Larry Keel - An Unlikely Film Star

I first met Larry Keel in a small bar in Sandy Springs just outside Atlanta. I had seen him many times at huge festivals and wondered what a man with his talent was doing in a small sports bar playing to a crowd who, although small in number were soon lapping up every last note this man and his wonderful band had to play. The last time I saw him was in front of a huge appreciative crowd at Magnoliafest in Florida. Two completely different venues. Two great nights of music.

That's how things are for Larry Keel. He is well known by the best musicians in the world and yet fairly unknown to the rest of us. James Ryan Gielen intends to change all that with his new documentary, Beautiful Thing.

The documentary is a year in the life of Larry Keel as he travels across the USA in search of bigger audiences to play to. They go from coast to coast all through 2002 with James and his one camera never far away. During the documentary you see things very similar to my own encounters with Larry with audiences ranging from small crowds of not so enthusiastic people to standing ovations at world renowned bluegrass festivals.

The film was shot for a mere $7000 with director Gielen living as cheaply as possible even spending many nights sleeping in his car to save budget. he followed Larry and the band as night after night he ploughed on making the music in city after city and all the while slowly but surely adding more and more fans.

The documentary features some people who are Larry Keel fans who you might even have heard of including Tony Rice and Vassar Clements. Then of course there are Larry and Jenny Keel the only permanent members of the Larry Keel Experience.

This time maybe the time is right for both Larry Keel and James Ryan Gielen. The movie is making it's debut at this year's Merlefest, a great honor as this will be the first ever movie featured at this magical gathering in North Carolina.



For more info on Larry Keel go to;
http://www.larrykeel.com

and for more on the movie see;
http://brownpennyfilms.com

and finally for the movie show time at Merlefest go to;
http://www.merlfest.org