The popular Bluegrass Series is returning to the West Side Theater with the opening performance featuring Red Dog Ash and headliners Front Country Saturday night.

The six-member progressive bluegrass Front Country formed in 2011 with the members routinely performing in San Francisco’s Mission District. In 2012 the band won the Rockygrass band competition in Colorado, following it up in 2013 by being named the best band at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

Lead singer Melody Walker won the Chris Austin Songwriting competition at Merlefest and mandolinist Adam Roszkiewicz was nominated for a Grammy for his work with the Modern Mandolin Quartet on their album "Americana.”

In 2014 Front Country released their debut album, “Sake of the Sound.”

Central Valley artists and fan favorites Red Dog Ash will be returning to the Bluegrass Series as both performers and hosts.

The band, which gets its name from the byproduct of uncontrolled coal fires, is made up of banjo player Dixon Smith; Gary Vessel on mandolin; bass player Elijah Arrigotti; and Jason Winfree on lead guitar.

The group writes the majority of their own songs and even replicates the bluegrass tradition of choreographing their playing around a single microphone.

Last year’s Bluegrass Series drew in a steady stream of fans with a show scheduled once a month through May. The West Side Theater is hoping to build on the success of the first year and has a shows scheduled through May.