We are happy to be partnering with Tribeca Film Festival for the 3rd year. Each Spring, the amazing folks at TFF gather creatives and fans alike to pay homage to some of the highest quality films anywhere on the planet. Similar to other well-known film festivals like Cannes, Sundance and Urbanworld, Tribeca showcases a wide range of movie offerings and also includes talks, performances and even a pavilion with virtual reality and other technology experiences. Started in the wake of the 9/11 disaster by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff, Tribeca Film Festival has evolved into a major week plus long extravaganza that New York eagerly awaits each year.

This year’s program offering is certainly impressive as usual but we wanted to provide a primer for those attendees looking to check out the best of the music related offerings. Like past years, TFF will have more than enough to keep even the most snobby music fans busy. Check out the selections below by day and peep our favorites each day on social media via the #TFFMusicLoversGuide2018 hashtag and in the guide with [STAFF PICK].

soulhead Tribeca Film Festival Music Lovers Guide 2018

Top Overall Picks

Features/Documentaries

Mr. SOUL! offers an entertaining, essential look at the groundbreaking television show SOUL!, which,under producer-host Ellis Haizlip’s passionate guidance, showcased the breadth of black artistry from 1968 to 1973. Tickets
Blue Note Records: Beyond the Blue Notes – This is the history of Blue Note Records, the label that, since 1939, has recorded jazz giants ranging from Miles Davis to Robert Glasper—revolutionizing not only music, but also the world. Tickets
Studio 54 – In 1977, Studio 54 and its founders, Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, epitomized New York hedonism. But by, 1979 the fantasy was over—and Studio 54 goes inside that meteoric rise and catastrophic fall. Tickets
United Skates – Credited with incubating East Coast hip-hop and West Coast rap, America’s roller rinks have long been bastions of regional African-American culture, music, and dance. As rinks shutter across the country, a few activists mount a last stand. Tickets
Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1 – Through interviews with Michael Jordan, Spike Lee, and more, this vibrant documentary tells the origin story of the Air Jordan, and the impact it had on sports, hip-hop, and the birth of sneaker culture. Tickets

Shorts

The History of White People in America – The invention of race in America gets an animated, musical treatment. Tickets
Brooklyn Breeze – (animated) Brooklyn Breeze is a visual journey through different parts of Brooklyn, some of the iconic spots and others not often seen by the visitors, based on a tune recorded by New York based Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra. Tickets
The Velvet Underground Played at My High School – This animated short recounts the Velvet Underground’s first gig—in 1965, in front of a crowd of shocked kids at a suburban New Jersey high school. Tickets

Talks

Tribeca Talks: Storytellers – John Legend with Sara Bareilles – Celebrated singer, songwriter, actor, and producer, John Legend has been releasing billboard hits since his debut album Get Lifted in 2004. He’s earned a total of ten Grammy Awards. John Legend also formed a film and television production company, Get Lifted, in 2014, and executive produced and starred in La La Land and the hit television show, Underground. Tickets
Tribeca Talks: Storytellers – Jamie Foxx – Prolific actor, musician, and comedian Jamie Foxx is a Hollywood triple threat. Perhaps his most iconic role as an actor, his portrayal of musician Ray Charles in the biopic Ray, landed him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA in 2005. The very same year, Foxx was nominated for a second Oscar for his acting in the film Collateral, making him only the second man in history to receive two acting Oscar nominations in the same year for two different roles. Tickets

Virtual Arcade

Spheres: Pale Blue Dot – In this cosmic journey from the edges of the universe to our “pale blue dot,” the viewer uncovers echoes of the Big Bang; gazes back in time; traces the history of sound across the cosmos, uncovering the strangest song of all; and traverses the universe, ultimately finding a path home. More Info
Battlescar – After Lupe, a Puerto Rican runaway, meets Debbie in the cell of a juvenile detention center, she is introduced to the punk scene of the Lower East Side and the secret world of Alphabet City. BattleScar is a coming of age drama set in 1978 New York that explores identity and empowerment through stunning animation and immersive environments. More Info

DAILY TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL MUSIC LOVERS GUIDE

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Features/Documentaries

8:30 PM – United Skates – Credited with incubating East Coast hip-hop and West Coast rap, America’s roller rinks have long been bastions of regional African-American culture, music, and dance. As rinks shutter across the country, a few activists mount a last stand. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

