Freestyle Digital Media, the digital film distribution division of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, has acquired North American VOD rights to the compelling music documentary, The Blues Society. This film, narrated by actor Eric Roberts, will be available to rent or own on all digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms, as well as on DVD, starting July 9, 2024.
A Deep Dive into the Memphis Country Blues Festival
The Blues Society is a feature-length documentary that reevaluates the life of the Memphis Country Blues Festival (1966-1970) through the lenses of race, the 1960s counterculture, and the genre of Memphis blues. The documentary tells the stories of blues masters Furry Lewis, Nathan Beauregard, and Reverend Robert Wilkins. It also highlights a group of white artists from both the North and South who celebrated African American music in a highly segregated city. The film culminates with a 2017 concert where John Wilkins returns to the stage, which he last shared with his father, Reverend Robert Wilkins, 48 years earlier.
Behind the Scenes
Written, directed, and produced by Dr. Augusta Palmer, The Blues Society features narration by actor Eric Roberts and co-production by J. Tinneny. Palmer aimed to create more than just a concert film, striving to capture the idealism of the white organizers while spotlighting Black voices and revealing the paternalism in the 1960s blues revival.
“I didn’t want to just make a concert film. Everyone can appreciate the unforgettable music in The Blues Society, but love for the blues didn’t cure white supremacy,” said Augusta Palmer. “I wanted to recapture the idealism of the white organizers, but also to spotlight Black voices and reveal the paternalism in the 1960s blues revival. Structural racism has become much more visible to the nation since the pandemic. We’ve come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.”
Distribution and Release
Freestyle Digital Media negotiated the deal to acquire The Blues Society with Cultural Animal, LLC and Glen Reynolds of Circus Road Films. The documentary will be available on North American DVD and VOD platforms from July 9, 2024.
Watch the Trailer
Learn More about The Blues Society
For more information, visit the official website: www.thebluessocietyfilm.com.