The Best Little Blues Dive Ever Is Atlanta’s Northside Tavern
documentary trailer
Northside Tavern: The Mostly True Account of the Golden Age of Atlanta’s Most Exquisite Blues Dive
<CHECK OUT A CLIP FROM THE DOCUMENTARY HERE>
A love song to dive bars, working musicians and dive bar patrons and owners, this 90-minute documentary tells the story of the amazing local music scene created in a little family-owned Atlanta tavern. Filled with music clips and interviews with musicians and staff, the film highlights the cast of characters who found a home there under the watchful eye of owner/manager Ellyn Webb, making the Northside Tavern a destination for blues lovers from all over the world.
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UPCOMING SCREENINGS
April 12, 2024 | Red Fish Film Festival, Panama City, Fla.
PAST SCREENINGS
December 13, 2022 | Plaza Theater, Atlanta | SOLD OUT
December 19, 2022 | Plaza Theater, Atlanta | SOLD OUT
January 31, 2023 | Emory University’s Oxford College | FREE
February 18, 2023 | Waller’s Coffee House | SOLD OUT
March 4, 2023 | WRFG Benefit | Little Five Points Center for Arts and Community | $20 tickets | SOLD OUT
March 25, 2023 | Pure Life Studios, LaGrange, Ga. | $12.50
March 28, 2023 | Douglass Theater, Macon, Ga. | $5 | Macon Film Guild Reception & Talk-back
April 8, 2023 | Zeitgeist Theatre & Art Conscious Art Show, 6601 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans
April 20, 2023 | Sycamore Place Gallery, 120 Sycamore Place, Decatur | $20 Benefit for Mudcat (with live performance)
April 29, 2023 | Out Front Theater, 999 Brady Ave., Atlanta | $10
June 9, 2023 | Swami’s Double Secret Hot Tub Treehouse Theater | $10
March 1, 2024 | South Georgia Film Festival, Valdosta, Ga.
March 22, 2024 | Revival: Lost Southern Voices, Decatur, Ga.
TESTIMONIALS
“What a great night! The clothespin score [Note: After the film, audience members drop clothes pins into one of four paper bags to rate the quality of the film], on a scale of 1 - 4, was 3.95. That's pretty much through the roof, one of the best scores we've ever had. There were three 3s and 56 4s, no ones or twos. To compare, Moonage Daydream, the David Bowie film, was a 3.54.” [Macon Film Guild, 3/28/2023]
“The Blues is Freedom. Everyone watching The Northside Tavern come to Life last night could hear and feel that. And that smoky, little ramshackle Dive Bar was its Home and it made us all feel comfortable to be there.” [LaGrange, Ga. Pure Life Studio, 3/25/2023]
“This is fantastic! As I walked out, students came up and expressed their enthusiasm— “totally inspired” was one student’s comment.” [Emory’s Oxford College screening, 1/31/2023]
“The movie was educational, but it also had a lot of heart, and it felt like I was getting a glimpse into a part of the world I never would have known about if not for this event.” [Emory’s Oxford College screening, 1/31/2023]
“Congrats to all involved on this project.. it was an in-depth, loving, joyous and intensely emotional celebration of our beloved Northside Tavern. Long may it live.” [Plaza Theater screening, 12/19/2023]
MEDIA
BLUES & BEYOND: Documenting Atlanta Blues, Hal Horowitz, Creative Loafing, December 1, 2022
We appreciate the support of our co-sponsors: Atlanta Blues Society, Georgia Humanities, Georgia Music Foundation & Music Maker Foundation.
MERCH
Posters and mugs for sale (with shipping) at the DOC STORE.
Support The Film
From the beginning this has been a self-produced, self-funded independent film project that relied on the support of family and friends. If you want to help us tell stories like this, please see our Support Page or email haljacobs@gmail.com for worthy options.
