Running from December 5th until December 11th of this year, Gimme Some Truth is Australia’s first and only dedicated music documentary festival.
Launched and supported by Perth community radio station RTR fm, Gimme Some Truth will showcase eight different fils over six days, including three Australian premieres and two world premieres, plus an exciting collection of Western Australian shorts.
The 2014 film program traverses diverse genres and scenes across the globe. From the harsh realities of life on the road for Canadian post-rock band Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra – Come Worry With Us! to the politically motivated Afrobeat of Fela Kuti – Finding Fela and the Southern Florida soul movement of the 1960s – Deep City: The Birth of the Miami Sound, Gimme Some Truth will appeal to all lovers of music and film.
The festival opens on Friday, 5 December with Heaven Adores You, an introspective, meditative inquiry into the life and music of the late singer-songwriter, Elliott Smith. Followed by Records Collecting Dust an in-depth exploration of the record collections of Jello Biafra, Chuck Dukowski, Keith Morris, John Reis and more.
The program also features the doco on American rapper Nas, who developed his craft from a young age, releasing his debut album Illmatic at age 17. Paired with energising, revolutionary beats, Nas: Time is Illmatic delivers an electrifying account of the gestation of a rap milestone, and is a program highlight. For more info and tickets visit the Gimme Some Truth website.
To celebrate Gimme Some Truth 2014, the kind folk at RTR FM have curated a list of their favourite music docos from the decade (so far) we know all the old classics, so now it’s time to get to know the newbies.
It Came From Detroit (2009)
“A fan’s look at the Detroit garage scene of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. While The White Stripes rose to fame, some of my favourite garage bands of all time were featured here – The Go, The Dirtbombs, Gore Gore Girls – none of which were ever going to make it out of the underground.”
– Jason Cleary (RTRFM General Manager / Gimme Some Truth Festival Curator)
Fridey at the Hydey (2013)
“I was grinning from ear to ear (along with everyone else) at the Perth premiere screening of this film, reminiscing about one of our most iconic venues. The Hydey was not just a place for bands to play, but a home for many of us at the time. A piece of Perth music history that looked just as grimy on screen as it was in real life. It was a pleasure to get it on the big screen to a sold-out crowd at last year’s Gimme Some Truth music documentary festival.”
– Jason Cleary
American Hardcore (2006)
American Hardcore is a documentary that focuses on the history of American punk rock in the early 1980s. Featuring early interviews of some of my favourite bands – such as Minor Threat, Bad Brains, D.R.I, The Adolescents – the film provides a great run-down on how and why these bands got together and features some killer footage of live underground shows.
– Holly Doll (Presenter, Rock, Rattle & Roll / Burn The Airwaves)
Dig! (2004)
“This one really changed the game in terms of rock docos. Raw, freewheeling and potentially revolutionary. So many kids have started bands because of this film – myself included.”
– Jade Nobbs (Presenter, El Ritmo / Soulsides / Golden Apples of the Sun)
Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me (2012)
“This one was screened as part of Revelation Film Festival a couple of years ago, and it made me cry. The film touches upon that element of envelope-pushing and existential grief that is integral to the musical, aesthetic sensibility. ”
– Jade Nobbs
Anvil: The Story of Anvil (2008)
The story of a small metal band from Canada; a band that other bands loved, but which never made it. Anvil released one record and went on one tour. This is the story of them trying so hard to re-capture a sense of fame or success, but they never do. They never give up though.
– Chris Wheeldon (Presenter, Homegrown)
Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey (2005)
The film follows 31-year-old Sam Dunn, a Canadian anthropologist, who has been a heavy metal fan since the age of 12. Dunn sets out across the world to uncover the various opinions on heavy metal music, including its origins, culture, controversy, and the reasons it’s loved by so many people. The most fascinating aspect of the film would be the hilarious, yet completely terrifying interviews with Norwegian black metal outfits such as Gorgoroth and also Mayhem (a band which, in 1993, were embroiled in the controversial murder of guitarist Øystein Aarseth, at the hands of former band member Varg Vikernes).
– Craig Hollywood (Presenter, Full Frequency)
The Stone Roses – Made of Stone (2013)
The story of a reunion that every fan wanted but feared. After 16 years apart, the seminal act got it together again and managed to pull of an amazing feat – staying together on tour and not killing each other. It’s a fans-eye view of a band every fan wants to be in.
– Peter Barr (RTRFM Talks Producer / Presenter, Breakfast with Barr)
Gimme Some Truth runs from December 5th – December 11th for tickets and info visit RTRfm.com.au
