Master improvisers in the acoustic music world will tour together this summer under the JamGrass 2002 banner. The David Grisman Quintet, the Sam Bush Band, Peter Rowan & Tony Rice, the John Cowan Band and the Yonder Mountain String Band have signed on for the two-month trek across the U.S. The first concert, July 18 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md., also will feature The String Cheese Incident.

Nashville-based booking agency Buddy Lee Attractions, Inc., came up with the festival concept, inspired by the great popularity of tours featuring electric jam bands such as Phish, the Dave Matthews Band and Widespread Panic.

Bush and Cowan were members of pioneering progressive bluegrass band New Grass Revival; Grisman and the late Jerry Garcia recorded together as Old and in the Way; Rowan is known for his work with Bill Monroe, Seatrain and as a solo artist; Rice is one of the premier acoustic guitarists in the world; and the members of Yonder Mountain String Band represent the new wave of acoustic music practitioners.

In addition to the core artists, some dates on JamGrass 2002 will feature The String Cheese Incident, Leo Kottke, Hot Tuna's Jorma Kaukonen and the Grateful Dead-inspired Dark Star Orchestra, performing both electric and acoustic sets.

Announced dates: 7/18, Columbia, Md.; 7/20, Shelburne, Vt.; 7/21, Gilford, N.H.; 8/2, Cincinnati; 8/3, Columbus, Ohio; 8/4, Pittsburgh; 8/9, Park City, Utah; 8/10, Alta, Wyo.; 8/11, Denver; 8/16, Indianapolis; 8/17, East Troy, Wisc.; 8/18, Cleveland; 8/22, Phoenix; 8/24, San Rafael, Calif.; 8/25, Saratoga, Calif.; 8/29, Silverton, Ore.; 8/31, Seattle; 9/6, St. Paul, Minn.; 9/7, Kansas City, Mo.; 9/8, St. Louis; 9/10, Nashville, Tenn.; 9/20, Boston; 9/21, Holmdel, N.J.; 9/22, Wantagh, N.Y.