The Allegheny Drifters are just one of many bands already signed up to donate time and talent to the second annual Oil Country Bluegrass Festival planned for Feb. 13 to 15 in Oil City. Proceeds benefit the United Way of Venango County and the Oil City Arts Council.

OIL CITY — The second annual Oil Country Bluegrass Festival is planned for Feb. 13, 14 and 15 at The Arlington Hotel.

Proceeds will benefit United Way of Venango County and the Oil City Arts Council. All bluegrass bands that take part will be donating their time to benefit the sponsoring entities.

Bands that have already signed up to perform include Out've the Blue, The Done Inn String Band, Wind River, The Allegheny String Band, Full Steam Ahead, The Allegheny Drifters, The Clear Creek String Band, and Francine and the Mountain Top Band.

Festival performances will take place every half hour beginning at 6 p.m. Feb. 13; at noon Feb. 14; and at 9 a.m. Feb. 15.

Most performances will take place on the fifth floor of The Arlington Hotel in the Riverview Ballroom. Other performances will take place in other areas of the hotel, including some pick-up band performances in the Drake Rooms, lounge and other first floor areas.

All performances are open and free to the public. The Arts Council and United Way will benefit from money raised from 50/50 drawings, raffles and donations.

This festival is taking place in the year of the 150th anniversary of the drilling of the world's first successfully drilled oil well by Col. Edwin Drake in 1859. The region is in the midst of an OIL150 celebration.

That's why this year's Oil Country Bluegrass Festival will include a songwriting competition for bands. The winning band will receive $300 and the runner-up will receive $100.

Bluegrass bands wishing to participate should call Ron Shoup at 814-676-3465, send him an e-mail to rshoup@csonline.net, or call Bob Flath at 814-797-1504 or send him e-mail to flabas1@hotmail.com.