FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Michael Toubassi @Upstairs Film
Tel: 323.309.4551 or
michael@upstairsfilm.com

Upstairs Film Announces High And Dry PREVIEW SCREENING
Tucson Music documentary has premiere screening alongside Club Congress’ 20th Anniversary Celebration
Los Angeles & Tucson – (August 15, 2005) – Upstairs Film is very pleased to announce the first preview screening of the feature documentary, High And Dry, in conjunction with Club Congress’ 20th Anniversary Celebration, September 2 ­ 4, 2005 in Tucson, Arizona.  The highly anticipated Tucson music documentary will debut at the The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Boulevard on Friday September 2nd, at 7pm.

The exclusive preview of High And Dry will be the first opportunity for fans and friends to view the film with the Tucson music community who inspired the making of the documentary.  Tickets for this very special screening are $10 dollars and are on sale now at The Loft Box Office or by phone (520) 322-5638.

Weekend wristbands that provide entrance to any screening and all three days of music events are now available for $32 at the Rialto Box Office (520) 740-1000, Zia Record Exchange (800) 899-3472 or online at www.hotelcongress.com/club.  Individual tickets will also be available but a wristband purchase guarantees you full access to all events.

The music will begin after the screening on Friday night for what is to be 3 incredible nights on 3 stages in the heart of downtown, both the Club Congress indoor and outdoor stage, 311 E. Congress Street and next door at the beautifully renovated Rialto Theater, 318 E. Congress St., with an amazing schedule that boasts more than 40 confirmed Tucson acts – a plethora of “who’s who” from the Tucson music scene.  Several bands from the film will be making special once-in-a-lifetime reunions including Green On Red, The Pills/Gentleman After Dark, Pollo Elastico, Sidewinders, River Roses, The Pedestrians, Mondo Guano, Shoebomb, Calexico performing as the original two-man Spoke, and a very special appearance by Doo Rag.

There will also be matinee screenings of High And Dry with Q&As with the director and members of the cast and crew of High And Dry on Saturday, September 3rd and Sunday, September 4th at 3pm.  Matinee tickets prices are $8.  Discount senior, student and Tucson Film Society members’ tickets will be available for these performances only at the Box Office for only $6 (with current ID).

Of course, the event would not be complete without performances from Al Perry as well as Howe Gelb, who will be fronting incarnations of The Band Of…Blacky Ranchette and Giant Sand.  Al and Howe will each host special BBQs on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, at 5:30pm with some good food, special guest and many surprises.

Upstairs Film, Club Congress, The Loft and The Rialto Theatre have joined together to present the ultimate Tucson Music Festival unlike any other - past or present!

About High And Dry:
High And Dry, directed by Michael Toubassi, explores Tucson, Arizona’s influential music scene through interviews and performances from many local heroes, including Howe Gelb (Giant Sand), Eddie Spaghetti (Supersuckers), Al Perry (Al Perry & The Cattle), David Slutes (Sidewinders/Sand Rubies), Bob Log III (Doo Rag, Bob Log III) and many others.  High And Dry captures the spirit and the talent of Tucson – where the desert meets rock ‘n’ roll. www.highanddrymovie.com

About Club Congress:
Located in the heart of sunny, downtown Tucson, Arizona, where summer spends the winter, the Hotel Congress is at the hub of Tucson history and nightlife. Club Congress is the longest continuously operating rock club west of the Mississippi and has been open since 1985. www.hotelcongress.com

About The Loft:
The Loft Cinema is a community-owned, membership-supported nonprofit theater, and home to the Tucson Film Society.  Featuring the best of the first-run independent, foreign and documentary films, The Loft programs hundreds of films from an ever-expanding number of countries and was named "Best of Tucson" in 2003 and 2004.  Owned and operated by the Tucson Cinema Foundation, The Loft Cinema is an exciting cultural center for a diverse cross-section of Southern Arizona audiences.  www.loftcinema.com

About Rialto Theater:
The National Register of Historic Places-listed Rialto Theatre, built in 1920 and recently renovated is the southern Arizona home to every style of live music, from country to punk, heavy metal to easy listening.  www.rialtotheatre.com

About Upstairs Film:
With offices in Los Angeles and Tucson, Upstairs Film is a not-for-profit production company, dedicated to producing cutting-edge film and theater projects. www.upstairsfilm.com