director Danny Garcia present for a post show Q&A.

 Shows Saturday, May 3, 7:15pm at Logan Theatre 1. 

• The Man Behind the Throne (Kersti Grunditz, Sweden/USA/Canada, 2013, 58min). Chicago Premiere

Millions of people have imitated his moves, but few know his name: Vincent Paterson, the choreographer to the stars. Paterson is responsible for some of the modern era’s most famous dances, including Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal,” Madonna’s Blonde Ambition tour and the large-scale dances in Lars von Trier’s Dancer in the Dark. From the heights of stardom to the depths of despair, director Kersti Grunditz brings us along as Paterson tackles his biggest challenge yet, a massive Elvis-themed Cirque du Soleil show that will define – or end – his career. Shows Sunday, May 4, 2:45pm at Society for  Arts

• Que Caramba es la Vida (Doris Dörrie, Germany, 2014, 88min).  Chicago Premiere

In the macho world of mariachi, female musicians are rare. Against the backdrop of Mexico City’s Day of the Dead celebration, Que Caramba es la Vida accompanies several women to their performances and throughout their daily lives, their unique outlooks providing a different perspective to the traditional songs about death, love and poverty. Shows Sunday, May 4, 5:00pm at Logan Theatre 3

• Revenge of the Mekons (Joe Angio, USA, 2013, 96min).  Chicago Premiere

Political provocateurs. Social agitators. Punk’s reigning contrarians. The Mekons have been called all this and more. Revenge of the Mekons chronicles the unlikely story of a group of radical British art students who formed in the first blast of punk rock in 1977. Against all odds—and despite a career consigned to the margins—the Mekons continue to tour and make adventurous and challenging albums, despite the fact that its eight members are separated by thousands of miles across two continents. A rich and illuminating account of a fascinating, criminally under-recognized band, with killer music, to boot. Director Joe Angio and performers Jon Langford and Sally Timms present for a post show Q&A.  Shows Wednesday, April 30, 7:30pm at Lincoln Hall

• Rova Channeling Coltrane (John Rogers, USA/France/Austria/Canada, 2013, 113min). World Premiere

Rova Channeling Coltrane is a duet of films on the Rova Saxophone Quartet's reincarnation of John Coltrane's Ascension, called “the most vexatious work in jazz history.” First, in Cleaning the Mirror, we learn the history of the project and hear from the musicians – including Nels Cline, Hamid Drake and Rova leader Larry Ochs – about their approach to the music. Then, Electric Ascension documents in its entirety a performance of the re-imagined album, giving audience members the rare opportunity to see and hear the work performed live. Director Larry Ochs present for a post show Q&A. Shows Saturday, May 3, 4:45pm at Society for Arts

• The Sax Man (Joe Siebert, USA, 2014, 84min.) Chicago Premiere

To most of Cleveland, Maurice Reedus Jr. is “the Sax Man,” an iconic busker in flashy clothes who serenades passersby, rain or shine. They don’t know that he’s the son of a Grammy-winning musician or that he narrowly missed stardom as part of an arena-headlining Motown band in the 1970s. But it all fell apart, and now Maurice is a 60-year-old man wondering what went wrong. A surprising invitation to relive the glory days gives him one last chance to tell his hometown who he really is. Director Joe Siebert will be in attendance for post-show Q&A. Shows Sunday, May 4, 4:45pm at Society for Arts

• The Sweet Sisters of Zion (Regina Rene Davis, USA, 2013, 114 min.)

The story of the greatest trio of singers in Gospel music is told through commentary from family, friends, Gospel music historians and the sisters themselves. Delois Barrett Campbell and her sisters Billie Barrett GreenBey and Rodessa Barrett Porter formed the second generation pioneering Gospel group Delois Barrett Campbell and The Barrett Sisters of Chicago. Their story is woven together with one of the best compilations of Gospel music spanning more than 60 years. A performance by The Barrett Sisters follows. Sunday, May 4, 11am @ 1^st Ward. $15

• Take Me to the River (Martin Shore, USA, 2014, 95min.) Midwest Premiere

A feature documentary celebrating the inter-generational and interracial musical influence of Memphis in the face of pervasive discrimination and segregation. The film brings multiple generations of award-winning Memphis and Mississippi Delta musicians together, following them through the creative process of recording a historic new album, to re-imagine the utopia of racial, gender and generational collaboration of Memphis in its heyday. Featuring Terrence Howard, William Bell, Snoop Dogg, Mavis Staples, Otis Clay, Lil P-Nut, Charlie Musselwhite, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Yo Gotti, Bobby Rush, Frayser Boy, The North Mississippi All-Stars and many more. Director Martin Shore and  musicians Booker T. Jones, Frayser Boy, William Bell and Boo Mitchell in attendance for a post-show Q&A. Shows Sunday, May 4, 4:15 pm at Logan Theatre 1

• Theory of Obscurity: A Film about The Residents (rough cut) (Don Hardy, USA, 2015).

