The legend of Country and Western music, Willie Nelson, celebrated his milestone 90th birthday with a star-studded, two-day concert event. This historic concert took place on 29 and 30 April 2023, before a sold-out crowd at the legendary Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California. It was also recorded live for a limited theatrical release, Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90, which will be screened exclusively in select Ster-Kinekor cinemas, with four shows only, between 10 and 16 June.

The film features a selection of the most memorable moments and unforgettable collaborations from the two-day concert event. These include once-in-a-lifetime performances by the legend himself, Willie Nelson, Keith Richards, Snoop Dogg, George Strait, Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Dave Matthews, Neil Young, The Lumineers, Gary Clark Jr., Sheryl Crow, Jack Johnson, Billy Strings and many more.

The Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 concert film will be screened at the following Ster-Kinekor cinemas: Garden Route, George; Somerset, Somerset West; V&A Waterfront, Cape Town; Gateway Commercial, Umhlanga; Ilanga, Mbombela; Rustenburg, North West; Rosebank Nouveau, Johannesburg; and The Grove in Tshwane/Pretoria.

The four screenings take place on 10 June at 17:00; 11 June at 14:30; 13 June at 12:30 and 16 June at 14:30 (subject to change at some sites, depending on loadshedding schedule).

The two-hour-plus limited release film will give fans the opportunity to re-live or experience for the first time this epic event described by USA Today as “headed for the concert history books.” Honouring the legacy of this 12-time Grammy Award-winner, the scene at the Hollywood Bowl transcended genres, with Associated Press remarking “The parade of partners illustrated one of the night’s themes: Willie brings people together”.

"Demand to attend this historic concert event was unprecedented. Willie wanted to make sure his 90th birthday party included and was accessible to all of his fans. This concert film release will allow everyone to join in and celebrate with Willie and an amazing line-up of superstar artists. We are thrilled to share this concert event with fans around the globe in such a unique and powerful way," said Nelson’s manager Mark Rothbaum and Keith Wortman, CEO of Blackbird Presents

Willie was joined live on stage by an incredible line-up of performing artists including surprise guest Keith Richards, Allison Russell, Billy Strings, Bobby Weir, Booker T. Jones, Buddy Cannon, Charley Crockett, Charlie Sexton, Chris Stapleton, Daniel Lanois, Dave Matthews, Dwight Yoakam, Edie Brickell, Emmylou Harris, Gary Clark Jr., George Strait, Jack Johnson, Kris Kristofferson, Leon Bridges, Lily Meola, Lukas Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Margo Price, Miranda Lambert, Nathaniel Rateliff, Neil Young, Orville Peck, Particle Kid, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Shooter Jennings, Snoop Dogg, Stephen Stills, Sturgill Simpson, The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, Tom Jones, Tyler Childers, Warren Haynes, Waylon Payne, Ziggy Marley and more.

The star-studded celebration also featured special tributes and presentations by Chelsea Handler, Ethan Hawke, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner, Owen Wilson, and Woody Harrelson.

The house band was led by Grammy Award-winning music director Don Was, and also featured Audley Freed, Benmont Tench, Gabe Witcher, Greg Leisz, Mickey Raphael, Terence Higgins, Tom Bukovac, Alfreda McCrary, Ann McCrary and Regina McCrary.

“We are delighted to be screening the Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 concert film exclusively at select cinemas. The film includes highlights from across the two nights of shows with full performances and special guest presentations. Fans in the Ster-Kinekor cinemas will be treated to an immersive experience, with a state-of-the-art cinematic presentation and stereo surround sound,” comments Lynne Wylie, chief marketing officer of Ster-Kinekor.

“The Willie 90th birthday concert event sold out instantly, but the four screenings give Willie Nelson fans here in South Africa the opportunity to experience this celebrated event honouring a living legend as if they were in the front row.”

Bookings are now open for this once-in-a-lifetime concert on the big screen with surround sound. So, don’t miss out on your chance to get a front row seat.

Book your tickets at www.sterkinekor.com or download the SK App on your smartphone. For news and updates, go to Facebook: Ster-Kinekor Theatres | follow Ster-Kinekor on Twitter: @Ster-Kinekor. For all queries, call Ticketline on 0861-Movies (668 437).

