Ethan Hawke’s new film Blaze premieres at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah January 18-28. Blaze is a biographical drama based on the life of musician Blaze Foley. The screenplay was co-written by Hawke and Foley’s girlfriend, Sybil Rosen. Musician Ben Dickey plays Foley and others in the film include Alia Shawkat (as Rosen), Sam Rockwell, Wyatt Russell, Steve Zahn, Kris Kristofferson, and Richard Linklater. Charlie Sexton plays Townes Van Zandt.

Foley was an up-and-coming singer-songwriter (real name Michael David Fuller) until his untimely and tragic death in 1989. His music still has a huge following and numerous entertainers covered his songs. “If I Could Only Fly” became a hit by Merle Haggard and “Election Day” was covered by Lyle Lovett. John Prine covered “Clay Pigeons” on his Grammy Award-winning 2005 album Fair and Square. [Source]