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Festival Express

Various Artists

Cinema release 2003

DVD release 2004

A documentary and performance film of the "Trans-Continental Pop Festival" tour into Canada in June and July 1970. The movie includes performances, sessions on the tour train and recent interviews.

Groups and performers on the tour included;

  • Grateful Dead
  • New Riders Of The Purple Sage
  • Janis Joplin
  • The Band
  • Delaney & Bonnie
  • Ten Years After
  • Traffic
  • Ian & Sylvia
  • Great Speckled Bird
  • Buddy Guy
  • Eric Andersen
  • Melanie
  • Seatrain
  • Tom Rush
The movie was directed by Bob Smeaton.

The movie was premiered toward the end of 2003. Songs included in the movie are;

  • Casey Jones - Grateful Dead
  • Don't Ease Me In - Grateful Dead
  • Friend of the Devil - Grateful Dead
  • Slippin' and Slidin' - The Band
  • Goin' Down the Road - Delaney & Bonnie and others
  • Traditional Country Song - Buddy Cage and others
  • Baby Here I Come - Buddy Guy & Rick Danko
  • Better Take Jesus' Hand (1st version) - Jerry Garcia & Sylvia Tyson
  • Comin' Home Baby - Mashmakan
  • Money - Buddy Guy
  • Lazy Day - Flying Burrito Bros
  • The Weight - The Band
  • Cry Baby - Janis Joplin
  • I Can't Do It Baby - Buddy Guy & Jerry Garcia
  • Ain't No More Cane - Rick Danko & Janis and others
  • Soul Jam - Buddy Guy & Rick Danko
  • Sunshine of Your Love - Ensemble
  • Rock & Roll is Here to Stay - Sha Na Na
  • CC Rider - Ian & Sylvia & The Great Speckled Bird
  • New Speedway Boogie - Grateful Dead
  • I Shall Be Released - The Band
  • Tell Mama - Janis Joplin
  • Me & Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
  • Better Take Jesus' Hand (2nd version) - New Riders of the Purple Sage
The DVD release is a double DVD set. Disc 1 is the original movie. Disc 2 conatins additional performance and interview material, The Making of the Festival Express film featurette, the theatrical trailer and a photo gallery. Additional songs on this disc include;
  • Hard to Handle - Grateful Dead
  • Easy Wind - Grateful Dead
  • Move Over - Janis Joplin
  • Kozmic Blues - Janis Joplin
  • Hoochie Coochie Man - Buddy Guy
  • As Years Go By - Mashmakhan
  • Thirsty Boots - Eric Anderson
  • Tears of Rage - Ian & Sylvia
  • Child's Song - Tom Rush
  • Thirteen Questions - Seatrain
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