Bluegrass music will flow freely at the eighth annual January Ice Jam this weekend.

With the theme, "Plow Your Way to the Ice Jam," the three-day festival gathers experienced and novice musicians together to play bluegrass.

Beginning at 7 p.m. today, more than 30 bands will present their craft at the Butler Days Inn, Route 8.

"They're jamming in the conference room, the hallways, the stairways," said organizer Amy George. "Most people when they're in their hotel rooms just prop their doors open."

Thousands of visitors come each year, said George, who's counted 600 in an audience for a single show.

"If you've been there one time, you'll never not come again," she said.

Most bands are local to Pennsylvania, while a couple come in from Ohio and West Virginia, she noted.

A Butler County artist performing for the first time at the Ice Jam this year is Jay Hitt of Butler. His group is scheduled to play at 11 p.m. tonight.

Admission is free, though donations will be accepted to benefit the Bluegrass Relief Fund. A committee of 10 people gets together to decide how to give the money out to people from the bluegrass community who are experiencing hardship, George said.

T-shirts and CDs will also be for sale. Refreshments will be available.

Following is a list of when bands are scheduled to perform. For more information, call 724-816-7534.

7 p.m. - The Flatlanders7:30 p.m. - The Stuart Family8 p.m. - The Vagabonds8:30 p.m. - Theme Time9 p.m. - Bits 'n Pieces9:30 p.m. - Mainline Bluegrass Band10 p.m. - Grover and The Nighthawks10:30 p.m. - The Fronk's11 p.m. - Jay Hitt and Friends11:30 p.m. - Well Strung

1 p.m. - The Done Inn String Band1:30 p.m. - Norm Zack and Friends2 p.m. - Creekside Grass2:30 p.m. - Springtime Bluegrass3 p.m. - The Mandolin Orchestra3:30 p.m. - Flat Iron4 p.m. - Heart to Heart4:30 p.m. - The Rank Strangers5 p.m. - Allegheny Drifters5:30 p.m. - Lonesome Heart6 p.m. - Bluegrass Mix6:30 p.m. - Spazzgrass7 p.m. - Midlife Crisis7:30 p.m. - Mountain Therapy8 p.m. - The Blue Boys8:30 p.m. - Church Street Blues9 p.m. - Blue Shades9:30 p.m. - Hidden Drive10 p.m. - Family Pride10:30 p.m. - Timber Ridge11 p.m. - Nine Mile Run11:30 p.m. - Scott and Cathy Pearson

Following an 11 a.m. Sunday service with a preacher, bands including theMainline Bluegrass Band, Bits 'n Pieces, Spazzgrass and the Stuart Family will play.