I received my copy of Festival! today.   It was worth the wait. Amazing performances and footage.

Two "minor" gripes.   There are a few scenes that could have used a bit of restoration. Film scratches that could be removed using todays technology. However, there were no serious flaws and the print was very good. Not as crisp as the footage used in the Dylan documentary, but nothing that I would call seriously distracting.   The only other version previously available was a bootleg, and that looked horrible! This is a blessing!!

The other "gripe" is also a minor point. In fact, it may actually be an enhancement. In the original film, there were no chyron (on-screen graphic identifiers) of the artist. Part of me gets upset when I see something that alters the directors original vision, but the other part of me is actually thankful for the addition.   Many of these artists might not be recognizable to todays younger artists, so this serves as a good introduction.

As I said earlier, this is a fabulous film. You will be hooked from the first scene - which happens to feature Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band. Yes, Maria Muldaur and the late Mel Lyman are there! In fact, Mel has a lot to say!

Check this film out!! If you weren't around in the 60's, I think you will find out how vibrant and diverse the music was. With a few exceptions, I feel that most folk festivals today cater to one or two segments of folk music.   Newport celebrated folk music in all its many forms.   The revived Newport folk festival pales in comparison.