It was the summer of 1970 and some of you may not have been born.
Festival Express is a 2003 documentary film about the 1970 train tour of the same name across Canada taken by some of North America's most popular rock bands, including the
Grateful Dead,
Janis Joplin,
The Band,
Buddy Guy,
Flying Burrito Bros,
Ian & Sylvia's
Great Speckled Bird,
Mountain and
Delaney & Bonnie & Friends.
[1] The film combines footage of the 1970 concerts and on the train, interspersed with contemporary recollections of the tour by its participants.
Festival Express was staged in three Canadian cities:
Toronto,
Winnipeg and
Calgary, during the summer of 1970. Rather than flying into each city, the musicians traveled by chartered
Canadian National Railways train, in a total of 14 cars (two engines, one diner, five sleepers, two lounge cars, two flat cars, one baggage car, and one staff car).
[4] The train journey between cities ultimately became a combination of non-stop
jam sessions and partying fueled by alcohol. One highlight of the documentary is a drunken jam session featuring The Band's
Rick Danko, the Grateful Dead's
Jerry Garcia and
Bob Weir,
New Riders of the Purple Sage's
John Dawson, as well as
Janis Joplin.
[3][5]
Enjoy here is the full movie. Play it in 720p
P.S. Pig Pen was still alive and playing with the DEAD...