Due to weather, Sound for Silents has been moved into the McGuire Theater. Capacity is limited, and we recommend arriving early to secure your seat. Free tickets are available at the Hennepin Box office. Doors open at 7 pm, and the live performance will begin at 8 pm.
Join us at sunset for the Walker’s annual summer send-off of sound and image. Filmmaker/musician Philip Harder (Prince’s “Cinnamon Girl,” Cue the Strings—a film about Low) collaborates with roots country singer/songwriter Matt Arthur and his ensemble for an inspired evening of commissioned live music paired with films from the Walker’s Ruben/Bentson Moving Image Collection and beyond. Revered for his retro style and Johnny Cash-meets-Nick Cave vocals, Arthur, who is blind, composes new music for films in collaboration with Harder based on his experiences of them.
Arthur’s ensemble of noted Twin Cities musicians includes Tim O’Reagan of the Jayhawks (drums), Bill Patten (guitar, vocals), Channy Leaneagh of Poliça (vocals), Nick Salsbury (bass), Faith Eskola (violin), Jacqueline Ultan (cello), Phala Tracy (harp), Jake Johnson (violin and guitar), Allison LaBonne (vocals), Brian Tighe of the Hang Ups (vocals, guitar), Dave Pirner and Ryan Smith of Soul Asylum, and Lady Midnight.
The event begins with music from DJ Bill DeVille of The Current. Film screening and live performance begin at 8 pm.
Films
The program will feature excerpts from The Wind (1928) by Victor Sjöström, starring Lillian Gish; Beggars of Life (1928) by William A. Wellman; Allan Dwan’s Stage Struck (1925), with Gloria Swanson; L’etoile de mer (1928) by Man Ray; Because I Do by X; and from the Ruben/Bentson Moving Image Collection, Edwin S. Porter’s The Great Train Robbery (1903) and Hans Richter’s Ghosts Before Breakfast (1929).
Bios
Philip Harder is a commercial and music video director famous for iconic spots for Apple’s iPod, Gap, and Target, and music videos for artists including Prince, Foo Fighters, and Cornershop. His debut 2020 feature film Tuscaloosa (starring Natalia Dyer, Stranger Things, and Tate Donovan, Argo) brought to life the novel of the same name—a southern gothic story set in 1973 Alabama. Harder’s documentary The Claw (2024) tells the Jekyll-and-Hyde story of one of the greatest supervillains in wrestling history, and his latest feature, Cue the Strings—a film about Low (2025), follows the 30-year career of the Duluth band Low.
Matt Arthur learned to sing by listening to gospel records by Tennessee Ernie Ford and Johnny Cash. His first band, Prest Asbestus, played throughout the Twin Cities in the 1990s and shared the stage with bands ranging from Babes in Toyland, Run Westy Run, and Soul Asylum to Vic Chesnutt, Tad, and the Afghan Whigs. He later wrote and recorded a solo album of folk-gospel songs, which unleashed his taste for songwriting that has produced over 50 original tunes to date. His new EP Runnin’ showcases more expansive and cinematic songwriting, rowdy humor, and a depth that only comes with a life lived through music and sound.
Accessibility
There will be accessible seating space off a paved path on the hillside. Staff members around the hillside will be able to assist with seating.
For more information about accessibility at the Walker, visit our Access page.
For more information or to request additional accommodations, call 612-375-7564 or email access@walkerart.org.
Before Your Visit
Paid underground parking is available on-site. Enter the ramp on Vineland Place at Bryant Avenue. Biking or taking Metro Transit? Learn more.
Visiting the galleries? Enhance your experience by joining a public tour or with self-guided resources accessible for free on Bloomberg Connects.
Personal photography is permitted throughout the Walker and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, but please turn off the flash when visiting the galleries.
To help us promote future events and programs, this event may be photographed or recorded. By attending, you consent to appear in this documentation and its future use by the museum. Please let staff know upon arrival if you prefer not to be photographed.
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