Do This: The Nightingale's Musical Birthday Weekend
By Steven Pate in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 1, 2011 8:40PM
The focus may be on music rather than cinema for the Nightingale's observance of their third birthday this weekend, but with such a great variety of film and video-related events already under the belt of the Noble Square screening room, we think they've earned the right to have whatever kind of party they want. What they want, is apparently to rock. On Saturday night, Giant System, the music video production team that has been turning out some stunning videos for the past year, will be screening their videos of local Chicago musical acts. After a short break, Joan of Arc will perform a set as Giant System records the whole thing for their next work.
Sounds like a fun time, and a much-deserved celebration for the Nightingale. As home to an impressive three years of video screenings, projections of film in all kinds of formats, solo and group shows, computer and new media installations, and live performances, the venue has become a hub for the most exciting things happening in visual media in the city, and with the regular accommodation of programs from White Light Cinema and Chicago Filmmakers, also a place where hard-to-access cinematic history thrives. Attendees had better save a piece of the cake for Nightingale director Christy LeMaster, who is also film critic for WBEZ's Eight Forty-Eight and Managing Director of IFP Chicago, who has surely earned it.
The musical weekend and celebratory vibe continue for the Nightingale crew on Sunday, with a screening of Willie Nelson's 4th of July Celebration, a rarely seen documentary about one of Nelson's epically chaotic picnic concerts in the 1970s, up the street at Cinema Borealis.
The Nightingale is at 1084 N. Milwaukee Ave. THE NIGHTINGALE TURNS 3 takes place Saturday, April 2nd at 7pm, and admission is $5. Sunday's 7 p.m. screening of Willie Nelson's 4th of July Celebration is at Cinema Borealis, 1550 N. Milwaukee (4th Floor) and is free.
Here's a Giant System video for another of our local favorites, Tiger Bones: