Musicwood Film Tours Music Fests with Story Of Guitar Makers Fighting For Old Growth Forests
"Musicwood" is a documentary that looks at the clearcutting of Alaskan forests from the perspective of three guitar makers who enter the fray to try to negotiate a husbandry approach to old growth Sitka Spruce. These ancient trees provide key ingredients for high-end acoustic guitars and their potential disappearance has drawn a response from both musicians and guitar makers. "Musicwood" tours music festivals this summer before its theatrical release.
With additional screenings to be announced, scheduled showings of "Musicwood" include:
- Bonnaroo – June 15
- Solid Sound Festival – June 21, 23
- Newport Folk Festival – July 26 to 28, screenings TBA
"Musicwood" begins select theatrical screenings in August.
"Musicwood" Documentary Trailer
"Musicwood" includes interviews with and performances by Yo La Tengo, Steve Earle, The Antlers, Kaki King and Lambchop. But the focus of the tale is on a group of famous guitar makers:
"Bob Taylor of Taylor Guitars, Chris Martin of Martin Guitars and Dave Berryman of Gibson Guitars – as they venture into the remote Alaskan rainforest on a mission to protect the Sitka Spruce tree. Essential for the creation of high-quality acoustic guitars, old-growth Sitka Spruce are disappearing at an alarming rate as Native American loggers are clear-cutting enormous strips of the Tongass National Forest."
A key theme of "Musicwood" is the battle between multiple forces, including Native American loggers and Greenpeace activists, as they struggle over a larger range of concerns. Sounds like an interesting take on logging issues with the unique perspective of guitar makers giving such issues a different look.
Hypebot Senior Contributor Clyde Smith (@fluxresearch/@crowdfundingm) also blogs at Flux Research and Crowdfunding For Musicians. To suggest topics for Hypebot, contact: clyde(at)fluxresearch(dot)com.
