Sprinklers are working overtime to turn brown grass into green grass.

But all Jill Wiese can think about on these hot summer days is bluegrass.

Wiese is the common denominator in two upcoming outdoor concerts that feature Cotton Wood, her Washburn-based bluegrass band. The first show, tonight at Cross Ranch State Park, will be headlined by The Special Consensus. The Chicago band has ventured north to the sleepy little park on the Missouri River each of the last 10 years.

"It's gotten to be like old home week up there every summer," the band's founder, Greg Cahill, said. "The people in North Dakota are so friendly, and they love the music. It's great up there at the Cross Ranch. You can see the stars, and with this kind of music, that's the absolute best setting. We have indoor concerts all around the country throughout the year, but playing outside is the real deal for our American-born form of music."

Wiese said The Special Consensus has a special place in its heart for this part of the world.

"It's way out of the way, but they come through every year to help us because we're bluegrass-deprived," Wiese said. "They have a great time. We talked to Greg about bringing the show down to Bismarck, but he wanted to do it at Cross Ranch. That's a very special place for them."

Wiese said The Special Consensus has a following in North Dakota, and that people from across the state will head to Cross Ranch tonight for the show. It begins at 7 p.m. at the park, which is south of Washburn on the west side of the river. Tickets are $12, and will be available at the gate. The park also charges admission, which is $5 per vehicle.

Cotton Wood is opening for Cahill and his crew.

Wiese's band also will play at the Rock the Lot concert Aug. 4 in Mandan at Dykshoorn Park. That show will be a fundraiser for the Medcenter One Foundation, and will showcase some of the hospital's in-house talent. Each of the four bands appearing at Rock the Lot has a member who works at the hospital. Wiese is a nurse there.

Rock the Lot is partly a celebration of Medcenter's 100th anniversary, but mostly it was created to raise money for the hospital's Give to Life programs. The programs include prescription assistance for low-income patients, funding for the Dakota Children's Advocacy Program and maintenance of the Garden of Peace for miscarried babies.

"All four bands came together and were just tickled to do it,"Wiese said. "It gives us musicians a chance to play, and we get to help the place where we work. I hope it really turns out positive so this can be an annual event."

Though Cotton Wood will be playing, Rock the Lot isn't a bluegrass concert. It also features swing band Joe Friday (with Buzz Benson, a registered nurse anesthetist) and rock bands Buffalo Alice (Sean Everett, surgical assistant) and Fire and Shame (Joel Frank, perfusionist).

"We have four different bands, and four completely different styles of music," said Carrol (Meyers) Dobler, executive director of the foundation. "We were just going to advertise this in-house, but the bands wanted to play to as many people as possible. The foundation is all about raising money for programs that wouldn't happen without donor support. About six weeks ago, everything fell into place for this concert, so we'll see how it goes."

If it goes well, Dobler said Rock the Lot could become an annual event.

The inaugural version will run from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Food and beverages will be available, and concert-goers should bring their own blankets and chairs. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the gate. They can be purchased ahead of time at the foundation office at the hospital, or by calling 323-8450.