Painted Hand Casino, Parkland Room
Thursday, May 23
Doors: 6:30PM Show Starts: 7:00PM

Fifty years after trailblazers like Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Jackie Wilson defined music as we know it today, three world-class tribute artists carry on their legacy – but what happens when borrowed fame begins to lose its charm? Can they ever find stardom on their own terms?

Almost Almost Famous takes us on a musical ride and follows the stories of Texas rockabilly musician Lance Lipinsky as Jerry Lee Lewis, Las Vegas-based R & B singer Bobby Brooks as Jackie Wilson and the “Elvis from Orlando”, Ted Torres on their “Class of ’59” cross country road tour.

From the beer joints of Texas to the Karaoke bars of Honolulu, the film explores how three incredibly talented singers wound up paying the bills as tribute artists. Ted would be happy to play the young Elvis forever but he’s getting older. Lance dreams that his own band, The Lovers, will make it big one day. And Bobby Brooks finds his aspirations turned on their head with a startling revelation.

Who will break out and who will be forced to settle for less? Their intrepid road manager, Marty Kramer, has his work cut out for him as he struggles to keep their feet on the ground, the music centre stage, and the crowds clamouring for more.

The YFF will also be premiering Midnight Shine’s third music video, Leather Skin

Inspired long ago by Coldplay’s captivating beach video for Yellow… Midnight Shine frontman Adrian Sutherland dreamed of one day shooting his own music video on the remote beaches near his home. And on one rainy October afternoon, that’s exactly what he did…

“I often think about going to my favourite place,” Adrian sings in Leather Skin, peering into the camera as he strolls the stunning shoreline. With footage from the Twin Islands interspersed with shots captured on the dusty streets of Attawapiskat, the video shows both sides of Sutherland’s life – the pursuit of music juxtaposed with his simple life out on the land. His favourite place.

Most serendipitous of all was some unexpected weather that ended up tying it all together in an unbelievable way… resulting in what just might be the ‘coolest’ rock music video ever shot… 😉

Leather Skin was shot on the coast of the James Bay in remote Northern Ontario – a gorgeous place unseen by most Canadians. To reach the isolated beach requires traveling 90 minutes north of Attawapiskat, by boat, to a set of small islands. With the resulting video shot in Ontario and Nunavut, a crew from Ontario, Manitoba and BC, and the video debut in Saskatchewan… Leather Skin makes for a lovely little piece of ‘Canadiana cinema’ ready to be shared with the rest of the world.