In the segregated South of the 1960s, Blues masters and Beatniks created The Memphis Country Blues Festival (1966-1970), an event that rocked the foundations of a conservative world. This documentary weaves together hypnotic and unforgettable performances with animation, archival images, and a chorus of diverse voices, creating a moving image mixtape that both celebrates the music and re-evaluates the era.

Memphis Blues players Furry Lewis and Robert T. Wilkins should be household names, and their musical performances in the film are riveting. Their work inspired The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and generations of rockstars. The festival organizers wanted to celebrate and learn from these Blues heroes. But, as sociologist Zandria Robinson states in the film, "There is always a disconnect that complicates cross-racial friendships and collaborations because that power dynamic is always sitting there in that room, in the deep context of the music."

Directed by the daughter of one of the festival organizers, The Blues Society is a kaleidoscopic documentary that asks viewers to draw their own conclusions about the events presented. The film encourages viewers to ask questions about race, music, and American culture and to reconsider their preconceptions about Blues music and Blues history.