The appropriately named American Epic project, shepherded in part by Jack White, has been in the works for a while. Now, the docu-series about how the recording industry scouted the country for artists in the 1920s—directed by Bernard McMahon and executive produced by White with T-Bone Burnett and Robert Redford—is set to premiere on PBS May 16. Meanwhile, an accompanying full-length film called The American Sessions, which documents modern artists using “the very first electrical sound recording system from” the era, is set to premiere on June 6. The soundtrack will be available come May 12. (Both elements will also air on the BBC in May and June, respectively, according to PBS.) In a preview, which also features some of the archival footage, Elton John describes the endeavor as “more than a music documentary.” He says, “This is history.” You’ll be able to see that unfold starting May.
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