Color correction and final sound mix are coming along well, and Troubadour Blues will be off to the pressing plant before Labor Day. DVDs should be available by mid-September, on this site, at Filmbaby.com and Amazon.com, and of course from me at screenings.

Meanwhile, I’m starting to book screenings. Most of them will be small, anywhere from living rooms to church basements, but I’ve set up a Pittsburgh area premiere Tuesday, October 25, at the Hollywood Theater in Dormont, That’s in the South Hills, and pretty easy to get to for you non-Pittsburghers. I’ll post a map and directions later.

I’m hoping that this will be a fun night with surprise appearances by musical friends from the Pittsburgh area (and maybe one or two of the artists from the film). DVDs will be available at the special premiere price of $19.95 (cash and credit cards accepted). A suggested donation of $5.00 will help pay for the theater rental and expenses connected with the event.

“Troubadour Blues” has been selected as the Opening Night film for the 2011 Buffalo International Film Festival. This will be the world premiere of the film as well as the official DVD release date.

Two-time Grammy nominee Peter Case, one of the main subjects of the film, will be on hand for the festivities, including a 6 p.m. reception and an Opening Night party after the 7:15 p.m. screening. The event will be held at The Screening Room, 4524 Bailey Ave., Amherst, NY (enter through the Arthur Murray Dance Studio).

Michael Giblin is one of those super-talented musicians who practice their art in smaller cities (in Michael’s case, Harrisburg, PA), sometimes playing bigger gigs but mostly performing for a local following. Peter Case introduced us back in 2007. Michael’s band, Parallax Project, recently made an album with the great Don Dixon producing.

Anyway, Michael has an abiding love of ’70s AM radio hits, of which this song is a prime example. He sang it while opening for Peter back in March at the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, a wonderful venue at the corner of Third and Herr in downtown Harrisburg.

Sam Baker of Austin is a songwriter with deep roots in the West Texas soil. His songs of small-town characters and everyday experiences combine a keen journalistic eye for detail and a deep empathy with downtrodden folks. This song, “Truale,” is from the first album of his “Mercy” trilogy, and is inspired by the fight song of a Texas high school so unassuming that its mascot is the humble crawdad.

Accompanying Sam are Gurf Morlix on guitar and Audrey Auld on backing vocal. Recorded on the night I first met Sam, following a torrential thunderstorm at Fred Eaglesmith’s Charity Picnic in Aylmer, Ontario, August 2005.

Although they’re mainly known for their songwriting, sometimes these troubadours will pull out a song that they learned growing up and play it just for fun. That’s what this little outtake collection is all about.

First up, Garrison Starr with a lusty singalong version of the Bangles’ biggest hit from 1989. Then, Slaid Cleaves and Charles Arthur channel Pete Townshend and the Who. Finally, Peter Case, who doesn’t drink, sings an old rock & roll chestnut about … drinking.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!