American artistic treasures at Coastside Film, Friday

The Coastside Film Society hosts a night of films on American artistic treasures.

Always Been A Rambler (58 mins)

A documentary about the New Lost City Ramblers, arguably the most influential contemporary old-time band of all time.

The band began just before the folk boom of the early ’60s. What made the band so successful was its authentic sound. NLCR left the soft sappy folk covers to lesser artists. These guys dipped deep into the roots, serving up an authentic string-band sound that could compete with the best of the bands from the 1920s and ’30s. The popularity of the band soared and remains strong today. Through the Ramblers’ own words, “This film documents the evolution of Old Time American Music and the soulful NLCR sound, their influences, their mentors and their influence on contemporary musicians.”

A film by Yasha Aginsky, a San Francisco-based documentary film maker and film teacher whose work has twice been nominated for Academy Awards.

Above the Timberline (28 mins)

A film that honors the work of the poet, artist, and teacher, Carl Zimmermann (1950-1994). The mighty California Sierras inspired Carl to write volumes. They also inspired film maker and Film Society Board Member Warren Haack. Warren relished his time in the mountains and swore he would never sully the experience by taking the time to film it. Then he heard the music of Steve Ewert and the California Zephyr. The words and music formed such a perfect match that Warren changed his mind and set about to create this record of a place that few people have ever experienced.

Both Yasha Aginsky and Warren Haack will attend the screening and talk to the audience.

Friday May 22, 2009 at 7:30 pm
$6.00 adults, $3.00 for children and students
ommunity United Methodist Church Sanctuary
777 Miramontes Half Moon Bay

For more info see: www.HMBfilm.org