Local

A hometown reunion of sorts brings Fool’s Journey to the Maintenance Shop Saturday night. The Ames natives have played at People’s Bar and Grill and The Long Shot (now Boheme), but this will be their first visit to the historical venue.

Back when KISS 107.5 was known as KKDM “The Dot,” Fool’s Journey performed the “KKDM State of Independence Celebration,” and was featured on the CD of the same title with several other Iowa bands.

After winning an Iowa City battle of the bands in 1998, Fool’s Journey was awarded a slot at the Hawkeye Music Festival, where they performed with Everclear, the Nadas, MU330 and Bamboo.

The group also had some of their songs played as background music on such MTV productions as “Road Rules” and “The Real World.”

Fool’s Journey plays mostly in Iowa City, where three of the five members live. Their rhythm guitarist is “on leave,” attending recording school in Florida. Until his anticipated return, the foursome has been making due with a few shows here and there and they have recently released a three track album titled “Statue of Mary.”

The disc will be available for $5 at the Saturday evening show as the band opens for Chicago’s Box-O-Car at 9 p.m. Tickets are $4 for students.

Regional

When Karen Grotberg left Minneapolis roots rockers The Jayhawks, to care for her newborn daughter last year, Jen Gunderman stepped up to take her place on a string of December tours. Gunderman is now officially added to The Jayhawks’ lineup.

Grotberg, a former member of the North Carolina band Dag, joined The Jayhawks last year to record the group’s sixth album. The untitled work is due out May 9, according to All-star News.

National

The 17th annual Reel Music Film Festival got underway last Friday. The festival, presented by the Portland, Ore. Northwest Film Center, is known for covering a wide range of musical genres.

Jazz, classical, techno, reggae, blues and gospel will appear in 28 films shown through Feb. 13, according to All-star News.

Festival attendees will also be able to see documentaries about Sweet and Lowdown, Instrument and Fugazi.

The self-made Fugazi film contains live concert shots in addition to interview footage during which singer/guitarist Ian MacKaye shares his views of the music industry.

“The nature of the music business is to make money, which is fine, but that’s got nothing to do with us,” MacKaye said in the documentary.

In other independent film news, “Dark Days,” a documentary about a community of homeless people surviving in New York City, will debut this month at the Sundance Film Festival, taking place Jan. 20 to 30 in Park City, Utah.

The film’s score has been written and compiled by DJ Shadow. Remixed cuts from Shadow’s debut, “Endtroducing,” in addition to music by U.N.K.L.E., will be included in the soundtrack, according to All-star News.