True Stories from the Front Lines of American Music

Troubadour Blues is a journey into the world of well-traveled singer-songwriters like Peter Case, Mary Gauthier, Chris Smither, Mark Erelli, Dave Alvin, Amy Speace, Slaid Cleaves and many more. Filmmaker Tom Weber spent nearly 10 years gathering material for this feature-length documentary, which provides a revealing look at the heartbreaks and joys of these modern-day wandering minstrels.

The film, containing all original footage, has a total running time of 95 minutes and includes nearly 40 songs, performed by the artists who wrote them. Exciting live performances were recorded at festivals, clubs and living rooms all over the U.S. and Canada. These are accompanied by candid interviews in which the artists reflect on the craft of songwriting and the experiences of life on the road.

This is a story that needs to be heard. In our media-saturated age of instant pop stardom, there is real danger that the tradition of the itinerant working musician is being diluted or lost. This is a concern expressed in the film by a number of artists. Troubadour Blues explores the hidden corners of our culture, where honest, authentic songs reflecting the human experience are still being made up and sung.

The 75-year-old Hollywood Theater is one of the few surviving single-screen movie theaters in the greater Pittsburgh area. It is newly renovated and is one of the most comfortable theaters in town. It is run by the Friends of the Hollywood Theater, a non-profit community group that is trying to buy the building and operate the theater permanently. It is available for rental to filmmakers and community groups. For information, call (412) 563-0368 or e-mail info@thehollywooddormont.org.

Potomac Avenue runs between West Liberty Ave. and Greentree Road, crossing Banksville Road. If coming from downtown, ride the T Red Line to Potomac. Take a right on Potomac as you leave the station; the theater is two short blocks on the right, just past Espy Ave.