IFI & Hot Press present Verse Chorus Verse: New Music Documentaries at the Irish Film Institute -featuring Placebo, Lush & more

Hot Press and the IFI are delighted to present Verse Chorus Verse, a screening series that brings some of the world’s best new music documentaries to Irish audiences, at the Irish Film Institute in Dublin.

Kicking off in October, Verse Chorus Verse will present new films that chart the life and work of some of the most influential music artists in the world.The firsts month’s screenings will be Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands on October 19.

The Scottish music scene has a rich heritage, and while women such as Frances McKee (The Vaselines) and Emma Pollock (The Delgados, founders of seminal label Chemikal Underground) have played prominent roles, the pioneering work of Scottish all-women bands has received scant attention or credit. This wrong is redressed in videographer Blair Young and musician Carla J. Easton’s superb new documentary. From The McKinleys in the 1960s, who toured with The Beatles and were the first girl band to play Wembley, to Strawberry Switchblade in the 1980s, still the only Scottish girl group to break the UK Top 10, to contemporary groups such as the Hen Hoose songwriting collective, Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands shines the spotlight on these artists in this entertaining and insightful film.

Next up, on October 23, is Placebo documentary This Search for Meaning.

Placebo have charted a path to huge critical and commercial success in a manner defiant of prevailing trends. As Britpop singalongs dominated the mid-‘90s charts, Placebo’s lyrics addressed fluid gender and sexual identities, mental health issues, and the darker side to casual sex and recreational drug use. Oscar Sansom’s film explores the enduring legacy and influence that stems from the band’s uncompromising approach. Interviews with members Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal on the development of both the band and its lyrics are bolstered by interviews with fellow musicians who admire or are inspired by Placebo, including Shirley Manson (Garbage), Joe Talbot (Idles), and David Bowie.

Rounding things off for this month is Lush: A Far From Home Movie, followed by band Q&A, hosted by Stuart Bailie on October 31.

Formed in 1987 by core duo Emma Anderson and Miki Berenyi, the band’s songwriters, guitarists, and vocalists, joined by Steve Rippon on bass and Chris Acland on drums, Lush came to the attention of the music press with 1989 mini-album Scar. Rippon left the band shortly after the release of debut album Spooky, produced by Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins, and was replaced by Phil King just in time for the band to accept Perry Farrell’s invitation to join Lollapalooza’s legendary 1992 Lollapalooza outing. Achieving greater success with 1996 album Lovelife, the band was brought to a premature, tragic halt by Chris Acland’s suicide. King’s film consists of 8mm footage shot during his time touring with the band, and serves as both document of the quotidian existence of a touring band and a warm tribute to a much-missed friend. Emma Anderson, Phil King, and Steve Rippon join for the post-screening Q&A.

Tickets for the Verse Chorus Verse series are available from www.ifi.ie, in person at the IFI Box Office on Eustace Street, Dublin 2 and over the phone on 01 6795744.