The story of the renegade sound and video collective known as The Residents spans 40 years and is clouded in mystery. Many details surrounding the group are secret, including the identities of its members who always perform wearing masks and costumes. With unprecedented access to the group’s vast archives and 40th anniversary tour, Theory of Obscurity tells the story of a group that has always played by its own set of rules, through fly on the wall observations and candid interviews with the Residents and members of Devo, Primus, Ween, Talking Heads and Pinback. Directors Barton Bishoff and/or Don Hardy present for a post show Q&A. Shows Saturday, May 3, 3:00pm at Hideout. 

• Twist (Ron Mann, Canada, 1992, 74min.)

It’s not an understatement to say that the twist changed America. All that gyrating helped loosen up stodgy 1950s mainstream culture, helping move America “from squareness to awareness.” Exhaustively researched and packed with entertaining and sometimes hilarious footage, Ron Mann’s classic film sets the record straight about the origins of the dance—Hank Ballard, not Chubby Checker, was the Father of the Twist—and its hip-shaking, world-dominating popularity. Director Ron Mann will be in attendance for a post-show Q&A. Shows Saturday, May 3, 2:35pm at Logan Theatre 3

• The Winding Stream (Beth Harrington, USA, 2014, 91min). Chicago Premiere

There is a stream that courses through American roots music; its source is in Maces Springs, Virginia in the Appalachian foothills. It was here that A.P. Carter, his wife Sara and his sister-in-law Maybelle began their careers as three of the earliest stars of country music. From their earliest days as Victor recording artists to their international success via the phenomenon of Border Radio, the Original Carter Family made their mark on the history of American recorded music..The Winding Stream illuminates the foundation–forming history of this multi–generational musical family through narrator–less interviews, punctuated with studio performances by Johnny and June Carter Cash, George Jones, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Kris Kristofferson and others. Shows Saturday, May 3, 4:55pm at Logan Theatre 1

Short Documentary

• Box of Sound (Chuck Przybyl, USA, 2014, 12min). North American Premiere

Chicago-based circuit bender and musician Antoine Kattar turns a cigar box into a synthesizer in this film that lovingly documents every step of the process, from concept to music.

• Derby & Groma (Kara Blake, Canada/Argentina, 2013, 17min). Chicago Premiere

Kara Blake pieces together the story of a vaudeville couple in Jazz Age Buenos Aires using photographs found in the street, archival footage, performance, interviews and animation.

• Empty (Jackie Traverse, Canada, 2009, 5min.) Chicago Premiere

Set to music by Little Hawk, this animated and starkly honest story is a daughter’s tribute to her estranged mother.

• The Final Note (Mayeta Clark, USA, 2013, 16min).  Chicago Premiere

This portrait of a Bronx warehouse cluttered with pianos and the eccentric characters who restore them presents the decline of a once-majestic instrument and the high craft of piano restoration.

• Hidden Wounds (Tomas Kaan, Netherlands/UK/Belgium/USA, 2013, 6min). North American Premiere

Pioneering Belgian rockers dEUS explore the horrors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through the personal stories of 20 veterans of wars around the world.

• Koentopp (Paul Hamilton and Caleb Vinson, USA, 2013, 45min). US Premiere

A documentary on Chicago guitar builder Dan Koentopp and his development of a custom Chicagoan Oval Hole Archtop guitar, the most elaborate instrument he’s created to date. Shows Thursday, May 1, 9 pm at Society for Arts

• Like a Breath (Comme une respiration) (Jaelle Marquis-Gobeille, Canada, 2012, 5min). Chicago Premiere

A wordless portrait of Amelie, a contemporary dancer preparing for her first professional dance show while dealing with the everyday struggles of living with cystic fibrosis and diabetes.

• Ma boîte noire  (My Black Box) (Nicolas-Alexandre Tremblay, Canada, 2012, 12min). Chicago Premiere

At the age of four, rapper Dramatik was treated for aggression. The treatment left him with a stutter; freestyling provided him with a cure.

• Mahsa: Cantata for a Forbidden Voice in Four Movements (Kiarash Anvari, Canada/Iran, 2013, 16min). US Premiere

In a country where public performances by women are forbidden, the internationally acclaimed Iranian vocalist Mahsa Vahdat struggles to make her voice heard.

• Robert Gordon on the Mississippi Blues Trail (TV series)

Grammy-winning writer Robert Gordon is the author of six books and producer-director of seven feature documentaries. He has focused on the American South—its music, art, and politics—to create an insider’s portrait of his home. He’s presenting selections from the Mississippi Blues Trail Video Series, which he co-directed. From Charley Patton to Bobby Rush, with stops at Muddy Waters, Elvis and gospel, these fun and informative shorts are guaranteed to teach you something you didn’t know about the Blues. Shows Sunday, May 4, 1:00 pm at Logan Theatre 3

• Salarymen (H. Paul Moon, USA, 2013, 5min). World Premiere

The Salarymen do spontaneous performances of sound art, mixing small objects with the noises of Washington, DC to make a different kind of urban music.

