A screening of “Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World,” a documentary examining the impact of indigenous culture on popular music in America, is 6 p.m. Jan. 17 in the Nebraska Union Auditorium. The screening is free and open to the public.
The event is presented by NET, Nebraska’s PBS and National Public Radio stations, in partnership with the Center for Civic Engagement at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. A popcorn bar will be available during the film, and a panel discussion will follow.
“Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World” uses archival concert footage and interviews to examine indigenous culture’s musical influence over time, despite attempts to censor and erase it.
The film reveals that early pioneers of the blues, such as Charlie Patton, had Native American as well as African-American roots. Mildred Bailey, one of America’s first and most influential jazz singers, also had a voice trained on Native American songs.
As the folk-rock era took hold in the ‘60s and ‘70s, Native Americans such as Peter La Farge and Buffy Sainte-Marie helped define its evolution. Native guitarists and drummers like Link Wray, Jimi Hendrix, Jesse Ed Davis and Randy Castillo were also essential in changing the trajectory of rock and roll.
“Rumble” is the second film to be shown as a part of NET’s 2018-2019 Indie Lens Pop-Up screening and discussion series. The film is presented by ITVS and Independent Lens. Review the Indie Lens Pop-Up schedule.
