Oscar-Winning Writer/Director Cameron Crowe to Visit Healdsburg for “On Tour: An Almost Famous Evening” Presented By T.O.W.N. Dinners and True West Film Center

HEALDSBURG, CA – T.O.W.N. Dinners and True West Film Center will present “ON TOUR: An Almost Famous Evening with Oscar-Winning Writer/Director Cameron Crowe” on Friday April 17, 2026 to benefit True West Film Center in Healdsburg.

Guests will enjoy the finest Sonoma County food and wine and a screening of “Almost Famous,” followed by an intimate conversation with Crowe and celebrated “Rolling Stone” author/editor Ben Fong-Torres and live music. The evening will celebrate Crowe’s legendary career in the spirit of rock and roll’s golden age.

Flambeaux Wine Vintner and Co-Owner Art Murray who co-founded the T.O.W.N. Dinner Series said, “T.O.W.N. prides itself on offering far more than the traditional wine dinners. These are wine experiences, utilizing art in all forms ranging from visual and musical to culinary and winemaking. The intention is to ignite all of the senses and encourage interactivity among our guests. Big moments are our specialty, and it doesn’t get much bigger than having both Cameron Crowe and Ben Fong-Torres appear at a 25th anniversary screening of Almost Famous! Add in that we have seven amazing restaurants paired with seven acclaimed Sonoma wineries, and it will be an epic night. As always, there will also be ‘night of’ surprises that are sure to please. The fact that we are doing all of this in partnership with, and in support of, a wonderful non-profit like True West makes it even more special. In short, ON TOUR guests should be prepared for an amazing and fulfilling journey!”

“We are honored to host the incomparable Cameron Crowe, and to celebrate his iconic film ‘Almost Famous’ with the creative team that produces the T.O.W.N. Dinner Series,” said Kathryn Philip, Founder and Executive Director of True West Film Center. “This is exactly the kind of cultural event we envisioned when we imagined building a film center in downtown Healdsburg. So, in many ways it represents a dream come true. Best of all, proceeds will benefit our arts education programs which develop critical thinking skills and cultural literacy among Sonoma County students.”

Cameron Crowe is a film director, screenwriter, journalist and best-selling author whose character-based storytelling has marked popular culture. As a teenage prodigy he wrote for Rolling Stone Magazine, touring with artists like Led Zeppelin and David Bowie before later writing the influential 1982 book and film “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” Crowe moved into film-directing with “Say Anything”, starring John Cusack, “Jerry Maguire” starring Tom Cruise… and later won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the semi- autobiographical “Almost Famous,” a coming-of-age story about an out-of-his-depth young rock journalist on tour in the 1970s. Known for emotionally authentic music-driven filmmaking, some of Crowe’s other notable films include “Singles,” “We Bought A Zoo,” and “Vanilla Sky,” as well as the acclaimed documentaries “Elton John: The Union” and “Pearl Jam 20.”

Ben Fong-Torres was an editor and writer at “Rolling Stone” (and a real-life character in “Almost Famous”). While at the magazine, he was a Sunday DJ on KSAN-FM. He has published ten books, including his memoir “The Rice Room: Growing Up Chinese American.” He co-anchored telecasts of the Chinese New Year on KTVU for 24 years, winning five Emmys. He earned an honorary doctorate from the California State University Board of Trustees and is the subject of a documentary “Like a Rolling Stone.” He is a DJ on www.MoonaliceRadio.com and lives with his wife Dianne in San Francisco with their rescue dog, Marley.

“ON TOUR: An Almost Famous Evening” comes on the heels of the 25th anniversary of Almost Famous marked by a re-release of the film in September 2025. Crowe’s latest book, a memoir entitled “The Uncool,” also hit shelves last fall and documents his experiences as a teenage rock journalist, the basis for Almost Famous.

The complete T.O.W.N. experience will be held at True West Film Center’s James Redford Campus in downtown Healdsburg, spanning its three intimate theaters equipped with state- of-the-art technology, and its interior courtyard. Tickets range from $350 to $1500, with special VIP access for higher-priced tickets. The schedule for “ON TOUR: An Almost Famous Evening with Cameron Crowe” at True West Film Center follows:

● 4:00 p.m. – Exclusive Private Reception with Cameron Crowe and Ben Fong-Torres at Harris Gallery (Spotlight Experience ticket holders only)
● 5:00 p.m. – Check in at True West and wine welcome
● 5:30 p.m. – Dinner in the courtyard and live music
● 7:00 p.m. – Screening of “Almost Famous”
● 9:00 p.m. – Live Conversation with Cameron Crowe, Ben Fong-Torres, and True West Artistic Director John Cooper

A satellite event at the Raven Performing Arts Theater will offer a simultaneous screening of Almost Famous, with a special greeting by Cameron Crowe. The $75 ticket also includes a short live music set before the film, a Golden Steak Warriors sandwich, a glass of wine from Flambeaux and THG, and more.