Music docs feel the love for Springsteen, One Direction

Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY 6:48 p.m. EDT July 19, 2013

Four music events and concert films to keep you singing through the summer.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• ‘Springsteen & I’ incorporates video from 2,000 super-fans
• Grateful Dead’s ‘Sunshine Daydream’ captures a 1972 show
• ‘Crossroads Guitar Festival’ benefits a rehab center established by Eric Clapton
• Morgan Spurlock + One Direction = ‘This Is Us’

Music fans have had plenty to sing about this summer, from the Penn Badgley-led Jeff Buckley biopic Greetings From Tim Buckley to critically adored documentaries such as 20 Feet From Stardom and Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer. The pickings look pretty slim in the months ahead (aside from the Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis … in December), so thankfully there are still several options to tide you over as the summer winds down, running the gamut from teen pop to classic rock. USA TODAY’s Patrick Ryan rounds up the offerings, and Billboard‘s Phil Gallo weighs in on why they’re worth a look.

Springsteen & I

Tale behind the title: Incorporating video submissions from more than 2,000 fans, this documentary explores the personal connections that people feel with Bruce Springsteen and his music.

Director: This love letter to the Boss is directed by British newcomer Baillie Walsh, whose only major previous credit is the Daniel Craig film Flashbacks of a Fool.

Showtime: July 22 and July 30 in select theaters nationwide. For theaters and tickets, visit the Fathom Events website.

Why it’s worth watching: Not only can the faithful relate to the funny, often touching stories of their fellow Springsteen fans onscreen, but there’s a plethora of unseen material even the die-hards haven’t laid eyes on yet. Unreleased video from his Wrecking Ball tour, never-before-seen archival concert footage and an exclusive meet-and-greet with the Boss himself are included. The film is compared to YouTube’s similar Life in a Day project, both using video submissions from across the globe to tell a singular story. In this case, it’s the story of hero worship and adoring Springsteen fans.

“The trailer was heartfelt enough that it made you say, ‘You know what, I could watch two hours of people delivering testimonials,’ ” Gallo says. “It’s a unique fan base, so I have a sense that it’ll be a pretty rewarding experience for fans.”

Interesting extra: The entire film took about nine months to make, six of which were spent editing down thousands of fan submissions into a cohesive, two-hour film.

Grateful Dead Meet Up at the Movies 2013: Sunshine Daydream

Tale behind the title: Sunshine Daydream comes from the lyrics of the Dead tuneSugar Magnolia, found on the rockers’ sixth album, American Beauty.

Director: John Norris, Sam Field and Philip DeGuere, who has most notably written for TV shows such as The Twilight Zone and NCIS.

Showtime: Aug. 1 in select theaters nationwide. For theaters and tickets, visit the Fathom Events website.

Why it’s worth watching: The third installment in the annual Grateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies series, this Aug. 27, 1972, concert has been restored to HD resolution for its theatrical release, and provides new interviews and never-before-seen footage from the Veneta, Ore., show. With a set list that includes Playing in the Band, Dark Star, Bird Song and more, the two-hour film is a unique opportunity for Dead Heads young and old to experience what is often considered one of the band’s best shows.

“It’s going to be spectacular,” Gallo says. “It’s a great time period because of the songs they were playing.”

Interesting extra: The Sunshine Daydream concert was a benefit for the Springfield Creamery in nearby Springfield, Ore.

Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013

Tale behind the title: Named for the sold-out Madison Square Garden fest, an event which Eric Clapton has been curating since 2004.

Director: Martyn Atkins, who has directed concert films for the likes of Tom Petty, Depeche Mode, Paul Simon, and Sheryl Crow.

Showtime: Aug. 13 at select theaters nationwide. For a list of theaters and tickets, visit the Fathom Events website.

Why it’s worth watching: With a star-studded lineup including John Mayer, Gregg Allman, Vince Gill and Keith Urban, this show features axe slingers from across all genres coming together to benefit the Crossroads Centre Antigua, an addiction rehab center founded by Clapton. An arena-size jam session featuring classic rock, country tunes and blues selections, this nearly three-hour event also includes behind-the-scenes footage from the sold-out festival.

“It’s for fans of guitar who like to jam,” Gallo says. “It’s tailor-made for them. If those are artists that appeal to you, it’ll be a fantastic show.”

Interesting extra: Aside from the announced lineup, this year’s fest included an impromptu visit from the Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards.

One Direction: This Is Us 

Tale behind the title: Long known as simply “1D3D,” this film promises an honest, unscripted look at the British boy band behind the scenes.

Director: Morgan Spurlock, best known for controversial documentaries such as The Greatest Movie Ever Sold and Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?

Showtime: Aug. 30, in theaters nationwide.

Why it’s worth watching: From their humble beginnings as contestants on The X Factor to becoming global superstars, this 3-D concert film touts an intimate, all-access look at the young Brits. Weaving together performances from their sold-out London’s O2 Arena concert with offstage footage of the guys, the doc is sure to have plenty of teen and (let’s face it) adult fans squealing and lining up to see it again and again. The project is made all the more intriguing by the presence of Spurlock, known by many for his month-long McDonald’s binge in 2004’s Super Size Me.

“It provides insight for the fans,” Gallo says. “Pretty good-sized budgets goes into these films and the message gets controlled, so I would sense that it will be as rewarding to fans as (Katy Perry: Part of Me and Justin Bieber: Never Say Never) were to fans.”

Interesting extra: The documentary features the group’s just-leaked new single, Best Song Ever, the first track off their upcoming third studio album.