The 9th edition of Doc’n Roll Film Festival, highlighting the best of new music-themed documentaries, runs at London cinemas from 27th October to 13th November 2022 and a “Best of the Fest” selection will be shown at both Brighton Picturehouse cinemas: Duke’s at Komedia and the Duke of York’s from 30th October to 4th November.
Opening the carefully curated, eclectic programme is This Is National Wake. As with all other films being shown, the event features an in-person director Q&A. National Wake were a multiracial band whose very existence was illegal in apartheid South Africa. Now, 40 years later, veteran New York music journalist Mirissa Neff’s debut feature uses original footage and interviews to tell their story of hope and resistance. A fitting start for the theme of change running throughout this year’s selection. The screening will be followed by a free entry afterparty of vintage African grooves at Dead Wax Social.
Sunday 30th October – 6pm Komedia
There are two films on Tuesday 1st at 6pm. Komedia is showing Getting It Back: The Story Of Cymande, which tells the story of the legendary British funk group, whose music has been widely sampled by many rap artists. There will be a Q&A with director Tim Mackenzie-Smith after the film.
Duke of York’s has Michelle Heighway’s ENERGY: A Documentary About Damo Suzuki. This film covers the last five years of the legendary CAN musician’s life on the road while living with cancer. Michelle has been working with Damo since 2014 and will be present to answer questions.
Tuesday 1st November – 6pm
Daptone Records soul superstar Lee Fields’ extraordinary life and career are covered in Lee Fields: Faithful Man. Fields’ career has seen him work with many of soul music’s greats and he was instrumental in launching the career of the late, great Sharon Jones. You can read our 2017 interview with Lee Fields here.
Wednesday 2nd November – 6pm Komedia
A Film About Studio Electrophonique covers the hotbed of futuristic experimental electronic music that was Sheffield in the late 1970s. Specifically, Ken Patten’s house at 32 Handsworth Grange Crescent, where the first recordings were made for early incarnations of the bands that became The Human League, ABC, Heaven 17, Clock DVA and Pulp. Jarvis Cocker and Heaven 17’s Martyn Ware are amongst the musicians recalling their inauspicious beginnings in music.
Thursday 3rd November – 6pm Komedia
The festival closes with TRIP: A Journey Into The World Of Psychedelic Sight & Sound. This intimate film by documentary photographer and filmmaker Lilly Creightmore captures the story of a handful of artists old and new who influenced a resurgence of psychedelic-inspired sound, at a time when a small group of her generation were in search of alternatives to the corporatised music industry. There is tour footage of garage-psych legend Roky Erickson, a one-off Spacemen 3 reunion and a behind-the-scenes look at the emerging global psych scene. It’s followed by a free afterparty at the Rose Hill Tavern, featuring a DJ set from Hákon of The Third Sound and The Brian Jonestown Massacre.
Friday 4th November – 6pm Duke of York’s
For full details and to book tickets go here.
