Nearly 35 years after its conception, The Festival Express is finally seeing the light of day on the big (and small) screen. The film was a fan favourite at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival and is currently on its way to select theatres across Canada. A DVD release is currently in the works as well.

The audio was remixed in 5.1 Surround at Metalworks by legendary engineer Eddie Kramer. Detailed restoration was required, as the master tapes have not been touched since the festival took place in 1970.

The Festival Express was a musical train travelling from Toronto to Calgary during the summer of 1970. Passengers on-board included: The Band, Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, Traffic, Mountain, Bonnie and Delaney, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Buddy Guy, the New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Ian & Sylvia and the Great Speckled Bird, Buddy Cage, Tom Rush and Eric Andersen, among others.

Footage from the trip consisted of concerts that were staged as the train made stops across the country, as well as candid performances on-board the train, featuring some collaborations that were never recreated.

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