Overview: In the early 1960's the "folk music revival" had a strong impact on bluegrass music across the country including San Diego, California, where a group of young men from different backgrounds gathered to make this traditional music.

DVD Verdict: When you mention bluegrass music most people think of the mountains of Appalachia, not palm trees and beaches!

San Diego is home of The Scottsville Squirrel Barkers, which included Chris Hillman (The Byrds), Bernie Leadon (The Eagles), Kenny Wertz (The Flying Burrito Bros., Country Gazette) and Larry Murray (Hearts & Flowers, The Johnny Cash Show), Grammy winning artist Nickel Creek (Chris Thile, Sean & Sara Watkins), plus Deering Banjos, the largest banjo company in North America.

This film, aptly entitled 'Banjos, Bluegrass, And Squirrel Barkers' tells the rich history of the great musicians who helped form the alliance and bonds for future generations of bluegrass.

Directed and written by Rick Bowman, this film is one of the most interesting, one of the most in depth and one of the most fearless exposes on the genre related here that I have seen in the past couple of decades, that's for darn tootin' sure!

'Banjos, Bluegrass & Squirrel Barkers' specifically focuses on the San Diego bluegrass scene, from its inception in the 1960s on to the present day.

Bowman takes a look at a number of prominent artists who got their start there, including Chris Hillman, Alison Brown, Ron Block, and Stuart Duncan, plus the granddaddies of the San Diego set, The Scottsville Squirrel Barkers.

In fact, as it turns out, that was the group that helped propel the careers of Hillman, along with Bernie Leadon of The Eagles and Kenny Wirtz of Country Gazette.

Oh, and if you want further proof of just how good this hour long documentary truly is, the film (which has a soundtrack by James Reams & The Barnstormers via Mountain Redbird Music) has already won three documentary awards (Gold Movie Awards, Mindfield Film Festival Los Angeles, Bi-Monthly Festival Gold Award)!