The Coen Brothers are currently working on a new film ‘Inside Llewyn Davies’ which is set in the 60’s Greenwich Village during its heyday when the likes of Bob Dylan came rolling in as an unknown with a guitar slung over his back seeking work in the burgeoning underground folk music scene of the Village coffee houses. The film script is based loosely on Dave Van Ronk’s memoirs ‘The Mayor of McDougall Street’.
Dave Van Ronk (1936-2002) was one of the founding figures of the 60’s folk revival and a pioneer of modern accoustic blues that influenced so many singers at the time. Anyone familiar with the book will know that those that befriended Dave read like a who’s who of the folk world and included names that went on to become giants including Dylan, Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell.
Inside Llewyn Davies is in early stages and is due for release in 2013. Parts announced so far include a young musician called Jim (Justin Timberlake) who is married to Jean (Carey Mulligan). Oscar Isaac will play the part of Llewyn Davies. John Goodman is also to play a part which is yet to be announced, if I was to speculate I’d say he’d make a good Dave Van Ronk with a beard and he can probably carry off that hard bitten gravelled voice of Van Ronk!
