Band origin stories usually involve friends of friends, conversations at bars, or the reconstitution of expired acts. Never once has a musician appeared on VH1's "Behind the Music" and said he found his band mates with a want ad. But it worked for Scott Nelson.

"I put up one of those hang tags, actually, at a music store," Nelson said.

The bassist got a call from Casey and Chris Keiner, fraternal fret workers who formed the core of Stringtown Pickers. Several lineup changes later, Nelson and the Keiner brothers were joined by Dave Frye on banjo, and guitarist Dave Bigley.

Almost eight years into the band's life, Stringtown Pickers are enjoying a cyclical surge in the popularity of bluegrass, as well as increased interest in the band itself.

The soundtrack to "Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou?" brought a lot of new fans to bluegrass, but the movie had a lot of help from the so-called jamgrass scene that grew out of The Grateful Dead and Phish's bluegrass-influenced material. Nelson believes that the authenticity of bluegrass -- a mostly acoustic style of American folk music that primarily relies on guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass and vocal harmonies -- appeals to a new generation.

"It's very organic. There's nothing to hide behind," he said.

Those new fans pack rooms like Bloomington's Bluebird nightclub for veteran pickers like the Del McCoury Band, and are more receptive to jamgrass or "newgrass" than most older bluegrass fans.

Stringtown Pickers is a little bit bluegrass and a little bit rock 'n' roll, as capable of pulling off 20-minute jams as it is 3 minutes of straight, traditional bluegrass material. The band was received warmly when it recently opened for McCoury at the Bluebird.

"We got cheers in between every song and people asking for an encore when we finished," Nelson said.

Where to see them:

• Indiana Microbrewers Festival, 3 to 7 p.m., July 19, Opti Park, 820 E. 66th St. $30 in advance, $35 at the gate. Info: (317) 856-6092, www.brewersofindianaguild.com/fe...

• Rock the District, 11 a.m. to 10.p.m. July 19, Carmel Arts & Design District, Range Line Road and Main St, free. Info: www.indy.com.

• If you want to check out a casual picking circle, stop by Barley Island, 639 Conner St., Noblesville, every Sunday at 6.p.m.