HEALDSBURG, CA — A 15-year-old journalist gets the chance of a lifetime in 1973 when Rolling Stone assigns him to write about an up-and-coming band called Stillwater. He tours with the group, moves through a world of rock-and-roll excess, groupies known as “band-aids,” and sudden fame, and learns how quickly something so longed for can blur into something more complicated.
Writer and filmmaker Cameron Crowe builds the story from his own experience as a teenage writer for Rolling Stone in the 1970s, when he traveled with major acts including Led Zeppelin and the Allman Brothers Band and found himself embedded in the adult realities behind the music industry’s glamour.
That tender narrative anchors a full-scale anniversary event in downtown Healdsburg, where organizers at the True West Film Center will stage an immersive evening combining dining, wine, and cinema.
Guests will arrive in Healdsburg for a T.O.W.N.-produced dinner experience featuring multiple courses from seven restaurants, paired wines from seven wineries, and live music that revisits 1970s rock.
An anniversary screening of “Almost Famous” follows, leading into a live or simulcast Q&A with Crowe, who also wrote "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (the book and screenplay) and a list of other Americana films including "Jerry Maguire," which he also directed.
Crowe will discuss his work with rock journalist Ben Fong-Torres (who knows a thing or two about Rolling Stone magazine), and True West’s artistic director John Cooper, whose credentials include director of the Sundance Film Festival.
The evening begins with an exclusive pre-reception for Spotlight Experience guests, followed by wine welcome service, courtyard dining, and the film screening, then closing with a late-night conversation on the film’s legacy.
Ticket tiers structure access and fundraising impact. The $350 dinner package includes shared T.O.W.N. seating, theater admission, and a copy of Crowe’s memoir.
The $450 VIP tier adds premium seating and a live Q&A experience while directing additional funds to True West’s education programs.
The $1,500 Spotlight Experience includes a private reception, signed book, and leadership-level support for youth media literacy initiatives.
A $75 Raven Ticket extends the event to a broader audience with food, wine, and a simulcast screening at a satellite venue.
True West Film Center is the nonprofit hosting the event at its Healdsburg campus.
Info: Cameron Crowe At Film West
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