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Issued by: aHead PR
On behalf of: Ster-Kinekor Theatres

For media information: Janet de Kretser
Tel: 083 973 3531
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About Willie Nelson

With a seven-decade career, Willie Nelson has earned every conceivable award as a musician and amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor, and activist. He continues to thrive as a relevant and progressive musical and cultural force. In recent years, he has delivered more than a dozen new albums, released a Top 10 New York Times' bestsellers book, again headlined Farm Aid, an event he co-founded in 1985, been honoured by the Library of Congress with their Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, received his 5th degree black belt in Gong Kwon Yu Sul, headlined the annual Luck Reunion food and music festival during SXSW, launched his cannabis companies Willie's Reserve and Willie's Remedy, and graced the covers of Rolling Stone and AARP The Magazine. In July 2020, Willie released his album First Rose of Spring - an atmospheric soulful showcase of beautifully written songs and poignant performances.

 September 2020 brought a memoir with his sister and pianist Bobbie Nelson titled, Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of The Family Band. For 2021, he released a new studio album in February —That's Life, Willie's second album of standards and classics made famous by Frank Sinatra (his first, 2018's My Way, earned Willie the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Solo Album). In June 2021, a collection of his thoughts on America, family, faith and music hits shelves as a new book titled Willie Nelson’s Letters to America. In November 2021, Nelson released the new studio album, The Willie Nelson Family, a collection of country gospel-flavoured songs performed by Willie’s Family Band. In April 2022, he released another new studio album, A Beautiful Time, which includes a variety of newly written future pop-country classics including five new Willie Nelson/Buddy Cannon compositions. The album won the GRAMMY for Best Country Album. In September 2022, he published a new book titled Me and Paul: Untold Tale of a Fabled Friendship that chronicles the adventures of Willie and his long-time drummer and closest friend Paul English.

Throughout 2023, Willie celebrates his 90th birthday with multiple projects and events including a two-night star-studded concert, Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90, in April at the famed Hollywood Bowl. The year began with the debut of "Wille Nelson & Family," a new five-part film documentary series directed by Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival as well as the just released new album, I Don't Know a Thing About Love, which features 10 performances that pay tribute to American songwriter Harlan Howard, These creative endeavours as well as new songs and performances that add to his classic catalogue, find Willie Nelson rolling at an artistic peak, writing and singing and playing with the seasoned wit and wisdom that comes from the road.

About Ster-Kinekor Theatres

Ster-Kinekor Theatres is the largest movie exhibitor on the African continent. To most South Africans, the word ‘movies’ is synonymous with the name ‘Ster-Kinekor’. The company operates 45 commercial cinema complexes in South Africa, with six international sites based in Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The cinema chain’s sites house 359 large-scale screens, with 50 372 seats and the largest 3D footprint featuring 129 state-of-the-art 3D screens in South Africa (Commercial, 3D, IMAX and Cine Prestige). The company operates in 6 cinema complexes with 33 screens and 4 077 seats in Africa.

As the industry leader, Ster-Kinekor has pioneered cinema concepts such as Cinema Nouveau, a dedicated art-house multiplex cinema, and the luxurious Cine Prestige theatres, the first ‘business class’ cinema experience in South Africa. It boasts a cinema that is fitted with the advanced Dolby Atmos sound system (at Gateway in Durban); and has headed the return of the IMAX® Experience, with nine IMAX® Theatres across the country. Ster-Kinekor has expanded its cinema innovation to launch the first Kids’ cinema complete with slides and bean bag seating (currently 7 screens) as well as D-BOX which brings movie experiences to life with motion seats.

As one of South Africa’s most loved brands, it is Ster-Kinekor’s ongoing mission to become synonymous with the unrivalled magic of the cinema experience, by providing ‘Great Moments at Their Greatest’. During 2013, the company embarked on a massive roll-out project to convert and equip every cinema with the very latest in digital projection and sound technology. The result of this upgrade is that every cinema now boasts state-of-the-art cinema technology that encompasses 2K and 4K digital projection and 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound systems.

The SK Club loyalty programme rewards members with redeemable points when they swipe their card when buying movie tickets or catering, as well as half-price tickets on Tuesdays. Combined with industry leading loyalty programmes from Edgars Club and Discovery Vitality, these give Ster-Kinekor a strong consumer value proposition and competitive advantage. Ster-Kinekor have extended their loyalty offering to include the first subscription model in South Africa, SK Subscription Club offers members a limited or unlimited amount of movies per month at a set cost whilst also enjoying the benefits of SK Club.

As the market leader, Ster-Kinekor aims to spearhead the advancement of cinema across both South Africa and the rest of Africa, to ensure that consumers continue to experience movies as they were made to be seen – on the big screen. 

See more at: www.sterkinekor.com