Sundance

Performances by Common, Erykah Badu, Aloe Blacc, Kate Davis and Andra Day

2015 Sundance Film Festival’s ‘A Celebration of Music in Film’ concert on January 25 offered a tribute to jazz icon Nina Simone, who is the subject of What Happened, Miss Simone?, from director Liz Garbus and making its world premiere in the Festival’s Documentary Premieres section. Performing at the event will be Common, Erykah Badu, Aloe Blacc, Kate Davis, Andra Day and Al Schackman, Simone’s long time guitarist/musical director who appears in the film. The event is hosted by the Sundance Institute Film Music Program.

Peter Golub, Director of the Sundance Institute Film Music Program and co-producer of A Celebration of Music in Film, said, "Our Film Music Program works year-round to connect composers and filmmakers, including at our summer labs, where composers, filmmakers and sound designers combine music, sound and image. A Celebration of Music and Film furthers that work by shining a spotlight for audiences on the important role music plays in film."

Tracy McKnight, veteran music supervisor and co-producer of A Celebration of Music in Film, said, “Nina Simone is an icon of American music – her remarkable and singular talent made her one of the greatest musical storytellers of all time. We are thrilled to be hosting an evening of her music with such an extraordinary lineup of artists paying tribute.”

The concert is open to all Festival credential holders (21 and older) on a space-available basis. Additional programming updates will be made via sundance.org/festival and @sundancefestnow on Twitter. Join the conversation around A Celebration of Music in Film on social media with #CelebrationMusic.

Additional Music Programming at the Festival
The Festival will also celebrate music’s role in film during its first Art of Film Weekend (January 29-31), with a panel with renowned composer Harry Gregson-Williams (the Shrek series, The Chronicles of Narnia series, The Town, Man on Fire, Kingdom of Heaven and Spy Game). Additional music components of the Festival include daytime performances at the 17th annual Sundance ASCAP Music Café (Jan 23-30, 1:30-6:00 p.m. daily), where featured performers include: Andrew Dost of fun. (from the film The D Train), Jamestown Revival, Joe McGinty of the Psychedellic Furs & The Losers Lounge (from the film What Happened, Miss Simone?), Scott Weiland and more. BMI will host a roundtable discussion about “Music & Film: The Creative Process,” (January 27, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Festival’s Filmmaker Lodge) as well as their annual Music Showcase: BMI Snowball (January 28, 8:00 p.m. at Sundance House Presented by HP), headlined by iTunes breakthrough artist Christina Perri.


The Sundance Institute Film Music Program is supported by Time Warner Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, BMI, City Drive Films, and The Film Music Foundation.