XPN MUSIC FILM FESTIVAL
March 31 – April 2 at the Prince Theater
Featuring some of the most popular music films of the last 40 years, plus special events
In celebration of the 25th anniversaries of both the World Cafe music radio program and the Philadelphia Film Festival, public radio station WXPN (producer of World Cafe) and the Philadelphia Film Society are teaming up to present a weekend of some of the best-loved music films of the past 40 years, enlivened by several special events. The XPN Music Film Festival will take place on Friday, March 31, Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 at the Prince Theater (1412 Chestnut Street) in Philadelphia.
Hosted by David Dye, who’s stepping down as host of World Cafe after March 31 (but who will remain a contributor to the program, as well as a WXPN radio host), and attended by other WXPN staff, the XPN Music Film Festival will celebrate a great assortment of music that has been featured on 88.5FM WXPN over the years from the Talking Heads to The Band.
TICKETS & PASSES
Updated Schedule Since Originally Announced!
Friday, March 31
STOP MAKING SENSE
JONATHAN DEMME | USA | 1984 | 88 MIN
Friday, March 31 8:00 PM
Visionary director Jonathan Demme captured the Talking Heads at the height of their funky, twitchy powers in this classic concert doc, which combines footage from three legendary performances at LA’s Pantiges Theater. Demme brings an extra dose of visual panache to the band’s already energetic performances, encapsulated in front man David Byrne’s goofy yet euphoric takes on classics including “Psycho Killer,” “Once in a Lifetime,” and “Burning Down the House.”
SPECIAL EVENT: LAND OF THE LOST DANCE PARTY
Friday, March 31 10:00 PM
**Rush Only. Advance tickets sold out for the LAND OF THE LOST Dance Party. Limited number of Rush tickets may be released shortly after the scheduled start time for purchase in person at the Prince Theater Box Office.**
Rediscover the 1980’s pop & underground landscape with a great mix of cult classics and new wave anthems, woven together by DJ Robert Drake. On Friday, March 31, pull on your legwarmers and double loop your scrunchies for the XPN Music Film Festival’s Land of the Lost Dance Party, hosted by Drake himself. Spend the night at the Prince Theater, in tribute to the tunes and neon clothes of the 80s! $10 cover at the door, $5 in advance. Cover included in All-Access Pass purchase. This event is 21+
Saturday, April 1
THE LAST WALTZ
MARTIN SCORSESE | USA | 1978 | 117 MIN
Saturday, April 1 5:00 PM
Martin Scorsese’s chronicling of The Band’s epic farewell performance is rightfully cited as one of the greatest concert documentaries of all time, and famously features a stacked roster of guests including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Neil Young. Yet the world-weary virtuosos of The Band remain the stars of the show, and Scorsese gives their swan song a sense of cinematic grandeur befitting rock royalty.
Come to The Last Waltz early for our hour-long 70s HANGOUT WITH DAN REED. XPN host Reed will serve up gems from the era as he does with his daily feature, “Highs In The 70s.” Hangout starts at 4pm.
50 YEARS OF SGT. PEPPER’S – BRITISHMANIA LIVE + SPECIAL SCREENING
Saturday, April 1 8:00 PM
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band with this all-night tribute to the Beatles’ extraordinary eighth album. We’ll kick things off with a stunning performance from Beatles tribute band Britishmania, who have played for ecstatic crowds all over the world. The show will highlight Sgt. Pepper’s, and feature selections from Revolver, and Magical Mystery Tour – in full Sgt. Pepper’s regalia of course!
Stick around after the concert for a screening of 1978’s so-bad-it’s-awesome film Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, featuring the Peter Frampton, the Bee Gees, Steve Martin, Alice Cooper, and Earth, Wind, & Fire. Don’t miss out experiencing this must-see with a signature drink and a crowd of Beatles fans like you!
