Documentary On Chuck Ragan Receives Film Award for 'Best Story'

If there's one thing that can be said about folk troubadour CHUCK RAGAN, he rarely sits still. With half a dozen studio albums, live records, a video game soundtrack, and countless 7"s, he's added one feather in his cap that he HAS to sit still for: fishing.

A consummate angler and guide, Chuck's skill at fishing is the subject of LANDSICK, a short film from Costa Sunglasses and filmmaker Matt Devlin and producer Peter Vandergrift. Winning the award for Best Story at The Drake's 12th Annual Video Awards, the documentary chronicles Chuck's delicate balance between music, his family, and his fishing.

"For our film Landsick to be recognized and win Best Story at the Drake Film Awards was certainly an achievement that wasn't even in our scope," Chuck beams. "We all just did what we do and documented it along the way. To have an honor such as this given to us, it has eased the pain a bit of the endless nights, close calls and time away from family on the road. Peter Vandergrift and Matt Devlin worked insanely hard at pulling the piles of content together to weave the story that made Landsick the film that it is."

"I knew Chuck through the fly fishing world but never knew about his other facets," says Peter. "I was blown away when he started telling stories about his music and upbringing and thought viewers would be interested. It was important to get the story right so Matt and I spent countless hours, some of those secluded in a cabin up Rock Creek, working and reworking the narrative. I am proud this paid off with recognition from the fly fishing community by winning the Drake Film Award for Best Story."

Adds Matt, "I have always wanted to tell stories through film that are worth telling. And after spending a day fly fishing in a driftboat on the Clark Fork River near Missoula, Montana with Chuck Ragan and Peter Vandergrift, I knew Landsick was a film that warranted making."

The film is traveling through the U.S. and upcoming screenings can be found here:
https://flyfilmtour.com/buy-tickets/

In 2015, Chuck switched gears and decided to cut back on his RELENTLESS touring schedule and focus his attention to his family which included his newborn son. In addition, he kicked off his fishing career and got his guide's license in Grass Valley, California, leading guided fishing tours in trout, steelhead, and bass country in the Sierra Foothills, along with stripers in the California Delta.

"I've slowed down quite a bit from being on the road and have certainly put my main focus on my family and being present for my three year-old son in his first most important developmental years," Chuck continues. "At home, I work as a fly fishing guide and instructor so in so many ways I'm leading a double life going from 'waking up at 4:30am' as opposed to 'lying down at 3am'. Our recent film that's been showcasing at The Fly Fishing Film Tour depicts that balance between touring, guiding and fatherhood. It's far from easy to find much balance but I'm getting closer and learning more about myself from a toddler than I've learned from anyone in my 43 years on this planet."

However, Chuck hasn't traded his guitars for fishing rods completely. He will be playing a handful of shows in the U.S. including two shows with Gaslight Anthem in Asbury Park, NJ on August 18th and 19th.

"Heading back to Asbury is always a pleasure," he explains. "We've always felt at home in that community amongst true believers that we've had the pleasure and honor of sharing the road and stage with. Gaslight Anthem is definitely apart of all that and it's been pretty solid to witness their growth as people and a band over the years. They've worked and sacrificed for it and have paid the dues to be where they are and I'm just pleased to be a part of the puzzle."

Chuck Ragan grew up in the Southeast and was raised by his Louisiana and Florida-bred Southern family. He played his first solo show over 25 years ago and has been writing heartfelt campfire anthems ever since he picked up an acoustic guitar at the age of 12. He has toured the world with seminal punk band Hot Water Music as well as with his own solo career. In addition, Ragan conceptualized The Revival Tour in 2005, which has been one of the most anticipated tours throughout North America, Europe, and Australia since its inception in 2008. Ragan has toured the globe extensively for the past two decades and has become a household name in both the folk and punk communities.

Image: Still From LANDSICK

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