BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) – We’re not sure if it’s legal to have this many banjos in one place at the same time, but the folks behind the bluegrass festival known as the Great 48 Jam are risking it this weekend. It's a music festival, a convention, a master’s program...even a reunion. The Great 48 Jam is all of those things, and to top it off, it might be the best entertainment value in Bakersfield this weekend, free of charge. It’s all set to some of the sweetest, most accessible sounds on the planet – the joyous, unpretentious music of bluegrass.  Those sounds were emanating from the lobby of the Marriott Hotel in downtown Bakersfield Friday morning but throughout the weekend bluegrass will be streaming from banquet rooms, hallways, foyers and guest rooms long into the night. Players from throughout the West have gathered for the 10th annual Bakersfield bluegrass festival – possibly the largest of its kind in the country. What is bluegrass? Pete Ludé of San Francisco, executive director of the California Bluegrass Association, said the event is a celebration of distinctly homegrown music. “It’s borrowed a lot from jazz, it has a lot of blues influences on it and a lot of gospel,” he said. “All mixed into one. Truly American music.” CSUB students call professor’s no tech policy ‘life changing’ Mandolin player Max Dotts of Vista, in northern San Diego County, came to Bakersfield to play with his band, Muddy Mountain West. But he has a secondary goal: develop his craft. “A lot of the time you gotta travel far and wide to find some mentors,” he said, “and I’m really interested in finding people to learn from.” Bakersfield fiddle player Jordan Belardes sees the Great 48 Jam as an opportunity for his hometown to flex its tourism muscles for the benefit of these special visitors. “I really appreciate being able to represent this town,” he said. “I wish it could go beyond the Marriott here and visit some other places around downtown in addition to the Crystal Palace.” The event will include open mic jams, workshops, showcase concerts, and a Saturday night concert at the Crystal Palace featuring AJ Lee and Blue Summit. It runs straight on through till Sunday morning, and the public is invited. Flannel shirts are optional.