Sunday, April 2
SPECIAL EVENT: VINYL MARKETPLACE
Sunday, April 2 2:00 PM
Start off the final day of the XPN Music Film Festival with the first ever Vinyl Marketplace at the Prince Theater. Top Philadelphia record stores will be packing their milk crates and setting up shop in the Prince lobby before the 3:30pm screening of High Fidelity. Whether you’re just hunting for vinyl or sticking around for John Cusack’s lovelorn tale, join PFS and XPN to wrap up this year’s celebration of music on film, and possibly go home with the record you’ve been searching for. Featuring R&D Vinyl, Digital Underground/Vinyl Altar, Brewerytown Beats, Milk Crate Cafe, and BridgeSet Sound. No tickets are required for the Vinyl Marketplace.
HIGH FIDELITY
STEPHEN FREARS | USA | 2000 | 113 MIN
Sunday, April 2 3:30 PM
This romantic comedy favorite stars John Cusack as lovelorn record obsessive Rob Gordon, who decides to revisit several of his previous flames after being dumped by his latest girlfriend. Featuring a dynamite soundtrack and very memorable breakout role from Jack Black as a hilariously snobby record store employee, HIGH FIDELITY is a touching and riotously funny ode to commitment-phobic music fanboys everywhere.
SINGLES
CAMERON CROWE | USA | 1992 | 99 MIN
Sunday, April 2 6:00 PM
Perhaps the quintessential Gen-X movie, Cameron Crowe’s portrait of romantic malaise set in the grunge mecca of Seattle features a veritable who’s who of rock royalty circa 1992. SINGLES follows the complicated love lives of a group of twenty-somethings, including lovelorn waitress Janet (Bridget Fonda) and Citizen Dick front man Cliff (Matt Dillon). But the real star of Singles is its soundtrack, featuring Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam.
ALMOST FAMOUS
CAMERON CROWE | USA | 2000 | 122 MIN
Sunday, April 2 8:00 PM
Writer-director Cameron Crowe tapped his own life story to craft this heartfelt look at a precocious music journalist thrust headlong into the world of touring rock musicians and the “Band-Aids” who love them. On assignment for Rolling Stone, 15-year-old William (Patrick Fugit) aims to cover the hedonistic lives of rock band Stillwater and finds himself hopelessly infatuated with charismatic groupie Penny Lane (Kate Hudson). This contemporary classic updates the coming-of-age tale with a heaping of sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll.
TICKETS & PASSES
Get the most out of your weekend with the Band, the Talking Heads, Stillwater, and more with a Festival Pass! Pass holders get to skip the box office and jump the lines without ever having to purchase a ticket. Passes grant priority admission* and are sold in 2 levels: Catch all five films from March 31 – April 2 with the Film Pass, OR upgrade to the complete weekend experience with the All-Access pass and party after hours at our post-screening Special Events.
ALL-ACCESS PASS
$65 / $50 for PFS & XPN Members
Grants priority admission* for one (1) to all film screenings and special events. Quantities Extremely Limited!
FILM PASS
$40 / $35 for PFS & XPN Members
Grants priority admission* for one (1) to all film screenings**. Admission to special events must be purchased separately. Quantities Limited.
INDIVIDUAL TICKET PRICES (click on the film title to purchase tickets):
All Films**: $10 GA | $9 Student/Senior/Military | $8 PFS & XPN Members
Land of the Lost Dance Party: $5 Advance | $10 Door
50 Years of Sgt. Pepper’s – Britishmania Live + Special Screening:
ADVANCE $30 GA | $25 PFS & XPN Members
DAY OF $35 GA | $30 PFS & XPN Members
*Priority Admission is guaranteed until 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Pass holders arriving within fifteen minutes of the scheduled start time are admitted via the General Admission ticket holder line.
**Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band screening is part of the 50 Years of Sgt. Pepper’s event; admission only granted with individual event ticket or the All-Access Pass. Film Only Pass does not grant admission to Sgt. Pepper’s film screening.
Passes available to pick up at the Prince Theater Box Office starting March 27.