8:45 PM – Dry Martina – Passion and obsession mingle in this fresh comedy about an aging pop star who takes off to pursue a lover, and, while she’s at it, a better sense of self. Tickets

10:00 PM – Cosmic Debris – This documentary depicts the friendship between animator and creator Gabor Csupo (The Simpsons, Rugrats) and the legendary musician Frank Zappa. Tickets

Talks

6:00 PM – Tribeca Talks: Storytellers – John Legend with Sara Bareilles – Celebrated singer, songwriter, actor, and producer, John Legend has been releasing billboard hits since his debut album Get Lifted in 2004. He’s earned a total of ten Grammy Awards. John Legend also formed a film and television production company, Get Lifted, in 2014, and executive produced and starred in La La Land and the hit television show, Underground. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

8:00 PM – Blue Night – A devastating doctor’s visit sends an accomplished singer reeling through the streets of New York City in this French New Wave-inspired drama. Tickets

Friday, April 20, 2018

6:30 PM – Satan & Adam – One was a demon on guitar; the other was fresh out of school and no slouch on harmonica. Satan & Adam is a rousing celebration of friendship and the blues comprised of documentary footage shot over the course of two decades. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

7:00 PM – Big Elvis – A 960-pound Elvis impersonator becomes convinced he is Elvis Presley’s secret love child. Tickets

7:15 PM – Dry Martina – Passion and obsession mingle in this fresh comedy about an aging pop star who takes off to pursue a lover, and, while she’s at it, a better sense of self. Tickets

8:00 PM – United Skates – Credited with incubating East Coast hip-hop and West Coast rap, America’s roller rinks have long been bastions of regional African-American culture, music, and dance. As rinks shutter across the country, a few activists mount a last stand. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

9:30 PM – Blue Night – A devastating doctor’s visit sends an accomplished singer reeling through the streets of New York City in this French New Wave-inspired drama. Tickets

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Features/Documentaries

2:00 PM – Bathtubs Over Broadway – Comedy writer Steve Young’s assignment to scour bargain-bin vinyl for a Late Night segment becomes an unexpected, decades-spanning obsession when he stumbles upon the strange and hilarious world of industrial musicals in this musical-comedy-documentary. With David Letterman, Chita Rivera, Martin Short, Susan Stroman, Sheldon Harnick, Jello Biafra. Tickets

4:15 PM – Satan & Adam – One was a demon on guitar; the other was fresh out of school and no slouch on harmonica. Satan & Adam is a rousing celebration of friendship and the blues comprised of documentary footage shot over the course of two decades. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

7:00 PM – Blind Audition – When violinists and partners Ari and Ron both get invited to audition for the same solo part in an orchestra, their relationship is put to the ultimate test. Tickets

9:15 PM – Dry Martina – Passion and obsession mingle in this fresh comedy about an aging pop star who takes off to pursue a lover, and, while she’s at it, a better sense of self. Tickets

Shorts

3:30 PM – The History of White People in America – The invention of race in America gets an animated, musical treatment. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

3:30 PM – Brooklyn Breeze – (animated) Brooklyn Breeze is a visual journey through different parts of Brooklyn, some of the iconic spots and others not often seen by the visitors, based on a tune recorded by New York based Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

3:30 PM – The Velvet Underground Played at My High School – This animated short recounts the Velvet Underground’s first gig—in 1965, in front of a crowd of shocked kids at a suburban New Jersey high school. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

Sunday, April 22, 2018

2:30 PM – Cosmic Debris – This documentary depicts the friendship between animator and creator Gabor Csupo (The Simpsons, Rugrats) and the legendary musician Frank Zappa. Tickets

2:30 PM – Howard – Howard Ashman, the once-in-a-generation songwriting talent, revitalized Disney with his work on The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. Howard is a tribute to the lyricist and to the power of musical storytelling. Tickets

7:30 PM – All About Nina – Nina Geld’s passion and talent have made her a rising star in the comedy scene, but she’s an emotional mess offstage. When a new professional opportunity coincides with a romantic one, she is forced to reckon with the intersection of her life and her art. Features Common. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

