The Center of Nowhere: The Spirit and Sounds of Springfield, MO. Debuts October 14th at Chicago Filmmakers

Written and produced by Chicago journalist, Dave Hoekstra and co-produced by Jamie Ceaser, "The Center of Nowhere: The Spirit and Sounds of Springfield, Mo." is a 95-minute documentary showcasing how community can shape music.

The Chicago debut will be at Chicago Filmmakers, 5720 N. Ridge Ave., at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14.

Springfield is the most overlooked roots music community in America. During the mid-1950s the Ozark Jubilee was the first television show to be broadcast country music across these United States and it was beamed out of downtown Springfield. Guests included Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and a young Brenda Lee. The show was hosted by former WLS Barn Dance star Red Foley.

Songwriter Wayne Carson ("The Letter," "Always on my Mind," "(She's Acting Single) I'm Drinking Doubles") was from Springfield as was rockabilly comet Ronnie Self, who penned the Brenda Lee smash "I'm Sorry."

In recent years musicians came to Springfield to record with the late Lou Whitney in his downtown Springfield studio: Robbie Fulks, Dave Alvin, Wilco, Jonathan Richman, The Del-Lords, the Bottle Rockets, Syd Straw and others. Whitney recorded more than 1,000 bands in his lifetime.

Accenting this prolific music scene is a colorful and independent cultural community. Springfield has pioneered Springfield-Style Cashew Chicken, it is the birthplace of U.S. Route 66, the buckle of the Bible belt and the hometown of Brad Pitt. And actor John Goodman went to college in Springfield.

"This documentary is unique in how it honors connection, discovery and understanding in these complicated times," Hoekstra said. "We started filming "The Center of Nowhere" in the summer of 2014, a few months before the passing of our dear friend and spirit animal Lou Whitney. We've been cutting and pasting more than 28 hours of interviews."

The film features conversations with American music legends The Skeletons, (Lou Whitney, Bobby Lloyd Hicks, Donnie Thompson, Joe Terry), Dave Alvin, Robbie Fulks, Dan Penn, Eric "Roscoe" Ambel, Scott Kempner and members of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils as well as Brenda Lee, Grammy winning producer Vance Powell (Chris Stapleton, Jack White), Jonathan Richman, Andy Shernoff, Syd Straw, Giorgio Moroder collaborator Tom Whitlock and Merle Haggard in his final on camera interview before his death two years ago.

"The Center of Nowhere" also features rare footage from the Ozark Jubilee, glorious animation from Chicago's Sharon Rutledge and beautiful camera work from Chicago's Jon Sall and Tom Vlodek.

"Center of Nowhere" premiered in May, 2018 at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville, TN. and made its Springfield debut in June, 2018 before more than 200 fans at the Historic Fox Theater on the Square.

The film's Chicago debut will be at Chicago Filmmakers, 5720 N. Ridge Ave., at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, October 14th. Tickets are $10 at chicagofilmmakers.org.

((https://chicagofilmmakers.tix.com/Event.aspx?EventCode=1092113

Before the screening, Robbie Fulks will open the program with a short performance followed by a brief discussion on his love of recording in Springfield and why traveling to The Center of Nowhere helped shape his art.

"Chicago is just the beginning," said Hoekstra. "Our DIY project needs your help to move forward in distribution and further festival exposure. Please become part of our community."

PLEASE DONATE:

https://<URL destination="http://www.chicagofilmmakers.org/fiscal-sponsorships/projects/songs-unsung-america ">www.chicagofilmmakers.org/fiscal-sponsorships/projects/songs-unsung-america

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FOR TICKETS VISIT:

https://<URL destination="http://chicagofilmmakers.tix.com/Event.aspx?EventCode=1092113 ">chicagofilmmakers.tix.com/Event.aspx?EventCode=1092113

TO WATCH A PREVIEW OF THE FILM ON YOUTUBE:

https://<URL destination="http://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=uKcCTZLq9G8 ">www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=uKcCTZLq9G8

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The film's Chicago debut will be at Chicago, Filmmakers 5720 N. Ridge Ave., at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, October 14th. Tickets are $10. Please visit: chicagofilmmakers.org.(https://<URL destination="http://chicagofilmmakers.tix.com/Event.aspx?EventCode=1092113">chicagofilmmakers.tix.com/Event.aspx?EventCode=1092113.

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For more information on "The Center of Nowhere: The Spirit and Sounds of Springfield, Mo," visit the website at http://www.songsofanunsungamerica.com.