The Woodstock Music and Art Fair of August 1969 is often recalled as the beginning of the festival era, the spark that lit the fire. There’s some truth to that, but the real turning point – at which wider pop culture coincided with the concept of a massive music festival – all started in June 1967 at the Monterey Pop Festival.
That three-day event showcased both major stars and up-and- comers; the lineup included now-legendary performances by Otis Redding, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, The Grateful Dead and more than two dozen other acts. A rousing success, the festival created a template for the festival movement. And documentary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker was there with a crew, capturing the concert for history. His acclaimed film, Monterey Pop premiered in theaters in December 1968.
Nearly 55 years after its original release, the excitement, appeal and influence of the concert festival and its documentary film continue to endure.
Grail Moviehouse proudly presents a special one- night screening of the movie on Monday, June 12, 2023, at 7:00 pm.
Hosted by author, speaker and music journalist Bill Kopp, the evening will feature a screening of the film followed by an interactive discussion. Monterey Pop is the latest in Grail Moviehouse’s ongoing series, Music Movie Mondays.
“Going to the movies has always been a kind of communal experience,” says Kopp, host of Music Movie Mondays. “Especially in this post-lockdown era, the opportunity to not only watch a film but then to discuss it with others is something even more special. And music-related films lend themselves remarkably well to this kind of shared, interactive experience.”
Visit the ticketing website for more information.
Sponsored by AshevilleFM 103.3, this one-night-only screening of Monterey Pop is the latest in the series of Music Movie Mondays at Grail Moviehouse. Every month, audiences will watch and discuss new releases, classics and cult favorites.