With more than 60 performances in nine days, the San Francisco Bluegrass and Old-Time Festival is the best chance this spring to experience the musical roots of the South at more than 12 different venues in the city.

This year marks the event's 10th anniversary, featuring many special events including a square dance with the Foghorn String Band at the Swedish American Music Hall.

The festival runs from Feb. 6 through Feb. 14, with performances in almost every district of the city. Each show offers an intimate listen to a variety of bluegrass, old-time, and "newgrass" bands. Those who attend can hear the pickings of mandolins, fiddles and resonator guitars mixed with high and lonesome female vocals. For those familiar with the sub-genre, performers at the festival include: Gallus Brothers, Mighty Crows, The Shut-Ins, Water Tower String Band and Devine's Jugband.

Tom Lucas, chairperson and treasurer for the festival, has been helping out since the Bluegrass festival started ten years ago.

"The idea for the event came from Michael Hall, president of the Northern California Bluegrass Society," said Lucas.

Hall thought of the idea to have a festival that ran over a week and that held performances in a variety of venues. "I never thought it would work," said Lucas. "I thought he was crazy."

Lucas' old-time band, The Crooked Jades, opened at the festival's first show. He says the band has had its differences since then, but will reunite for one special performance on Feb. 7 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the festival they helped to create.

Elizabeth Smith, the festival's marketing director, said the word-of-mouth seems to be the best marketing tactic each year.

"It's more overpowering than posting banners or updating the website," Smith said.

Lucas believes that the Bluegrass and Old-Time Festival has been so popular because it maintains an unfiltered style of music.

"The Strawberry Festival and the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival started out with traditional bands, but then became more Rock'n'Roll," Lucas said. "I try to draw the line with some bands because there shouldn't be any electric instruments."

As part of festival tradition, there will be workshops hosted by featured performers to teach lessons on how to play different instruments like the banjo, the fiddle and the mandolin.

"Workshops are for all ages and most are for beginning-level players," Smith said.

Smith said those who want to attend the workshops can register up until the last day or just drop in, since most workshops will not fill up.

Danielle Packer, a 22-year-old senior at SF State, said he is going to the festival for the first time this year .

"I heard about it from a man at the bus stop and a lot of shows are playing right near my neighborhood," said Packer, who lives in Nob Hill.

Lucas said this year he incorporated nights with free admission since some cannot afford the ticket prices. The final show of the festival is free and plays on Valentine's Day evening at Café International.

"That will be our big blowout party," Lucas said.

According to the festival schedule, there will also be performances in Oakland, Alameda and Berkeley for those who live in the East Bay.

For more information on show times and venue locations, or to buy tickets, go to http://www.sfbluegrass.org.