8:00 PM – Mr. SOUL! offers an entertaining, essential look at the groundbreaking television show SOUL!, which,under producer-host Ellis Haizlip’s passionate guidance, showcased the breadth of black artistry from 1968 to 1973. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

Monday, April 23, 2018

Features/Documentaries

5:00 PM – Bathtubs Over Broadway – Comedy writer Steve Young’s assignment to scour bargain-bin vinyl for a Late Night segment becomes an unexpected, decades-spanning obsession when he stumbles upon the strange and hilarious world of industrial musicals in this musical-comedy-documentary. With David Letterman, Chita Rivera, Martin Short, Susan Stroman, Sheldon Harnick, Jello Biafra. Tickets

5:45 PM – Mr. SOUL! offers an entertaining, essential look at the groundbreaking television show SOUL!, which,under producer-host Ellis Haizlip’s passionate guidance, showcased the breadth of black artistry from 1968 to 1973. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

6:00 PM – Blind Audition – When violinists and partners Ari and Ron both get invited to audition for the same solo part in an orchestra, their relationship is put to the ultimate test. Tickets

6:15 PM – Howard – Howard Ashman, the once-in-a-generation songwriting talent, revitalized Disney with his work on The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. Howard is a tribute to the lyricist and to the power of musical storytelling. Tickets

6:30 PM – All About Nina – Nina Geld’s passion and talent have made her a rising star in the comedy scene, but she’s an emotional mess offstage. When a new professional opportunity coincides with a romantic one, she is forced to reckon with the intersection of her life and her art. Features Common. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

8:00 PM – Blue Note Records: Beyond the Blue Notes – This is the history of Blue Note Records, the label that, since 1939, has recorded jazz giants ranging from Miles Davis to Robert Glasper—revolutionizing not only music, but also the world. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

8:00 PM – Songwriter – Songwriter is an intimate immersion into the intense and collaborative process that created Ed Sheeran’s chart-topping album. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

10:00 PM – Blue Night – A devastating doctor’s visit sends an accomplished singer reeling through the streets of New York City in this French New Wave-inspired drama. Tickets

Talks

6:00 PM – Tribeca Talks: Storytellers – Jamie Foxx – Prolific actor, musician, and comedian Jamie Foxx is a Hollywood triple threat. Perhaps his most iconic role as an actor, his portrayal of musician Ray Charles in the biopic Ray, landed him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA in 2005. The very same year, Foxx was nominated for a second Oscar for his acting in the film Collateral, making him only the second man in history to receive two acting Oscar nominations in the same year for two different roles. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Features/Documentaries

3:00 PM – Blue Note Records: Beyond the Blue Notes – This is the history of Blue Note Records, the label that, since 1939, has recorded jazz giants ranging from Miles Davis to Robert Glasper—revolutionizing not only music, but also the world. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

3:30 PM – Howard – Howard Ashman, the once-in-a-generation songwriting talent, revitalized Disney with his work on The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. Howard is a tribute to the lyricist and to the power of musical storytelling. Tickets

6:00 PM – Studio 54 – In 1977, Studio 54 and its founders, Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, epitomized New York hedonism. But by, 1979 the fantasy was over—and Studio 54 goes inside that meteoric rise and catastrophic fall. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

8:30 PM – Songwriter – Songwriter is an intimate immersion into the intense and collaborative process that created Ed Sheeran’s chart-topping album. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

9:30 PM – All About Nina – Nina Geld’s passion and talent have made her a rising star in the comedy scene, but she’s an emotional mess offstage. When a new professional opportunity coincides with a romantic one, she is forced to reckon with the intersection of her life and her art. Features Common. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

Shorts

6:00 PM – The History of White People in America – The invention of race in America gets an animated, musical treatment. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

6:00 PM – Brooklyn Breeze – (animated) Brooklyn Breeze is a visual journey through different parts of Brooklyn, some of the iconic spots and others not often seen by the visitors, based on a tune recorded by New York based Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

6:00 PM – The Velvet Underground Played at My High School – This animated short recounts the Velvet Underground’s first gig—in 1965, in front of a crowd of shocked kids at a suburban New Jersey high school. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

3:30 PM – Songwriter – Songwriter is an intimate immersion into the intense and collaborative process that created Ed Sheeran’s chart-topping album. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