• A Stroll through the Park: An Asbury Symphony (Sage Seb, USA, 2013, 19min).  Chicago Premiere

Cameras follow street artist Shepard Fairey (renowned for his 2008 Barack Obama “Hope” poster) through Asbury Park, New Jersey, as he creates art for the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival.

• Who Shot Rock & Roll: The Film (Steven Kochones, USA, 2012, 37min). Chicago Premiere

Through conversations with photographers and musicians, Who Shot Rock & Roll explores the stories behind the most enduring photos in rock history.

• Will Play for Beer (Carrine Fisher, USA, 2013, 42min). World Premiere

Will Play for Beer is a documentary about Seattle’s independent music and arts scene. The film focuses on the uniqueness of the scene, and the passion that the artists have for creating original and exciting work amidst an ever-changing music industry. 

Short Fiction

• Heaven's Vanguard (Emil Goodman, Hungary, 2013, 11min).  Chicago Premiere

Eight years after a tragedy drove him into retirement, the last great jazz star on a manmade planet plays a farewell performance that forces him to relive it. Shows Sunday, May 4, 7:15pm at Society

• La Donna (Nicolás Dolensky, Argentina, 2013, 15min).  Chicago Premiere

On a night that could be any night, anywhere, two men and a woman, plenty of alcohol, hot music and sexual tension combine in unexpected ways.

• Lomax (Jesse Kreitzer, USA, 2013, 12min).  Chicago Premiere

Folklorist Alan Lomax travels the Mississippi Delta equipped with 500 pounds of recording equipment powered by his car battery, on a quest to document the most beautiful and harrowing songs ever sung.

• Mr. Bellpond (A. Todd Smith, USA, 2012, 20min.) Chicago Premiere

Consumed with guilt after his wife disappears, Mr. Bellpond goes into seclusion. Years later, an extortionist offers information of her whereabouts if Mr. Bellpond composes a new masterpiece.

• Seasick (Eva Cvijanovic, Canada, 2013, 4min.) Chicago Premiere

An animated, meditative exploration of one's love of the sea, set to a soundtrack of traditional Croatian music.

• Shooter Jennings' The Other Life (Blake Judd, USA, 2013, 28min). Chicago Premiere

Shooter Jennings says goodbye to his family and hits the road on a supernatural journey inspired by Stephen King, Stanley Kubrick, and his own past.

• Stupify (Paul Thomas, USA, 2013, 7min). World Premiere

When rapper Stupify steps into the studio to record his new album, his biggest challenge is unexpected – a very precise producer.

• Toca pra Diabo! (A Hell of a Player!) (João Helho, Brazil, 2013, 15min). World Premiere

After meeting a mysterious and talented stranger, guitar player Sig discovers that there are more things between hell and earth than a naive metalhead kid might suppose.

• Unogumbe (Noye’s Fludde) (Mark Dornford-May, South Africa, 2013, 35min).  Chicago Premiere

In this radical adaptation of Benjamin Britten’s opera about Noah’s Ark, the action is transported to a South African township, Noah is a woman, and the songs are sung in Xhosa.

• We Keep On Dancing (Jessica Barclay Lawton, Australia, 2013, 9min).  Chicago Premiere

Two strangers meet through a haze of smoke from a broken-down Volkswagen Beetle in this sweet tale of love, loss and ... car trouble.

• Woody (Stuart Bowen, Australia, 2013, 10min).  Chicago Premiere

Woody has always wanted to play the piano, but he has wooden paddles for hands. This, however, is no barrier to his daydreams of stardom.

• 大运河 (Grand Canal) (Johnny Ma, US/Canada, 2013, 19min).  Chicago Premiere

A boat captain who loves Chinese ballads tries to collect a debt to save his fleet of boats, as remembered by his ten-year-old son.

Corporate and Community sponsors of CIMMfest No. 6 include Columbia College Chicago, Heineken, Ticketweb, Autobarn, Optimus, Acme Hotel, Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce, do312, Fulcrum Point, Crowdnoize, JBTV and EARS. 

A recent Driehaus Foundation Grant winner, CIMMfest is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. For information on how to get involved, visit www.CIMMfest.org.

ABOUT CIMMFEST

The mission of the Chicago International Movies & Music Festival (CIMMfest) is to highlight the inseparability of film and music through the production of an annual four-day, multi-venue festival.  CIMMfest is a convergence event that highlights the interconnectedness of all people shown through the lens of music and movies, on stage and on screen.  All participating films have music at their center: short and long form documentaries and narrative fiction; concert films; animation; music videos; performances; live concert events; art exhibits; and panel discussions, presented at both new and historic venues around Chicago.  CIMMfest is a platform for filmmakers and musicians, artists and producers, to present their vision and offer a connection point for people to come together for a celebration of movies, music, and good times in the greatest city on earth – Chicago!  For more information, visit www.CIMMfest.org.