Saturday afternoon in Niles, musician Audie Blaylock, of Fort Wayne, Indiana will be where he has always felt at home: center stage with his custom made guitar in his hand.

For the Niles Bluegrass Festival, Blaylock and his band Audie Blaylock and Redline will perform at 3:50 p.m. Saturday in Riverfront Park and on Sunday at multiple times. The band has participated in the four-day festival for the past six to seven years.

This year, the festival started Thursday and will last through Sunday. Those interested in attending, can visit the festival for free at Riverfront Park.

Because the band is usually busy touring, residents in Indiana and Michigan might not always have the chance to see them perform locally, but the festival will give them the chance.

“[Our band] kind of seems to be a festival favorite,” Blaylock said. “There are a lot of folks that do not have the chance to see us.”

Blaylock formed the four-person acoustic band in 2004, which includes Evan Ward on banjo, Lee Jones on bass and Mason Right on fiddle.

“We pretty much have our own sound,” Blaylock said.

Drawing upon his influences from the Almond Brothers and classical rock bands, Blaylock’s take on bluegrass is one that speaks to his musical taste and experience.

“If you listened to multiple genres of music it makes what you do better,” Blaylock said. “You have a larger musical vocabulary.”

While no one can call their sound rock ‘n roll, the band has paid tribute to this musical genre in its most recent album “The Road that Winds,” which includes an Elton John cover of “Daniel.”

Blaylock grew up in Lansing, Michigan. His family’s passion for music helped to inspire him to pick up the guitar at the age of 7.  On Saturday nights, Blaylock and his family would jam together.

“On Saturday night you would go over to this aunt or uncles house and play music till you drop,” Blaylock said in a phone interview Thursday.

In high school, Blaylock played with a rock ‘n roll band and a local bluegrass band.

At the age of 19, the musician had the rare opportunity to join bluegrass legend Jimmy Martin’s band. 

“I had heard this person on record my whole life and to actually get to re-create some of that music was really exciting,” Blaylock said. “He was legendary.”

For nine years, Blaylock would tour the country with the band.

Among many accolades, the band was nominated for a Grammy, after the creation  of their album “Tribute to Jimmy Martin: King of Bluegrass,” in 2006.

As the band returns to local roots this weekend, Blaylock invited those with a love of music to come and see the performance.

“Well if you enjoy bluegrass music or music in general and you enjoy watching live music, it is a good time,” Blaylock said.

The Brandywine Creek String Band will also perform at 2 p.m. Saturday. The band of Brandywine Elementary School students is led by principal Jim Boger. Last year, the band made its debut at the Niles Bluegrass Festival.

Boger said the students have prepared a selection of songs for the audience to enjoy, including a few Beatles covers and some Americana style songs.

Here is a look at the festival schedule through Sunday:

Saturday, June 3

• All day, Maple Lane Wildlife Farm will feature a petting zoo, pony and camel rides

8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Moose Club — Lodge 978, at the food court. The pancake breakfast is a fundraiser for youth and Mooseheart.

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Niles Police Department finger printing

• 10:45 a.m., Music Village/School and Community Musical Arts Center interactive children’s music

• 11 a.m. to noon, Ronald McDonald meet and greet

• Noon Brandywine String Creek band performs

• 1 p.m., The Redbud

• 2:50 p.m., The Moonshine Crooners

•3:50 p.m., Audlie Blaylock and Redline

• 4:50 p.m., Moonshine Crooners

• 5:40 p.m., Deadwood

• 6:30 p.m., Audie Blaylock and Redline

• 7:30 p.m. Stealin’ the Farm

• 9:10 p.m. Whistle Stop Revue will play a Grateful Dead tribute concert

Sunday, June 4

• All day, Maple Lane Wildlife Farm will feature a petting zoo, pony  and camel rides

• 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Moose Club – Lodge 978, at the food court. The pancake breakfast is a fundraiser for youth and Mooseheart.

• Noon, Jack Adams

• 12:30 p.m., Savannah Whitaker

•1 p.m., Whistle Stop

• 2 p.m., Calabogie

• 2:50 p.m., Audie Blaylock and Redline

• 3:50 p.m. Whistle Stop

• 4:40 p.m. Calabogie

• 5:30 p.m. Audie Blaylock and Redline

Discounted ride wristband coupons are available free at:

• Customer Service Counter at all Martin’s Supermarket Stores.

• Niles Save-A-Lot Food Store.

• Online at michianafestivals.com

Those who wish to use a coupon must have a physical copy of that coupon, when at the Festival, to get a discount.