5:15 PM – Satan & Adam – One was a demon on guitar; the other was fresh out of school and no slouch on harmonica. Satan & Adam is a rousing celebration of friendship and the blues comprised of documentary footage shot over the course of two decades. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

6:00 PM – Cosmic Debris – This documentary depicts the friendship between animator and creator Gabor Csupo (The Simpsons, Rugrats) and the legendary musician Frank Zappa. Tickets

6:30 PM – Studio 54 – In 1977, Studio 54 and its founders, Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, epitomized New York hedonism. But by, 1979 the fantasy was over—and Studio 54 goes inside that meteoric rise and catastrophic fall. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

7:15 PM – United Skates – Credited with incubating East Coast hip-hop and West Coast rap, America’s roller rinks have long been bastions of regional African-American culture, music, and dance. As rinks shutter across the country, a few activists mount a last stand. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

8:30 PM – Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda – Ryuichi Sakamoto has had a prolific career spanning over four decades, from techno-pop stardom to Oscar-winning film composer. Coda offers an intimate portrait of a legendary artist and a passionate activist. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

9:15 PM – Mr. SOUL! offers an entertaining, essential look at the groundbreaking television show SOUL!, which,under producer-host Ellis Haizlip’s passionate guidance, showcased the breadth of black artistry from 1968 to 1973. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

10:00 PM – Blue Note Records: Beyond the Blue Notes – This is the history of Blue Note Records, the label that, since 1939, has recorded jazz giants ranging from Miles Davis to Robert Glasper—revolutionizing not only music, but also the world. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

10:00 PM – Big Elvis – A 960-pound Elvis impersonator becomes convinced he is Elvis Presley’s secret love child. Tickets

Thursday, April 26, 2018

3:30 PM – All About Nina – Nina Geld’s passion and talent have made her a rising star in the comedy scene, but she’s an emotional mess offstage. When a new professional opportunity coincides with a romantic one, she is forced to reckon with the intersection of her life and her art. Features Common. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

6:00 PM – Songwriter – Songwriter is an intimate immersion into the intense and collaborative process that created Ed Sheeran’s chart-topping album. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

6:30 PM – Mr. SOUL! offers an entertaining, essential look at the groundbreaking television show SOUL!, which,under producer-host Ellis Haizlip’s passionate guidance, showcased the breadth of black artistry from 1968 to 1973. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

7:00 PM – Howard – Howard Ashman, the once-in-a-generation songwriting talent, revitalized Disney with his work on The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. Howard is a tribute to the lyricist and to the power of musical storytelling. Tickets

8:15 PM – Blue Note Records: Beyond the Blue Notes – This is the history of Blue Note Records, the label that, since 1939, has recorded jazz giants ranging from Miles Davis to Robert Glasper—revolutionizing not only music, but also the world. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

8:15 PM – Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda – Ryuichi Sakamoto has had a prolific career spanning over four decades, from techno-pop stardom to Oscar-winning film composer. Coda offers an intimate portrait of a legendary artist and a passionate activist. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

8:15 PM – Nico, 1988 – This whirlwind road movie follows the final months on tour of the singer-songwriter Nico, one-time Warhol superstar and Velvet Underground vocalist. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

8:45 PM – Bathtubs Over Broadway – Comedy writer Steve Young’s assignment to scour bargain-bin vinyl for a Late Night segment becomes an unexpected, decades-spanning obsession when he stumbles upon the strange and hilarious world of industrial musicals in this musical-comedy-documentary. With David Letterman, Chita Rivera, Martin Short, Susan Stroman, Sheldon Harnick, Jello Biafra. Tickets

9:30 PM – Studio 54 – In 1977, Studio 54 and its founders, Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, epitomized New York hedonism. But by, 1979 the fantasy was over—and Studio 54 goes inside that meteoric rise and catastrophic fall. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

Friday, April 27, 2018

Features/Documentaries

6:00 PM – Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda – Ryuichi Sakamoto has had a prolific career spanning over four decades, from techno-pop stardom to Oscar-winning film composer. Coda offers an intimate portrait of a legendary artist and a passionate activist. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

6:30 PM – Big Elvis – A 960-pound Elvis impersonator becomes convinced he is Elvis Presley’s secret love child. Tickets

