RUMBLE: THE INDIANS WHO ROCKED THE WORLD

Winner of the Rogers Audience Award for Best Canadian Documentary at the 2017 Hot Docs Film Festival, Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World tells the fascinating and largely hidden history of Indigenous influence on, and contribution to, popular music of the last century. Primarily focused on rock ‘n’ roll, blues and jazz, Rumble gets its title from the infamous Link Wray instrumental hit of 1958 – a song so powerful in its musicality and so emotionally resonant that it was banned from radio play despite not having a single lyric.

Interviews from artists such as Robbie Robertson of The Band, Pat Vegas of Redbone and Buffy Saint-Marie illuminate how the cultural identity of Native American and Indigenous artists was obscured or deliberately underreported, as part of a larger postcolonial effort to erase the cultural heritage of First Peoples. Robertson recalls being told as budding musician to “be proud you’re an Indian, but be careful who you tell.” Connecting the musical histories of jazz, blues, folk and rock ‘n’ roll with the political and social movements that blossomed out of these genres, Rumble deftly displays the ways in which Indigenous artists in North America navigated through Music, and went on to influence guitarists like Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Pete Townsend. From Mildred Bailey, jazz singer of the 1930s and a favourite of Tony Bennet, to guitarist Jesse Ed Davis and his influence on The Beatles, to heavy metal drummer Randal Castillo’s iconic rhythms with Black Sabbath, the history of Indigenous artists serves as a history of popular music itself.

Refusing to shy away from the ways in which North American and Indigenous artists suffered from institutional racism, political persecution and the lasting effects of cultural erasure, Rumble points to the incredible innovative sprit of these artists and how their music served as expressions of frustration, resistance and celebration – not only for Indigenous communities but for generations of music lovers who found power through song.

(text courtesy of CV Arts)

Doors open at 6:30 pm. Film starts at 7:00 pm.

Tickets available at the door.

Cost:

• Regular adult – $12
• CV Arts Members – $11
• Kids 13 & under – $5

For more information about this and future Cinefest films, please visit: http://columbiavalleyarts.com

Note: Columbia Valley Arts will be holding its AGM from 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm this evening. Those who attend the AGM will receive complimentary admission to the film.