LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts/ MSO PR) It was a star-studded affair in Nashville at the Belcourt Theatre for the premiere of DAVE STEWART's documentary film THE RINGMASTER GENERAL. With the legendary British singer, songwriter and guitarist on hand himself with wife Anoushka, the event drew celebrities,
Music Rowexecutive royalty, friends and family including those who appear in the film and on the albums: Martina and John McBride, Vince Gill, Nathan Followill of
Kings of Leon, Nash Overstreet of Hot Chelle Rae, guitarist Orianthi,
Travis McNab from the
Sugarland band, and singer songwriters
Jesse Baylin and
Karen Elson. Musicians and backing singers who appear on the albums also attended the celebration which continued on late into the evening at hot spot Cabana: Anne Marie Calhoun, Tom Bukovac, Mike Rajas, Chad Cromwell, Dan Dugmore, Wendy Moten and Drea Rhenee. (Please see photos links at the bottom of the release. Photos of the event are also available via WireImage, Getty Images and Film Magic.)
Capturing the crazy joy of making music with classic tongue-in-cheek moments, the film is about the making of two albums that STEWART recorded during two explosive, five-day recording sessions at John and Martina McBride's Blackbird Studios in Nashville: the acclaimed 2011release The Blackbird Diaries, and the upcoming The Ringmaster General (Weapons of Mass Entertainment/Surfdog), set for releaseSeptember 4 in the U.S. and
September 3 in Europe.
The documentary follows STEWART's adventures in songwriting, letting the viewer witness his eccentric but compelling methods of creativity. The days were filled with mayhem and martinis, while a circus of characters cross STEWART's path; many muses appear to join in the fun including Alison Krauss, Martina McBride, Colbie Caillat, The Secret Sisters, Joss Stone, Stevie Nicks,
Jessie Baylin,
Diane Birch and Orianthi.
The road that led to THE RINGMASTER GENERAL begins in London with the eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano. DAVE STEWART was grounded there with no hope of getting home to Los Angeles. A wander down Denmark Street leads him to a vintage guitar shop where an old acoustic guitar catches DAVE's eye. Learning the previous owner was an eccentric country and western star named Red River Dave, STEWARTgets inspired. The next morning a flight opens up, by way of Nashville, and STEWART jumps at the chance to investigate the music city. MagicallyBig Kenny (Big and Rich) leads the way into adventure with the documentary capturing a unique moment in time where the music business is locked out and the lunatics take over the asylum.
A preview of THE RINGMASTER GENERAL can be viewed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5O_Hn5lhBQ.
On the THE RINGMASTER GENERAL album, STEWART creates a potent and distinctive musical gumbo, mixing in rock, blues, country, rhythm & blues and psychedelia. His songs are alternately moving and wry; they are filled with twists and turns-both musical and lyrical-that constantly surprise with repeated listens. STEWART's voice has an alluringly mysterious quality that guides the listener through these stories of, explains the ringmaster himself, "love, discovery, and …"
The album was recorded and mixed by John McBride at his famed Blackbird Studio. It features 13 new songs-including striking duets withAlison Krauss,
Diane Birch and
Joss Stone as well as a duet sung with and co-written by
Jessie Baylin. The blistering guitar skills of Orianthiare featured as well. As with his recent album, The Blackbird Diaries, STEWART is backed by some of the finest musicians in Nashvilleincluding: guitarist Tom Bukovac, drummer Chad Cromwell, bassist Michael Rhodes, steel guitarist Dan Dugmore and Mike Rojas on piano.
USA Today's Edna Gundersen hailed the British singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer's The Blackbird Diaries as "a warm and nostalgic valentine to American roots music" (8/22/2011), while Rolling Stone's Anthony DeCurtis said the album "offers a rawer portrait of Dave Stewart-the producer, former Eurthymic and current member of Superheavy, with Mick Jagger-than you're likely ever to have heard. The nasty, lurching guitar that announces 'So Long Ago,' the album's opener, is the tip-off. The song name-checks blues greats
Junior Kimbrough, R.L. Burnside and Mississippi John Hurt, and signals the roots rock-arama that follows" (9/14/2011). For more quotes about the album, go here:https://theblackbirddiaries.com.
In other news, STEWART hits the road with
Sugarland for three shows starting tonight (see dates below). He also opened three shows for them this past April.
Thurs 8/23 Alpharetta, GA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Fri 8/24 Memphis, TN Fedex Forum
Sat 8/25 Oklahoma City, OK Zoo Amphitheatre
About DAVE STEWART:
"An explosive musician, deft guitar player, innately recognizes the genius in other people and puts it into play without being manipulative." - Bob Dylan
"Jack of All Trades Master of All of Them" - The Sunday Times
"He's the musician's musician." - Rolling Stone
For a full bio on STEWART, click here: https://www.weaponsofme.com/emp-19
