The Best Dance Music Documentaries Ever Made – Part 1: Tour Diaries

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The Best Dance Music Documentaries Ever Made – Part 1: Tour Diaries

Justice A Cross The Universe

A few months ago we asked the fans ‘What their favourite Dance music documentaries are?’ and received a huge response of films dating back to the Chicago house scene in the 80’s to the more recent tour diary documentaries of the 2000’s. Probing through the multitude of electronic music documentaries, are a number of game-changers that relate to the history of dance music, the up-bringing’s of DJ’s and the eventful tour schedule that some artists power through. As fans of the music, many are curious to know more about their favourite artists and what go on behind the scenes.

With an overwhelming response of great dance music documentaries, Stoney Roads will be presenting ‘The Best Dance Music Documentaries Ever’ over a number of weeks. Whether you’re a festival fanatic or just after some dance music education, then this is for you.

Part 1 of ‘The Best Dance Music Documentaries Ever’ will feature the some of the more famous tour diaries, that best represent the antics that go on, on tour.

5. Jesse Rose – Made For The Night (2011)
For those unfamiliar with him, Jesse Rose is known as a pioneer of modern tech-house, and has been touring the globe for a number of years. ‘Made for the night’ is a short documentary depicting this DJ, Producer and Entrepreneur’s battle of balancing his life of touring, producing and being an A&R for 3 record labels.

4. Swedish House Mafia – Take One (2010)
‘Take One’ follows the commercial ‘EDM’ icons, Swedish House Mafia over 253 gigs, across 15 countries, over 2 years and features the success of the group of renown DJ’s, Axwell, Sebastian Ingrosso, and Steve Angello. Portrayed as modern day rock stars, the big budget documentary reveals the humble and contrastingly demanding personalities of the trio. Regardless of your opinion of SHM, There are a few spine-tingling moments, which sets excitement to anyone appreciative of dance music.

3. Porter Robinson – The Language Tour 2012 Mini Documentary
After Porter’s globally successful ‘Languages’ release, the 20 year old (at the time) took his show on tour around North America. The documentary not only follows his busy tour schedule, but shares insight into his roots as he brings his Dad on tour, and revisits the venue where he played his first ever gig. The film provides loads of inspiration to any aspiring DJ’s and producers out there as it not only focuses on the music but also the experiences and the friendships that are made. To any aspiring producer, this film seems like the ultimate dream, as he brings his close friends The M Machine, and Mat Zo on tour, who also feature in a great deal of the film. If you are a Porter Robinson fan, you can’t help but to feel emotionally attached to this awesome group of youngsters, who are all paving the way for dance music in their own respect.

2. Soulwax – Part of The Weekend Never Dies
Soulwax takes their fans on a journey between 2005-2007, capturing all the excitement, chaos and humour of their world tour. Soulwax filmed 120 shows with one camera, which chased the band through Europe, Japan, USA, Latin America and Australia. The result is a snapshot of life on the road with one of the most exciting live bands in the world, and features their friends including 2manyDJ’s, James Murphy & Nancy Whang (LCD Soundsystem), Erol Alkan, Tiga, Justice, Busy P, So-Me, Peaches, Klaxons and many more in interview, as well as behind-the-scenes footage. The 2-part film includes a live music film and another on-the-road documentary.

1. Justice – A Cross The Universe
Directed by music video creators Romain Gavras (“Stress”) and So-Me (“DVNO”, “D.A.N.C.E.”), the film is mostly about the crazy events that take place while on their North American tour. As Justice embarked on their first American tour on their rise to fame, we cant help but thank them for documenting and compiling all the incredible events that took place while on tour. Gaspard has a Vegas wedding to a woman who disappears the next day, Xavier sings a thickly accented “Under the Bridge” to a very uncomfortable-looking Anthony Kiedis, their gun-obsessed tour manager takes them shooting, and all three of them get arrested at the end after Xavier clocks a belligerent, threatening drunk over the head with a bottle. A Cross the Universe isn’t focussed on their live show and what few glimpses there are of their concerts are brief, quickly-cut and, like the album, largely focused on picking up the audience reactions. This film is a favourite by many, and is one of the most iconic and notorious tour diaries to date.

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