This weekend will feature some toe-tapping acoustic music as the third annual Bismarck Bluegrass Festival takes over Sleepy Hollow Park

The festival will feature 10 bands over Friday and Saturday, with regional favorites Art Stevenson and the High 48s headlining, said Paul Johnson, local school superintendent and weekend bluegrass musician for the Missouri River Boys, who also will be performing.

Johnson, secretary of the steering committee that organized the weekend event, said this will be a great chance for the community to come out and experience some great music and fresh air.

He said bluegrass is one of the oldest types of music, with roots going back to Europe and the immigrants who brought musical styles of their homeland to America.

"It's an upbeat type of music," he said. "I think its appealing from that direction. It's based on a folk music that is generations old. It comes essentially from Scotland, Ireland, the British isles and Scandinavia."

The basic setup for a bluegrass band traditionally includes an acoustic bass, guitar, mandolin, banjo and fiddle, Johnson said.

He said the simplicity of the music makes it easy to learn, but the depth of the music means even masters can still have more to learn.

That simplicity makes it great for fans who've never heard the music before and long-time fans alike.

"You can pick up a guitar, and if you know three chords, you sit in with a group and really enjoy it," he said.

Eric Christopher of the High 48s, out of Minnesota, said the music itself is participatory, and it's not uncommon for people to start their own jam sessions in the audience.

He said bluegrass music has a wide appeal because of the universal themes the music touches on, such as love and loss.

"It's a very soulful kind of music and has a very strong blues element to it," he said.

The High 48s, formed in 2006, play about 50 gigs a year, and this will be their fifth time in North Dakota this year.

"I joke with people and say it's the Year of North Dakota," he said.

The High 48s recently placed first in the 2008 Rockygrass Band Competition, and are looking forward to playing Bismarck, Christopher said.

He said he enjoys playing for new people and introducing them to bluegrass music, but said his favorite audiences are those that are familiar with the music.

"We love playing to people who appreciate the music, you can always sense that, when you're playing to a crowd that loves bluegrass. It makes the gig a lot easier for us, we feed off that energy," Christopher said.

Tickets are $8 for Friday night, $15 for Saturday, and $20 for both days. Children under 16 get in free. Concessions will be available.

The festival is 6 to 11 p.m. Friday and from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday.