The Mon River Ramblers are one of the more than 30 bands prepared to play at the January Ice Jam, a bluegrass music festival slated Jan. 15 and 16 at the Butler Days Inn. Band members are, from left, Paul Dvorchak, fiddle; Luke Stamper, mandolin; Jeff Kuzemka, banjo; Jim Kuzemka, guitar, and Robin Brubaker, bass.

The winter months will play backdrop to a hotbed of bluegrass music as two faithful festivals take place in January and February.

Jam in January

The January Ice Jam will bring people of all ages together to enjoy bluegrass beats on Jan. 15 and 16 at the Days Inn, Route 8 south of Butler.

In its 13th year, the Ice Jam allows listeners along with new musicians and veteran players to join in a common cause: spreading the fever about bluegrass music.

About 2,000 people are expected to attend.

The stage area in Holiday Hall will have seating for 500. Bands play in the main hall, in hallways and in participants' rooms.

As many as 32 bands will donate their time, playing traditional, contemporary and gospel bluegrass music. Many donate professionally recorded CDs of their own bands to raffle off during the festival.

Bands that have indicated participation include Bits 'n Pieces, Blue Shades, Border Ride, Church Street Blues, Full Steam Ahead, Grover and the Nighthawks, Home Cooking, Lonesome Heart, Mid-Life Crisis, Mon River Ramblers, Mountain Therapy, Spazzgrass, Stillhouse Pickers, Timber Ridge, Allegheny Drifters, Done Inn String Band and Well Strung.

Admission is free. Donations are accepted with the proceeds benefiting the Bluegrass Relief Fund. Food will be available.

The Ice Jam originated as a way of bringing "bluegrassers" together during the winter since festivals are typically held outdoors in summer.

The Ice Jam officially begins when the first band takes the stage at 7 p.m. Jan. 15 and at 1 p.m. Jan. 16. Bands play for 30 minute sets until midnight both nights.

For more information, visit www.januaryicejam.com.

Later in Oil City

The third annual Oil Country Bluegrass Festival will be held Feb. 19, 20 and 21 at the Arlington Hotel in Oil City.

Admission is free but donations will be accepted and raffles conducted.

Bluegrass bands that take part will be donating their time to benefit the sponsoring entities. Proceeds will benefit the United Way of Venango County and the Oil City Arts Council, both nonprofit organizations.

Bands participating include Pine Valley Boys, Starlite Bluegrass Band, Stillhouse Pickers, Done Inn String Band, Wind River, Crabapple Creek, Road Apple Ridge, Full Steam Ahead and Allegheny Drifters.

Performances will take place every half-hour beginning at 6 p.m. Feb. 19; noon on Feb. 20, and, 9 a.m. Feb. 21.

For details, call 814-676-3465 or 814-797-1504.

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Bluegrass band Full Steam Ahead, above, is signed up to perform during both the January Ice Jam and Oil Country Bluegrass Festival.