Bascom Lamar Lunsford started it all. Lunsford was a superb mountain musician who spent his life hunting down the songs, dances and unknown performers of the Appalachian region. He fought to bring dignity to "hillbilly music" and this made him a folk hero. He recorded thousands of songs for the Smithsonian. In the summer of 1928, he created the first Bluegrass Festival by founding his first Asheville Mountain Dance and Folk Festival. This film tells his story and includes music, clog and square dancing, never before seen footage from southern musicians. Appearances by Obray Ramsey (banjo), Artus Moser, Mike Seeger, Alan Lomax and more.