Industry Maverick Joe Boyd Announces U.S. Run Of Audio-Visual Cinema Events And Bookstore Readings

Lauded producer, author and raconteur Joe Boyd announced a fall slate of U.S. audio-visual cinema events and bookstore readings in support of his latest book And The Roots Of Rhythm Remain: A Journey Through Global Music (ZE Books).

Originally commissioned for the March 2025 Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN, Boyd’s audio-visual presentation combines stories and excerpts from his book with a selection of film clips, music and photos including rare footage and recordings of icons like Taj Mahal with Toumani Diabaté, Ravi Shankar with George Harrison, Dizzy Gillespie with Chano Pozo, Kate Bush with the Trio Bulgarka, Paul Simon in Zimbabwe with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and more.

Boyd has six decades to draw from. Artists he’s produced include Nick Drake, R.E.M., Toots and the Maytals, Richard Thompson, Pink Floyd, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and ¡Cubanismo! among many others. After graduating from Harvard in 1964, he tour-managed Muddy Waters, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto, and others before serving as production manager for the historic 1965 Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals. He then moved to London to open Elektra Records’ office and started the famous UFO club, which became the center of London’s psychedelic revolution. In 1979 he launched his own label, Hannibal Records, which was at the forefront of bringing global artists to western audiences.

The book is a celebration of the impact of the world’s musical traditions on western popular culture. And The Roots Of Rhythm Remain has been internationally praised and featured on numerous best-of lists including Financial Times, MOJO, Irish Times, Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, PopMatters, UNCUT and Songlines.

Joe Boyd’s U.S. Dates:

Sept. 2 – Books & Books, Miami, FL

Sept. 10 – Northwest Film Forum/Elliott Bay, Seattle, WA

Sept. 11 – Roxie Theater/Book Passage, San Francisco, CA

Sept. 13 – Ojai Playhouse, Ojai, CA

Sept. 13 – Bart’s Books/Hotel El Roblox, Ojai, CA

Sept. 17 – Octavia Books, New Orleans, LA