‘Seriously, what’s better than two days of Dudes and Nihilists facing off to party, bowl and watch the movie of all movies together? Nothing, that’s what.’ - LA Weekly
“The Dude abides, and I don't know about you, but I take comfort in that.” - ESPN
The West Coast leg of Lebowski Fest 2009’s “Speed of Sound” Tour – I guess we can close the file on that one. Along the way, we saw Dudes, Walters, Maudes, and Jesuses aplenty. We saw iron lungs, White Russians, and toes. So many toes. We saw landlords, rugs, and Strangers – Achievers all, and proud we are of them.
And that was only the beginning…
The Speed Of Sound will roll on, starting with Lebowski Fest Denver on September 8 & 9, cruising through the Midwest (Minneapolis, Chicago) and then hitting the East Coast (Boston, NY, Philadelphia, and DC). Austin wraps things up in October, and that’s all she wrote. Black Diamond Heavies will be opening at the Movie Parties with some songs off the Lebowski Sountrack as well as originals. The Speed of Sound Tour has 8 more cities to hang with, so if you’re around, Abide.
EAST COAST TOUR DATES
Tue/Sep 8 || Ogden Theatre – Movie Party || Denver, CO
Wed/Sep 9 || Bowl-ero – Bowling Party || Denver, CO
Fri/Sep 11 || First Ave – Movie Party || Minneapolis, MN
Sat/Sep 12 || Memory Lanes – Bowling Party || Minneapolis, MN
Sun/Sep 13 || Portage Theater – Movie Party || Chicago, IL
Mon/Sep 14 || Diversey-River Bowl – Bowling Party || Chicago, IL
Tue/Sep 15 || Diversey-River Bowl – Bowling Party || Chicago, IL
Sat/Sep 19 || House of Blues – Movie Party || Boston, MA
Sun/Sep 20 || Kings – Bowling Party || Boston, MA
Tue/Sep 22 || Terminal 5 – Movie Party || New York, NY
Wed/Sep 23 || Lucky Strike – Bowling Party || New York, NY
Thu/Sep 24 || Brooklyn Bowl – Bowling Party || Brooklyn, NY
Fri/Sep 25 || Electric Factory – Movie Party || Philadelphia, PA
Sat/Sep 26 || North Bowl – Bowling Party || Philadelphia, PA
Mon/Sep 28 || 9:30 Club – Movie Party || Washington, DC
Tue/Sep 29 || Strike Bethesda – Bowling Party || Bethesda, MD
Fri/Oct 9 || Stubb’s – Movie Party || Austin, TX**
Sat/Oct 10 || Highland Lanes – Bowling Party || Austin, TX
**-Austin Movie Party Tickets go on sale this Saturday, Aug. 22
Buy Tickets at www.LebowskiFest.com
WEST COAST WRAP-UP
Har Mar Superstar as The Landlord.
Lebowski Fest West kicked off in Seattle with the real-life inspiration for the movie’s main character, Jeff “The Dude” Dowd, getting honored by his hometown with the prestigious ‘Key To The Universe’ (you know, where he was part of the Seattle Seven. Well, it was him and six other guys). Har Mar Superstar opened up the Movie Parties with a soul-stirring rendition of the Landlord Dance Cycle – turns out costuming was actually pretty easy. Then, a greeting “via satellite” from Jeff Bridges himself sent crowds in to a frenzy. Nothing could possibly follow that, except the film to end all films, of course.
The Bowling Party is the true heart and soul of any Lebowski Fest stop – it is where people come in costume. While viewing the movie among a crowd of Achievers is a unique experience, living the movie among a crowd of Achievers is something else entirely. The true spirit of the Dude abides in those bowling alley. It’s good knowin’ he’s still out there, after all these years… Takin ‘er easy for all us sinners.
Seattle, WA: “Say, friend - you got any more of that good sarsaparilla?”
It’s a family affair in San Francisco
Portland, OR: (L) “Phone’s ringin’ Dude.”, (R) Har Mar Superstar w/ Liam
(L) Seattle Nihilists: Must be exhausting, (R)Portland, OR: Itty Bitty Bang Bang Performed A Burlesque Act at The Movie Party
Click Above To Read ESPN’s Coverage Of Seattle
Click Above To Read The San Francisco Chronicle’s Coverage
The Achievers: The Story of Lebowski Fans
After over five years of filming, a feature-length documentary about the cult following and fans of The Big Lebowski has come to light. The Achievers: The Story of Lebowski Fans is now available on DVD!
Filmmaker Eddie Chung turned his camera on at the first traveling Lebowski Fest in Las Vegas in 2004 and found himself engulfed by a strange and wonderful culture of fans who called themselves "Achievers."
After following the event and interviewing everyone from fans like My Morning Jacket's Jim James, to Lebowski Fest founders Will Russell and Scott Shuffitt, to The Dude himself Jeff Bridges, Eddie Chung has put together a feature documentary that shows how a movie that failed upon its initial release would later become a cult sensation and ultimately bring people together, forming friendships and even marriages!
From the producers of Dogtown & Z-boys and Riding Giants, The Achievers: The Story of Lebowski Fans is available now on DVD exclusively at Lebowskifest.com, and hits stores October 27th. More here:
http://www.lebowskifest.com/WhatHaveYou/AchieversDocumentary/tabid/201/Default.aspx
Perhaps you read about it in the LA Times or Variety.
Will Russell and Scott Shuffitt: Founding Dudes of Lebowski Fest
(photo: Tim Norris)
For Information on upcoming Fests, pictures, posters, shirts, stickers, fan forum and what-have-you can be found at www.LebowskiFest.com
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