Film history of Chicago blues to debut at Sundance

This blog is all about music festivals, but when a film festival puts the focus on music, that's interesting, too. At the Sundance Film Festival, running currently in Park City UT, the blues documentary film Electrified-The Story of the Maxwell Street Urban Blues will premiere January 25 at a screening and live music performance at Harry O's in Park City.

Electrified tells the familiar story of the Chicago blues from the perspective of the city neighborhood, Maxwell Street, that provided the cultural medium in which the music grew. The film is narrated by actor Joe Mantegna and features interviews with bluesmen Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Charlie Musselwhite, Jimmie Lee Robinson and Bo Diddley.

Acclaimed blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd and blues legend Hubert Sumlin will perform, while actor Chevy Chase emcees, at the Sundance premiere. The film's executive producer will present a limited-edition Fender guitar for a charity auction.

A dozen video clips from Electrified and a companion movie Cheat You Fair, about the last days of the Maxwell Street Market, are available for viewing at YouTube.

Johnny Mae Dunson Performing on Maxwell Street

Video by maxwellstreetdoc