BUTLER TWP — The 18th annual January Ice Jam this past weekend brought in 27 bluegrass groups and about 2,000 spectators.

The Friday and Saturday event at the Butler Days Inn was created to bring bluegrass fans together during the winter when there are not a lot of music festivals.

Jerry Phillips, one of the organizers, credited the longevity of the event to one simple attribute.

“It's the music,” Phillips said.

During the weekend, bands and attendees booked the entire hotel and had an open-door policy, meaning if a door was open and people were playing music, anyone could stop in.

“We have the whole hotel,” Phillips said.

The event was free, but people could donate money for the Bluegrass Relief Fund.

Phillips said most of the attendees and bands are from the region, but people often come from other parts of the state, Ohio, West Virginia and New York.

Early on Saturday, roads ironically were hampered with ice. Phillips said similar weather problems have happened before. But he said it sometimes has been warm enough for bands to play outdoors.

“You never know in Pennsylvania,” Phillips said.

Kendal Green and Paula Thompson-Green of Slippery Rock have attended the Ice Jam several times.

“The live music is just amazing,” Green said.

He said he used to not be a fan, but he ended up at a festival one time years ago and was hooked.

“I just found it to be really nice,” Green said.

Ray Matson of Butler Township also wouldn't miss the festival.

“I've been here every year since it started,” Matson said.

He has been a lifelong fan of the music and likes many varieties of it.

“I like it all; banjos; dobros,” Matson, who plays harmonica, said.

He said he vastly prefers this style of music to newer types of music, including modern country music.

“All you hear is guitar and drums,” Matson said, noting modern country seems to lack fiddle as well.

Percy Vern of New Castle brought his mandolin along, saying he would be playing in the halls and the various “jam rooms” in the hotel.

He said he enjoys this particular festival, which he said always is “packed” and the people come from all around.

“You all start to know one another,” Vern said.

Judy Green of Houston, Washington County, has attended every year and has played 14 of them. She usually plays guitar and bass, but this year she was just there as a fan.

“Just for the jamming. The jamming is wonderful,” Green said.

She said the event always attracts high caliber musicians, and she likes seeing people she knows. Green said she appreciates the Appalachian sound of bluegrass music.

“It's your roots,” Green said.