Already established as a hotbed for traditional acoustic music, thanks to one of the nation’s longest running bluegrass festivals, Linda Thorburn hopes to take interest in the musical form to a new level with introduction of a recurring series of concerts at the Coombs rodeo grounds.

“I’m looking for people who will do bluegrass open mic acts,” said Thorburn, noting the concerts, that begin February 12, will feature established headliners but she hopes to showcase local talent as well. “We’re trying to bring out the closet pickers. We want to get kids out to learn about the music before it becomes a dying art.

“I’ve been very lucky and learned from playing with people who are experts.”

Thorburn, a director for the Coombs Hilliers Recreation Community Organization in charge of booking rodeo ground music acts and a talented banjo player in her own right, said the acts lined up are of the highest calibre.

They include the duo Skagway, from Nanaimo, on Feb. 12, Toronto’s Foggy Hogtown Boys on March 18, Corner Grass April 9 and a country dance featuring the group Roadstar on April 24.

All concerts start at 7 p.m. at the community hall located on the Alberni Highway rodeo grounds, except for the dance with an 8 p.m. start and tickets available at the Coombs general store. The other concerts will have tickets at the door at a price that can’t be beat — just $7.50.

Thorburn said the one exception will be The Foggy Hogtown Boys who, because of their profile, will play without an opening act. That show begins at 7:30 with tickets priced at $20.

Thorburn said the intention is to foster musical appreciation and to bring musicians of any calibre together in an atmosphere that fosters impromptu jam sessions and the sharing of ideas.

“I call them golden moments, when you’re playing together in a circle and the music sounds so beautiful,” she said.

Call 250-752-0383 for inquiries