La Bamba / Don’t Knock the Rock

USA | 1987 | 98 min | 14A

This year, we’re upping our game! Two films — La Bamba (1987) and ’50s teenpic Don’t Knock The Rock — as well as performances by Jeff Giles as Buddy Holly. Live on stage and on screen.

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Join us at the Revue as Jeff Giles & Band warms up the crowd before the Ritchie Valens biopic La Bamba. Following the film, Giles will return to the stage, as trailers for ’50s teenpics flicker on screen. And finally, we close out the evening with a second film, Don’t Knock the Rock, about a town where Rock’n’Roll is banned! Presented on 16mm, the film features performances by Bill Haley & The Comets and Little Richard.

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Director: Luis Valdez
Cast: Lou Diamond Philips, Esai Morales, Rosana De Soto

DETAILS

LA BAMBA
USA 1987 98min. 14A
Directed by Luis Valdez
Starring Lou Diamond Philips, Esai Morales, Rosana De Soto
The film that launched the careers of both Lou Diamond Philips and Esai Morales, La Bamba is a late-80s biopic of Ritchie Valens, the 17-year old rock and roll singer who died in a plane crash just as his star was rising in 1959. The film follows Ritchie from his days in Pacoima, California, where he and his family make a meagre living working on farms, to the release of his hit singles “Come On, Let’s Go!” and “Donna.” It features ’80s mainstays Rick Dees, Brian Seltzer (as Eddie Cochran), Marshall Crenshaw (as Buddy Holly), and Howard Huntsberry (as Jackie Wilson). Presentation: 2K

DON’T KNOCK THE ROCK
USA 1956 84min. PG
Directed by Fred. F. Sears
Starring Alan Freed, Little Richard, Bill Haley & The Comets
A proto-Footloose, if you will! A disc jockey tries to prove to teenagers’ parents that rock ‘n’ roll is harmless and won’t turn their kids into juvenile delinquents. Presentation: 16MM

About Jeff Giles

Called “Canada’s Buddy Holly” by the CBC, Jeff Giles has been performing professionally for over 20 years as a singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and tribute artist. His love of popular music began early, after his parents gave him a cassette tape for his eighth birthday: The California Raisins Sing the Hit Songs. The tape included early rock and r&b hits like “Heartbreak Hotel”, and “When A Man Loves A Woman”, and Jeff was hooked for life on both the golden age of rock & roll, and the soul music of Motown, Stax and Atlantic records.
Ottawa-born and Hamilton-raised, as a teenager Jeff learned to play the guitar, sing, and write songs, all while beginning a career as a professional actor. His skills as a growing multi-instrumentalist led to a niche in the Canadian theatre industry, and landed him the title role in the smash-hit rock musical: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. Called “perfectly-cast”, “charismatic” and “a musical dynamo” by critics, his success led to nationwide appearances and numerous repeat performances.
Today, Jeff maintains a schedule of national and international appearances as a tribute musician, paying tribute not only to Buddy Holly, but other pop music pioneers like The Everly Brothers, The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, and more, in addition to work as a multi-instrumentalist, arranger, bandleader for many other tribute acts.
Finally, his love of rock, soul, folk and roots music has informed his own songwriting, and his debut album, Ghosts in the Pipes, is available for streaming and purchase at jeffgilesmusic.com.

This event is sponsored by Bill Mohan of Sutton Realty. We are grateful for his generosity.

PRICING

General Admission: $18
Bronze Members, Students & Seniors: $15
Silver Members: $14
Gold Members: FREE

Prices include taxes. Membership free event is not applicable.


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