‘Kalamazoo Gals’ Song Circle Booked At McCabe’s Guitar Shop Ahead Of Awareness Film Festival Screening

To celebrate the “Kalamazoo Gals” documentary being screened at the Awareness Film Festival in Santa Monica, California, the legendary McCabe’s Guitar Shop will host a song-sharing circle featuring a Banner Gibson guitar that a young U.S. soldier took to World War II.

The event, taking place from 12 to 3 p.m. on Oct. 24, will also give attendees the chance to meet the documentary filmmakers. McCabe’s is encouraging attendees to bring a “Banner” guitar if you have one.

McCabe’s Guitar Shop, which was founded in 1958, has hosted performances from major artists including Beck, Linda Ronstadt, Taj Mahal, Lucinda Williams, Jackson Browne, T Bone Burnett, Glenn Frey, Harry Shearer aka Spinal Tap, among others. 

The “Kalamazoo Gals” film, which is based on the book of the same name by John Thomas, shines a spotlight on Gibson’s World World II Banner guitars that were created by women behind the scenes when instrument production was supposedly suspended. The documentary features appearances from Tommy Emmanuel, Jennifer Nettles, Kamara Thomas and others.

“When I first encountered John Thomas’s book, the ‘Kalamazoo Gals,’ I was immediately captivated by its many layers: a hidden chapter in American history, an act of quiet resilience by a group of women, whose substantial contribution to the American story was nearly erased, and the haunting beauty of the guitars they created—each one a testament to their skill and spirit. What began as a historical curiosity quickly revealed itself as a powerful lens through which to explore themes of inequality and the unrelenting strength of those who have been marginalized,” director David Massar said in a statement.

He added, “Kalamazoo Gals is a story about more than guitars. It’s about the ways we choose to honor, or ignore, the contributions of people who labor quietly in the shadows, and how those choices shape our collective identity. For me, storytelling is a means of reckoning—with ourselves, with our culture, and with the forces that shape both. The women who stepped into Gibson’s factory during World War II are emblematic of a larger, ongoing struggle for recognition, one that resonates deeply today. Their story offers us a chance not only to reflect on the inequalities of the past but also to see the parallels to the challenges we face in the present. …”

The film will be screened Oct. 25, at 8:45 pm, at Illusion Magic Lounge as part of the Awareness Film Festival, which is happening in person in Santa Monica Oct. 21-26 and online Oct. 27 through Dec. 31.

The event’s goal “is to unite independent filmmakers from around the globe who will raise awareness and inspire change through immersive film and media presentations, filmmaker panels, and community partnerships. By presenting beautiful, thought-provoking, and entertaining films, we aim to uplift and inform, contributing to a more peaceful, just, and healthy world.”

Awareness Film Festival is presented by nonprofit Heal One World and closes out with an award show. Past honorees include David Lynch, Jim Carrey, Moby, Danny Trejo, Jason Momoa, and Lisa Vanderpump.