'HWY 58:' Where does the Bakersfield Sound evolve from here?

Aug. 30—Defining the brand of country music that has come to be known as the Bakersfield Sound is anything but easy.

In fact, many have said it's impossible.

But Bakersfield-raised documentary filmmaker Nathanial Berg is more interested in how that music, pioneered by such legendary figures as Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Tommy Collins, Red Simpson and Bill Woods, is influencing the next generation of Bakersfield musicians — and generations to come, in all genres.

On Thursday, Berg invited news organizations and several members of the public to the Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame to preview about 20 minutes of clips from his newest film that explores that central question.

"What is it we are trying to do," Berg said by way of introducing the preview.

"'HWY 58' is a film series," he said. "There's so many good stories in Bakersfield that it's hard to pin down the stories by themselves.

"The first episode," he said, "'The Children of the Bakersfield Sound,' it's in the title."

Like so many who have studied the "Sound," Berg agreed that defining it is difficult, especially as it "is constantly morphing and changing."

The documentary is just the first in a planned series of as many as 10 or 12 indie films centered around the genesis and ongoing evolution of the music that has come to be known as the Bakersfield Sound.

"HWY 58" is scheduled to debut in its entirety — all 1 hour 47 minutes of it — on Thursday, Sept. 7 at the Fox Theater in downtown Bakersfield.

Doors open at 6 p.m. There will be a short talk at 7 p.m., followed by the film.

On Thursday, Berg, along with several musicians featured in the film, were on hand to talk about what Berg believes is a "long-awaited gift to Bakersfield's music history."

Monty Byrom, who has enjoyed a long career in music, from writing hits for Eddie Money, fronting recording artists Big House, singing and writing songs for Barbara Steisand, and a million other gigs, said he has heard that some have felt slighted for not being included in this first pilot.