CHIRP Radio 107.1FM presents its third annual Music Film Festival in its new home at the Music Box. The fest features seven music-focused films and related special events. With documentaries, performance films and narrative features, there's something for every music lover!

Schedule of Events:

Thurday, May 15th, 2025

7:00 PM - Eno, Dir. Gary Hustwit; 2024 (100 min)

Celebrate Brian Eno's 77th birthday with special pre-film festivities!

A self-described “sonic landscaper,” Brian Eno began his career as an original member of Roxy Music in the 1970s and has been at the forefront of musical creativity, technology, and artistic innovation ever since. To capture the essence of the legendary musician/producer/visual artist, director Gary Hustwit (Helvetica) draws from 30 hours of interviews and 500 hours of archived footage to craft a unique musical documentary experience that uses *Brain One software to produce over 52 quintillion versions of the film!

Friday, May 16th, 2025

7:00 PM - Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex, Dir. Ethan Silverman; 2022 (99 min)

The film will be followed by a Marc Bolan/T. Rex tribute at GMan featuring more than half a dozen local artists. Showtime is 9:15pm and your ticket provides free admission

This documentary is the first of its kind to explore the complex and revolutionary music and lyrics of one of glam rock’s biggest trailblazers. Featuring archived performances and interviews with T. Rex frontman Marc Bolan, this film also incorporates the behind-the-scenes production of the tribute album of the same name, with performances from such musical acts as Nick Cave, Joan Jett, U2, and more!

9:15 PM - Times Square, Dir. Allan Moyle; 1980 (111 min)

4K Restoration!

Two teenage runaways from opposite sides of the tracks escape a mental hospital and hit the streets of a post-70s New York, forming an underground punk rock band with the help of a local DJ (played with mischievous delight by Tim Curry). One of the first movies ever to feature punk and New Wave music, Times Square boasts an impressive soundtrack that includes The Cure, The Ramones, Patti Smith, Talking Heads, and others.

Saturday, May 17th, 2025

7:00 PM - Lifers: A Local H Movie; Dir. Scott Lucas; 2024 (82 min)

Scott Lucas of Local H will introduce the film and sign records after the screening next door at Terror Vision

Written and directed by the band’s singer/guitarist, Lifers documents a Local H show shot in real time during a gig at Chicago’s revered music venue, the Metro. Blending elements of a documentary and a concert film, Lifers captures the vibe and atmosphere of a Local H performance: energetic, funny, and a borderline psychedelic experience.

9:15 PM - Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story; Dir. Jake Kasdan; 2007 (96 min)

“You’re gonna have to give him a moment, son…Dewey Cox has to think about his entire life before he plays.” So begins this hilarious musical comedy parody starring John C. Reilly as a fictional early rock and roll pioneer, whose life includes borrowed elements from other notable musicians such as Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, and Brian Wilson.

Sunday, May 18th, 2025

4:30 PM - Save the Children; Dir. Stan Lathan; 1973 (123 min)

In 1972, Jesse Jackson held his Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) exhibition in Chicago that featured an all-star lineup of some of the era’s most successful Black artists, including Roberta Flack, Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5, Curtis Mayfield, and Bill Withers. Paramount Pictures documented the event for a theatrical release in 1973, then the film fell off the radar…until now.

7:00 PM - I Am Trying To Break Your Heart; Dir. Sam Jones; 2002 (92 min)

Before the screening, view items signed by members of Wilco and enter a raffle to win them

This documentary from photographer Sam Jones follows the creation and distribution of Wilco’s fourth studio album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Jones captures the eternal tug-of-war battle between art and commerce, as the band butts heads with Reprise, gets dropped by their record label, then streams the album on their website for free and receives critical acclaim. The film is a treat for Wilco fans but also exposes the workings of a profit-driven music industry.

Date: May 15-18, 2025

Location: Music Box Theatre - 3733 N Southport Ave, Chicago , IL 60613

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