(Top Row 1) Lola Gulley, Stoney Brooks, Stephen Talkovich, Tommy Webb; (Row 2) Glynda Ray; (Row 3) Bill Sheffield, Nelson Brackin, Mudcat; (Row 4) Albert White & Lil Joe; (Row 5) Charlie Wooton, Algernon Blue, Swami Gone Bananas, Oliver Wood
Oral History Interviews
Check links below for an oral history of the Northside Tavern and the Atlanta blues community edited from interviews for the documentary. We appreciate the support of the Georgia Music Foundation and Georgia Humanities for this oral history project. [See all below interviews on Vimeo with password “tavern”]
Algernon Blue [excerpt | full]
Keywords: Ellyn Webb, Patron perspective, Community, Fellowship, Staff, Fourth of July fireworks, Hollywood connections, Wasted PotentialNelson Brackin [excerpt | full]
Keywords: Northside building architecture, Colonel Bruce, Tyler Neal, Nick Johnson Cody Matlock, Peach Bowl Speedway, Miller Stockyards, Brady Avenue, Howell Mill, Mule trader John Miller, Florence Hotel, White Provisions building, slaughter house, Exposition Cotton Mills, Star Metals, Eddie Tigner, Tommy WebbStoney Brooks [excerpt | full]
Keywords: Mudcat, High John Root, Blues Ink, Ellyn Webb, Felix and the Cats, Jay Norman, harmonica, Big Walter Shuffle, Sonny Boy Terry, Little Walter, Creative Loafing, Jimmy Bowman, Chris Green, Grady Fats Jackson, Carlos Capote, Blind Willies, Tim Duffy, Music Maker, Donnie Mac, Sean Costello, Fat Matts, Cora Mae Bryant, Frank Edwards, Blues Harbor, Eddie Tigner, Beverly Watkins, Coy Bowles, Little Brother, Charlie Wooton, Mama Said, Sandpiper, John McGowan, Johnny Knox, Georgia Tech, Urban Shakedancers, David Fisch, James Cotton, blues jams, Tinsley Ellis, Chicago Bob, Heartfixers, Tom Robinson, Eric King, Juju RootJoseph Burton (Lil Joe from Chicago) and Albert White [excerpt | full]
Keywords: Piano Red, Dr. Feelgood, BB King, Chicago, Patti LaBelle, Izzy Hill, Clarence Carter, Otis Clay, Little Milton, Joe Tex, Mudcat, Ed Sullivan, Ron Levy, Riley Johnson, Matador Ballroom, Royal Peacock, Solomon Burke, Wayne Bennett, WAOK, Wesley Jackson, blues, rhythm and blues, Frank Edwards, Blind Willies, Tyrone Davis, Johnny Taylor, Filmore West, Beverly Watkins, Bill Morganfield, Atlanta Horns, Randy Skinner, Mico Bowles, Darrell Dunn, Frankie Moates, Checkerboard, Ellyn Webb, Eddie Tigner, Music Maker, Sean Costello FoundationCarlos Capote interview by Glen Pridgen (2018) on YouTube
Lola Gulley [excerpt | full]
Keywords: Mudcat, Ellyn Webb, Sean Costello, Frank Edwards, Eddie Tigner, Mike Lorenz, Peppers, Chicago Joe Jones, Larry Griffith, Motown, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Tommy Webb, Chicken Raid, no smoking, Glynda RayMudcat (Danny Dudeck) [excerpt | full]
Keywords: Underground Atlanta, Piano Red, Dr. Feel Good, Beverly Watkins, Beatles, Albert White, Frank Edwards, busking, Creativing Loafing, Matt Harper, Randy Chapman, Ellyn Webb, Kelly Hogan, John Otti, Glynda Ray, West Atlanta, Little Five Points, Stoney Brooks, Cora Mae Bryant, Tim Duffy, Music Maker Foundation, Donnie McCormick, Bill Sheffield, Dave Roth, Nate Nelson, Giving It Back Festival, Chicken Raid, Sean Costello, Taj Mahal, Mike Vernon, Little Joe from Chicago, Carlos Capote, Magic Fred, Kathryn DudeckGlynda Ray [excerpt | full]
Keywords: Mudcat, Ellyn Webb, Carlos Capote, Breeze Kings, Butler Webb, John Otti, Gumbo Yaya, Compound, Fat Matts, Sean Costello, Frank Edwards, Music Maker, Eddie TignerBill Sheffield [excerpt | full]
