‘Desolation Center,’ documentary about pioneering desert music happenings, hits Cleveland Cinematheque

'Desolation Center' screens at Cleveland Cinematheque

'Desolation Center,' about pioneering 1980s music festival in California desert, screens at Cleveland Cinematheque. (Photo courtesy Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Before there was Burning Man and Coachella… There was some crazy noise going on in the desert.

Stuart Swezey’s documentary “Desolation Center” revisits the impromptu music happenings in the 1980s, when bands such as Minutemen, Savage Republic, Sonic Youth, the Meat Puppets, Swans, Redd Kross, Einstürzende Neubauten performed in remote desert settings in California.

At 9:20 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 p.m. Monday, the film will screen at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, 11610 Euclid Avenue. It features raw archival footage and photos and interviews with participants looking back at the guerilla music and arts events.

For more info, go to cia.edu/cinematheque or call 216-421-7450.

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