Bluegrass is the type of music that either makes you clap your hands and dance or plunges you into melancholy — there is no in-between. Characterized by its distinctively acoustic sound, bluegrass rarely uses any electric instruments and draws on traditional Irish, Scottish and English music. It was made popular in the Appalachian region of the United States and continues to thrive, especially here in the Pacific Northwest.

Willie Hill, president of the Washington Bluegrass Association, said the most commonly included instruments are banjo, bass, guitar, fiddle, mandolin and dobro, though some bands include harmonicas or washboards. Though Seattle has a strong bluegrass community, Hill points out that it is not an ideal climate. “The better the weather, the more bluegrass and festivals,” he said. “Cold and rain don’t work well with acoustic instruments.”

“Seattle has one of the most vibrant bluegrass scenes anywhere, and probably the best bluegrass scene on the West Coast,” said Don Share of the Downtown Mountain Boys, a local bluegrass band. “Seattle is generally a great music city, but there are a large number of great bluegrass players here.”

Share points out that bluegrass features virtuoso soloing and a lot of improvisation. He was attracted to the genre by “the rhythmic groove of the music,” he said. “[It] is really special — in bluegrass, all the instruments play a role in establishing the groove, and I find bluegrass rhythm to be powerful and compelling.”

Though not always a part of bluegrass song, the harmony vocals feature “tight three-part harmonies that are known for their precision and power,” Share said.

Bluegrass has become more mainstream, thanks in large part to the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? and the introduction of pop-bluegrass hybrid bands like Nickel Creek.

Bluegrass, like jazz, has a large improvisational aspect, and many jam sessions are held in this city, from coffee shops to private homes. These jams can be found online or stumbled across while you are out for coffee.

Wintergrass, a four-day bluegrass and acoustic music festival, is held in Tacoma the last full weekend in February. It draws more than 4,000 people a day, and those on stage aren’t the only ones allowed to play. Musicians, pros and amateurs alike, gather from 28 states and five countries to play and enjoy bluegrass.

“While bluegrass is a strong component of the lineup, we also always feature other forms of acoustic music including forays into jazz, Celtic, old-time, swing and related forms of music,” said Patrice O’Neill, co-director of Acoustic Sound, the organization that puts on Wintergrass. “The main elements are fun and virtuosity.”

“Ballroom is the place to be on Friday and Saturday night,” O’Neill said. “Both nights it is the scene for a dance that will feature up to five different bands, and it is nothing but fun all night long.”

Those with intermediate to advanced skills can participate in the Wintergrass Academy and other workshops held throughout the festival. If formal playing isn’t your style, “Everyone, anyone can jam pretty much anywhere, anytime,” O’Neill said. “Wintergrass is a great place to wander around and just find something.”