Keywords: Paul Butterfield, Blind Willie McTell, Plaza Drugs, John Mahal, Robert Johnson, Roy Buchanan, Thom Doucette, Ray Lees Blue Lantern, Ellyn Webb, White Dot, Danny Dudeck, Frank Edwards, Moon Shadow Saloon, Beverly Watkins, blues jam, Larry Griffith, Cindy Adler, Donnie McCormick, Dave Roth, Nathan Nelson, Stubby's Bowery, Eric Quincy Tate, Pink, Clermont Lounge, Carlos Capote, Sean Costello, Fat Matt’s, Eddie Tigner, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, “Thirteen Hours on the Highway”, Frankie Moates, Sam Cooke, Blind Willies, Slim Fatz, Stoney Brooks, Lola Gulley, Warren Haynes, Oliver Wood, King Johnson, Chris Long, Buddy Moss, Piano RedSwami Gone Bananas (aka Michael Schulman) [excerpt | full]
Keywords: Ellyn Webb, Bill Sheffield, Donnie McCormick, Mudcat, Carlos Capote, Sean Costello, Frank Edwards, Eric Quincy Tate, Eddie Tigner, Dave Roth, Chris Uhler, Fat City Wildcats, Rose Cantina, Warren Haynes, Magic Fred, PJ Roberson, Glynda Ray, Corey Gillen, Rommel Chapman, Chicken Raid, Blonju, Lola Gulley, Beverly Watkins, Albert WhiteStephen Talkovich [excerpt | full]
Keywords: Ellyn Webb, Bill Sheffield, Donnie McCormick, Mudcat, Jon Schwenke, Carlos Capote, Sean Costello, Susan Tedeschi, Frank Edwards, Ross Pead, Frankie Moates, Costello’s guitar, Chicken Coop, Eric Quincy Tate, Tom Dowd, Eddie Tigner, Little Richard, Boll Weevil, Bob Page, Larry GriffithAlbert White and Joseph Burton (Lil Joe from Chicago) [excerpt | full]
Keywords: Piano Red, Dr. Feelgood, BB King, Chicago, Patti LaBelle, Izzy Hill, Clarence Carter, Otis Clay, Little Milton, Joe Tex, Mudcat, Ed Sullivan, Ron Levy, Riley Johnson, Matador Ballroom, Royal Peacock, Solomon Burke, Wayne Bennett, WAOK, Wesley Jackson, blues, rhythm and blues, Frank Edwards, Blind Willies, Tyrone Davis, Johnny Taylor, Filmore West, Beverly Watkins, Bill Morganfield, Atlanta Horns, Randy Skinner, Mico Bowles, Darrell Dunn, Frankie Moates, Checkerboard, Ellyn Webb, Eddie Tigner, Music Maker, Sean Costello FoundationCharlie Wooton [excerpt | full live radio broadcast, WHIV, New Orleans February 19, 2022]
Keywords: Ellyn Webb, Mudcat, Sean Costello, Magic Bus Ride, Dan Seifert, Mikey Mo, Donnie McCormick, Zydefunk, Hurricane Katrina benefit, Fishmouth Fools, Desmond Venable, Victor Wooten, Coup DeVille, Oliver Wood, Eric Quincy Tate, chicken coop, Allman Brothers, Frank Edwards., Beverly Watkins, Eddie Tigner, Les Paul, King Johnson, Marcus Henderson, Marshall Tucker Band, Joel Williams, Zach Brown Band, Colonel Bruce Hampton, Sonny Emory, Earth, Wind and Fire, Wolf Fest, David Fisch, Paul Linden, Kevin Thomas, Robert PageTommy Webb [excerpt | full]
Keywords: Ellyn Webb, Georgia Tech, Butler Webb, Ruth Webb, James Webb, Paul Webb, Howell Mill neighborhood, Underground Atlanta, Discotheques, Mad Hatter, Punchline comedy club, Mudcat, Covid pandemic, smoking ban, Atlanta film production, Lola GulleyOliver Wood [excerpt | full]
Keywords: Ellyn Webb, Georgia State University, Tinsley Ellis, Chris Long, Red Dog, Donnie McCormick, King Johnson, Greg Baba, Sean Costello, Magic Fred, Carlos Capote, Charlie Wooton, Frank Edwards, Eddie Tigner, Bear Sauls, Josh McCormick, Blonju, Postcards from Hell, Mudcat, Blind Willie McTell, Curley Weaver, Beverly Watkins, Bill Sheffield, Dave Roth, Ike Stubblefield, Lee Griffin, Fuzzies, Scott Glazer, Adam Mewherter, Marcus James Henderson, Chris Uhler, Nick and John Longo
More interviews to be added!
Musician Playlist
Check out this Spotify Playlist based on the soundtrack (with a few tasty additions).
Blonju
Breeze Kings
Coy Bowles
Cora Mae Bryant
Coop da Ville
Sean Costello
James Davis
Frank Edwards
Tinsley Ellis
Eric Quincy Tate
Grant Green, Jr.
Lola Gulley
King Johnson
Cody Matlock
Donnie McCormick
Blind Willie McTell
Buddy Moss
Mudcat
Neal Pattman
Sol Roots
Bill Sheffield
Cootie Stark
Ike Stubblefield
Eddie Tigner
Beverly Guitar Watkins
Curley Weaver
Jontavious Willis
Wood Brothers
Charlie Wooton
Under Construction: Early rough cuts and outtakes before color/sound correction