Stop Making Sense: A Film by Jonathan Demme and Talking Heads

The Quarry Amphitheater and NoisePop Industries are excited to announce their continued partnership as the duo co-present an exclusive outdoor film screening of Talking Heads’ "Stop Making Sense" at The Quarry Amphitheater on Saturday, May 18, marking the official launch of the Quarry’s 2024 events season.

Initially released in 1984, “Stop Making Sense” is an iconic concert film that follows the legendary rock band Talking Heads during their 1983 album "Speaking in Tongues." album tour which marked the peak of their popularity. Today, renowned independent entertainment company A24 has restored the film in honor of its 40th anniversary.

A cult classic cherished by cinephiles and music enthusiasts alike, the film is making its UCSC debut having been released nationwide last year to widespread praise while illuminating the redwoods which serve as a backdrop to the picturesque outdoor amphitheater. The film features a number of historic performances by the Talking Heads, from "Psycho Killer" (1977) to their then-recent hit "Burning Down the House" (1983).

In addition to this unique outdoor viewing experience, the one-of-a-kind event will round out the night with a Q&A panel featuring James Mockoski, a UCSC alumni, archivist, and restoration supervisor for Francis Ford Coppola's company American Zoetrope, who initially uncovered the lost footage used in the new A24 re-release.

The event will also be donating part of the proceeds to the Second Harvest Food Bank, a local Santa Cruz organization focused on providing meals for those in need since 1972.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ’S QUARRY AMPHITHEATER:

Carved from a former limestone quarry in the 1960s, the historic Quarry Amphitheater is located at the heart of the UC Santa Cruz campus reopened after a major renovation in October 2017, welcoming its first-ever night-time concert with LA-based rockers Chicano Batman. With a deep history of hosting legendary artists, activists, and authors including Angela Davis, Ravi Shankar, Alfred Hitchcock, and Cesar Chavez, the Quarry has reopened as a critical gathering space to celebrate live music and community.

Referred to as the “Red Rocks in the Redwoods”, The Quarry is the largest outdoor venue with an existing stage and seating in the greater Santa Cruz community. The Quarry Amphitheater’s unique terraced asymmetrical design allows for amazing sight lines and multiple venue configurations from open-floor to reserved seating layouts. At a maximum capacity of 2600, The Quarry now holds the opportunity to become the region's premiere outdoor destination concert venue while also retaining its value as a natural open space. Learn more at QuarryAmphitheater.com.

ABOUT NOISE POP INDUSTRIES:

Noise Pop Industries is the oldest home-grown independent music and arts event promoter in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 1993, Noise Pop’s namesake festival has pioneered the multi-venue festival landscape and focused on showcasing early-career performances by then-emerging artists such as The White Stripes, Modest Mouse, Joanna Newsom, The Flaming Lips, Courtney Barnett, Death Cab for Cutie, Grimes, and many more.

Today, Noise Pop produces hundreds of concerts and unique events annually throughout the Bay Area and Northern California at more than two dozen of our favorite venues throughout the region. NPI also partners with local organizations and institutions like the California Academy of Sciences, the San Francisco Parks Alliance, Fort Mason, and the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce to produce and promote cultural events via its NPI WHTLBL services brand. Additionally, NPI operates the Bay Area’s leading local nightlife and entertainment guide DoTheBay, helping hundreds of thousands of Bay Area residents find out what to do in the Bay.

Please visit NoisePop.com for more information.