Bluegrass takes the stage in Rosemount

Four years ago, the Sawtooth Bluegrass Band got its start playing for free coffee at Rosemount coffee shops. Now the young group has a full schedule and touring tales -- riding roller coasters between sets at Silver Dollar City, backing up Garrison Keillor and racing to gigs through Iowa's tornados.

"It's an awesome summer job," said the group's fiddler, 16-year-old Luke Birtzer.

The band will perform at the Bluegrass Americana music weekend July 23-25 in Rosemount. This is the third year of the event, which coincides with the city's Leprechaun Days festival, but the first of an entire weekend of music, including Friday's square dance and the Sunday gospel sing.

Jesse Moravec of Sawtooth fell in love with bluegrass at 12 when his parents brought him to see Monroe Crossing at the Oak Center General Store. "There was so much energy there," he said. "I could tell that they were all so talented. It just looked like they were having so much fun."

Moravec started learning mandolin from Monroe Crossing's Matt Thompson, who teamed Jesse and his brother Ethan (18, bass) up with his stepkids Luke, Shane (19, banjo) and Clint (17, guitar). They do originals and convert covers -- classic country, gospel, '70s rock -- to bluegrass, a process they refer to as "the cleansing." They follow a long tradition of "classic bluegrass brother harmonies," the band says, and their similar voices blend well. Over the years, they have won various individual and group awards.

"It's unbelievable that they are that young," said Lavonne Swensen of Rosemount after seeing them at a fundraiser in Rosemount.

"I was surprised at how old they weren't," her husband, Bob, said. "That's music to me. When I see a fiddler smile, I know they're having fun. ... They've got a lot of talent up there, an awful lot of talent."

"It's definitely growing for the younger generation," said Luke Birtzer. He likes that "it's a really rich community. Everyone knows each other. Even the stars are approachable."

"Minnesota is one of the healthiest states in the nation for bluegrass, if not the healthiest," said event organizer Craig Evans.

"I put the banjo under the bed for 30 years and forgot about it," said Evans, who also plays with Singleton Street, one of the featured acts. He picked it up again because "the music was so joyful. It's just fun," he said. "Anyone who has an instrument under the bed needs to dig it out because there is a place to play it."

Evans and organizer John Loch hope the festival will grow into a top bluegrass event in Minnesota and the Midwest.

Loch said he expects at least 1,500 people at the bluegrass event alone. He said in the future they hope to have more break-out sessions for "pickers" (musicians) and host performances in Rosemount restaurants for "grinners" (listeners) "so people can fully immerse themselves in the music."