8:00 PM – Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1 – Through interviews with Michael Jordan, Spike Lee, and more, this vibrant documentary tells the origin story of the Air Jordan, and the impact it had on sports, hip-hop, and the birth of sneaker culture. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

9:00 PM – Nico, 1988 – This whirlwind road movie follows the final months on tour of the singer-songwriter Nico, one-time Warhol superstar and Velvet Underground vocalist. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

Shorts

3:45 PM – The History of White People in America – The invention of race in America gets an animated, musical treatment. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

3:45 PM – Brooklyn Breeze – (animated) Brooklyn Breeze is a visual journey through different parts of Brooklyn, some of the iconic spots and others not often seen by the visitors, based on a tune recorded by New York based Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

3:45 PM – The Velvet Underground Played at My High School – This animated short recounts the Velvet Underground’s first gig—in 1965, in front of a crowd of shocked kids at a suburban New Jersey high school. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Features/Documentaries

4:00 PM – Bathtubs Over Broadway – Comedy writer Steve Young’s assignment to scour bargain-bin vinyl for a Late Night segment becomes an unexpected, decades-spanning obsession when he stumbles upon the strange and hilarious world of industrial musicals in this musical-comedy-documentary. With David Letterman, Chita Rivera, Martin Short, Susan Stroman, Sheldon Harnick, Jello Biafra. Tickets

6:30 PM – Big Elvis – A 960-pound Elvis impersonator becomes convinced he is Elvis Presley’s secret love child. Tickets

6:45 PM – Cosmic Debris – This documentary depicts the friendship between animator and creator Gabor Csupo (The Simpsons, Rugrats) and the legendary musician Frank Zappa. Tickets

7:00 PM – Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1 – Through interviews with Michael Jordan, Spike Lee, and more, this vibrant documentary tells the origin story of the Air Jordan, and the impact it had on sports, hip-hop, and the birth of sneaker culture. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

7:30 PM – Nico, 1988 – This whirlwind road movie follows the final months on tour of the singer-songwriter Nico, one-time Warhol superstar and Velvet Underground vocalist. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

7:45 PM – Blind Audition – When violinists and partners Ari and Ron both get invited to audition for the same solo part in an orchestra, their relationship is put to the ultimate test. Tickets

9:15 PM – Dry Martina – Passion and obsession mingle in this fresh comedy about an aging pop star who takes off to pursue a lover, and, while she’s at it, a better sense of self. Tickets

Shorts

4:15 PM – The History of White People in America – The invention of race in America gets an animated, musical treatment. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

4:15 PM – Brooklyn Breeze – (animated) Brooklyn Breeze is a visual journey through different parts of Brooklyn, some of the iconic spots and others not often seen by the visitors, based on a tune recorded by New York based Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

4:15 PM – The Velvet Underground Played at My High School – This animated short recounts the Velvet Underground’s first gig—in 1965, in front of a crowd of shocked kids at a suburban New Jersey high school. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Features/Documentaries

7:00 PM – Blue Night – A devastating doctor’s visit sends an accomplished singer reeling through the streets of New York City in this French New Wave-inspired drama. Tickets

8:45 PM – Nico, 1988 – This whirlwind road movie follows the final months on tour of the singer-songwriter Nico, one-time Warhol superstar and Velvet Underground vocalist. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

9:30 PM – Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1 – Through interviews with Michael Jordan, Spike Lee, and more, this vibrant documentary tells the origin story of the Air Jordan, and the impact it had on sports, hip-hop, and the birth of sneaker culture. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

9:45 PM – United Skates – Credited with incubating East Coast hip-hop and West Coast rap, America’s roller rinks have long been bastions of regional African-American culture, music, and dance. As rinks shutter across the country, a few activists mount a last stand. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

Shorts

4:15 PM – The History of White People in America – The invention of race in America gets an animated, musical treatment. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

5:00 PM – Brooklyn Breeze – (animated) Brooklyn Breeze is a visual journey through different parts of Brooklyn, some of the iconic spots and others not often seen by the visitors, based on a tune recorded by New York based Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

5:00 PM – The Velvet Underground Played at My High School – This animated short recounts the Velvet Underground’s first gig—in 1965, in front of a crowd of shocked kids at a suburban New Jersey high school. Tickets [STAFF PICK]

DOWNLOAD FULL GUIDE (PDF) HERE