What an awesome premise: musicians play for free and the public attends for free. That's exactly what happens at the Alaska Folk Festival in Juneau.

Scheduled this year for April 5 - 11, more than 150 performances by artists from all over Alaska and outside will be held at Centennial Hall.

Bluegrass, folk, instrumental, singers, storytellers, fusion, gospel, Appalachian swing -- the festival showcases an incredible array of styles and talent in evening and afternoon performances.

And for those who like to shake their tail feathers, three nights of dancing will be filled with Latin, blues, funk and polkas. Dance and music workshops round out the free event.

This year's guest artist is Guy Davis, a musician, composer, actor, director, writer, and most importantly, a bluesman, with the blues permeating every corner of his creativity. Davis has dedicated himself to revising the traditions of acoustic blues, and the Alaska Folk Festival audiences will get to experience this master first-hand.

The festival will also have an honorary Alaskan guest artist this year. 82-year-old Doc South, from Wasilla, AK, will entertain audiences playing the fiddle. Widely regarded as the "Father of Old Time and Bluegrass Music" in Alaska, Doc has been instrumental and inspirational in the folk music scene in Alaska since the 1960's.

The featured dance band is The Tallboys, of Seattle fame. A four piece old-time string band well-versed in traditional fiddle tunes and mountain songs, the band exhibits a gritty enthusiasm conjured from their years of street performing. Audiences can look forward to exciting stage performances and hard-driving dance tunes.

For more information, visit www.akfolkfest.org.