1950, rural Alabama. It's a make-or-break weekend for the Honeydripper Lounge and its owner Tyrone "Pine Top" Purvis. Deep in debt, Tyrone is desperate to lure the young cotton pickers and local Army base recruits into his juke joint and away from the rival club across the way. He lays off his regular talent and hires the famous electric guitar player, Guitar Sam, for a one night only gig. When the train arrives, Guitar Sam is no where to be found. Tyrone makes a deal with the sheriff to release Sonny, a kid who hopped off a freight car and turned up at the club. Tyrone cleans Sonny up and launches a last ditch scheme to pass off the young guitar picker as Guitar Sam. When Sonny takes the stage and launches into his first scalding electric licks, Tyrone will learn if its lights out for the Honeydripper or if his luck has changed.