I know writing about bluegrass is technically someone else's Hooligan beat, but I could argue bluegrass' world properties-that it does originate from somewhere in the world and the instruments do have world roots.

For example, the banjo is said to be derived from an African instrument called a "banjar," which evolved in the slave quarters of the American South into its modern form.

The mandolin and fiddle originated in Italy and the guitar from Spain. The roots of bluegrass singing are derived from northern European folk and sacred music traditions.

So, Bearfoot (who has changed their name from "Bearfoot Bluegrass") came to town and did a kids' camp followed by a concert at Centennial Hall. The show brought Juneau to its feet and sent chills down our spines.

Bearfoot shows have always been good, but my, oh my, their music has gotten real good. I was glad to hear this homespun Alaska group is getting lots of national and international attention. The world should hear more of them.

Bluegrass 101 performed Saturday night at the Island Pub in Douglas. Scott Burton and Brooke Munro, who live here in Juneau, played guitar and bass, respectively. They were joined by Anchorage virtuoso mandolin player Joe Page and Bearfoot's Jason Norris on fiddle. It was a great night with dancing and lots of local camaraderie.

At the after-hours parties, the music continued into the morning hours, folk-festival style. C. Scott Fry opened his living room for impromptu jams. Doc Water's opened its back room 'til 3 a.m. on Friday. Scott and Brooke moved the party to their home after the Island Pub gig, and the musicdidn't stop until 5 a.m.

As a singer, I have to comment on bluegrass singing. There isn't anything like it. To wail out a tone and have it blend so vibrantly and poignantly with another is magic. To hear three crystal voices come together into one blended voice is beyond words.

There's no doubt that I wanted to join in at the jams and sing, too. But I noticed something curious when I did. After working up the nerve to sing along, I detected a clear vibratory response that said, "No, don't do that." (Scott called it "The Look.")

I asked Joe Page, who's been playing bluegrass for over 30 years, what was the deal. He told me there are standardized arrangements in bluegrass singing and you just don't join in unless you know them.

"There's three parts and you don't overlap or try to put another part in," he said. "If those parts are covered, you don't sing on that one. There is a culture in the singing, a spirituality in the singing part that's a lot more structured than the instrumental part."

After all these years of trying to sing at bluegrass jams, I finally learned the lesson. Sit back, listen and enjoy the music. But don't join in until you've studied it and know the parts well. When you have, the music is magic.