The "Back From The Dread" premier

A few lucky Dread Clampitt fans got to walk the Dread Carpet last night for the premier of a new documentary, "Back from the Dread." at Seaside Repertory Theatre in gorgeous Walton County, just west of Panama City.  Filmmaker Kris Wheeler (in video above -- not sure why it's black, ust hit play) followed the four-man band from 2005 to 2007 as they hit the road and played Gulf coast bars  -- and, as their reputation for fine musicianship and kick-ass shows increased. The film - co-created by Wheeler and filmaker Wayne Franklin -- is illuminating and personal, with really strong performances by the band. Can't wait to see the full production which will  showcase Oct. 1 at the Marina Civic Center in Panama City Beach.

Here's a description of the film from the Back from the Dread Facebook page:


" From 2005 to 2007, Kris Wheeler chronicled the band Dread Clampitt as part of his first feature-length documentary project, Bayou Country. To truly do justice to the stories of those connected to this film, Kris decided to divide Bayou Country into multiple companion projects. Back From The Dread is the first of those to be released, and is a joint production with friend and fellow filmmaker Wayne Franklin.

Back From The Dread brings into focus the challenges of pursuing success on your own terms, the difficulty of classifying the band’s sound, the wear and tear of the road and the ever-present battle to avoid the record store’s “speed bin.” These early years in Dread Clampitt’s journey are captured through a series of entertaining and behind-the-scenes interviews with band members, highlighted by live performances at the Acoustic Café Music Festival (Hayden, AL.), the Funky Blues Shack (Destin, FL), The Grey Eagle (Ashville, NC), Magnolia Music Festival (Live Oak, FL), WDVX Radio (Knoxville, TN.), and Workplay Theatre (Birmingham, AL). Back From The Dread also features a special quest appearance by the band’s friend and mentor, Duke Bardwell, a former bassist for Elvis Presley.

As with most bands, the lineup and musical style of Dread Clampitt continues to evolve. This film is intended to pay tribute to the band’s history, and is dedicated to all the loyal supporters and fans of Dread Clampitt — past, present and future."

The film was followed by a raging live performance by the boys. A great time with a great band!