Houston Folk Music Archive: Films

A documentary on the everyday man behind the legend, Blaze Foley. Born in a tree house, killed in a friend's living room and 86'ed from his own funeral, is now a bona fide country music legend whose songs are covered by Merle Haggard, John Prine, Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett.

Documentary about legendary musician Townes Van Zandt, featuring Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Kris Kristofferson, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Guy Clark, Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) and more.

For over forty years, Anderson Fair Retail Restaurant has quietly cultivated some of the most notable songwriters and performers in America. What began as a little neighborhood restaurant in Houston where freethinkers gathered to talk about things that might get them arrested somewhere else slowly evolved into a songwriting sanctuary. For the Sake of the Song paints a lively portrait of this legendary establishment that weaves together a musical and visual tapestry of five generations of artists, volunteers, and patrons who have fashioned this improbable tale.

Whiskey, guns and real country music... In 1976, producer Graham Leader and director James Szalapski documented the outlaw songwriter scene that extended from Austin and Nashville. Included were then relative unknowns Steve Earle (ten years before he released his first album), Rodney Crowell and John Hiatt, plus their musical mentors Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt, who delivers a memorable scene in his trailer-home, drunk with a BB gun. Born was Heartworn Highways, a cult classic documentary among fans of the genre. The film was not released theatrically until 1981. The documentary covers singer-songwriters whose songs are more traditional to early folk and country music instead of following in the tradition of the previous generation. The movie features the first known recordings of Grammy award winners Steve Earle and Rodney Crowell. Contains stacks of bonus live footage from Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, The Charlie Daniels Band, Steve Earle, David Allan Coe, Steve Young and more.