Customer Reviews
Great gift for the sixties generation 
2008-08-04
Festival Express is a blast from the past - the sixties and seventies generation will not believe how young and thin they once were. A very good birthday present.
Good Times! 2008-08-01
This is a good way to get a glimpse of what life on the road was like 'back in the day'. This tour wouldn't/couldn't happen today. Despite some logistical problems, and misguided college kids who don't quite think it all the way through there was probably never a better overall time than this train trip across Canada. Well worth watching! Steve Urbauer
A perfect "snapshot" of Rock's Golden Era 
2008-07-09
Oh, how I wish I had been able to "Ride that train"... First off, the music aspect of the film is worth twice the price of the DVD alone. To see and feel Janis in her final days is beyond epic. I originally saw this in the Boulder Theater at a pre-release screening, and after both her performances the audience was literally speechless and silent for a few seconds before someone simply said what we were all thinking; "Wow." From the Dead to Buddy Guy, and the Band to ShaNaNa, it is a completely phenomenal musical experience.
However, the candid and often hysterical footage from the actual "trip" itself is by far the greatest part of the film. Imagine some of America's greatest musicians living a week in a Canadian fantasy world. Excess, genius, and hilarity all rolling down the tracks. Rick Danko, Janis, and Jerry singing in an drunken, acid soaked haze is probably one of the funniest rock and roll moments ever captured on film. (You know when janis Joplin asks, "How are you doing man?" to Rick, the world is definitely turning upside-down.)
Buy this, you won't regret it.
Exciting Lost performance footage 2008-04-09
The summer of 1970 - one of my best - definitely for *music*. Here we have some of the biggest icons of that period, up close and personal. Maybe a little too personal, as we watch many musical genuises, and apparently very decent decent, use legal and illegal substances well beyond necessity, and make us realize that none of 'em were role models outside of the instruments, the lights, the imagery.
The film includes poignant reminders of the downside of the Summer of '67 meets Woodstock era: alot of wild people trying to destroy the efforts of alot of folks who invested more than money in trying to provide respectable entertainment for them. In one spot way up North a group manages to at least slow down the proceedings and get performers like the Grateful Dead to perform an impromptu concert for free. Jerry Garcia is the diplomat - got it togther in a calm manner.
The progressive promoter, who road the train along with the musicians, emerges as quite a character: a kind of hippie Edward G. Robinson, assertively convincing a liquor store manager to sell him a prop display for an inspired application back on the train, knocking down a "98 pound weakling" of a local politician who demands that he lose considerable money in deference to his new, youthful constituency, who are somewhat undecided about the merits of Capitalism; tossing an "activist" down a flight of stairs.
As to the music, if you're a Grateful Dead or Janis Joplin fan, you've got it made in the shade (though "Cry Baby" is curiously below her standards here). If you're into Delaney & Bonnie, unless I missed something, all I see of Bonnie is a shot of her mellowing out on the train and another shot of her inshadow watching another lady sing the blues. Delaney & Bonnie & Friends were huge at the time...not much here.
Disc Two has very little content.
Overall quality, excellent.
Wonderful! 2008-03-26
Festival Express is a wonderful documentary of some amazing bands who take a journey across Canada. It contains wonderful footage of the bands on the train jamming together. It renews your faith in the ability of people to exist together and leave their egos at the door. It's amazing to see Janis and the Dead hanging out and playing together. If you want to see great musicians enjoy each other you need to watch this. It's guaranteed to put a smile on your face!
A Personal Treat 2008-02-04
Festival Express is a rousing record of a little-known but monumental moment in rock n' roll history starring such music legends as Janis Joplin The Band and the Grateful Dead. Set in 1970 Festival Express was a multi-band multi-day extravaganza that captured the spirit and imagination of a generation and a nation. What made it unique was that it was portable; for five days the bands and performers lived slept rehearsed and did countless unmentionable things aboard a customized train that traveled from Toronto to Calgary to Winnipeg with each stop culminating in a mega-concert. The entire experience both off-stage and on was filmed but the extensive footage remained locked away -- until now.A momentous achievement in rock film archeology Festival Express combines this long-lost material with contemporary interviews nearly 35 years after it was first filmed.Running Time: 89 min. Genre: MUSIC DVD/CONCERTS UPC: 794043757327 Manufacturer No: N7573
Festival Express Review 2007-12-28
This video was realistic and describes the mood of the times. Janis Joplin was incredible. Truly enjoyed EACH of the artists.
Partying with the hippies. 2007-12-26
Festival Express is a great insight into what was going on on that train on the way to Canada, and it was partying, a lot of partying. The DVD shows a great deal of onstage performances by Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, The Band and Bonnie Bramlett. It also takes us inside the train and sucks you into the party. Soon enough, you'll be howling to "Ain't no more cane" with Janis, Jerry and Rick Danco.
I WISH I'D BEEN ON THAT TRAIN 2007-12-10
Mayhem in 1970. I found it interesting but too much time watching the gang trying to kill themselves by over dosing. Okay, I'm jealous...I had to pay for mine.
I was disappointed in the overall product. They missed many who were on the train and seen at some stops, but not one sound or clip from major acts like, Ten Years After, Traffic, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends.
I'll feel better if they release a Festival Exress 2 and include the groups that were left out. That Delaney & Bonnie group alone was an awesome ensemble (Clapton, Dave Mason, Leon Russell and many more NAME performers), Ten Years After and Traffic were all at their peak.
This is an edit: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Delaney & Bonnie and Friends was a group started by Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett, which featured the elite session artists of the day, such as Carl Radle, Jim Price, Bobby Keys, Rita Coolidge, Bobby Whitlock, Jim Gordon, Leon Russell, Dave Mason and revolving guest lead guitarists which would include Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Duane Allman and even some appearances with Jimi Hendrix.
So who did we miss when Festival Express edited out Delaney & Bonnie and Friends?
So, give me a Festival 2 and I'll come back and edit this review as a 5 star.
Good video 2007-12-07
Received quickly, good quality, at first thought it was more a bootleg but not sure as it is an old movie so quality might not have been as good back in the 70's. Enjoyed the movie and music, wish there was more music in it though, kinda came across more as a documentary.
