DEADWOOD - Almost everyone you met Saturday at the 19th Annual Deadwood Jam had attended the music festival several years in a row.

Many of them had been there for Friday's entertainment, as well - even though it rained Friday night, and it was still pouring Saturday.

Many of the people in the listening crowd sat in portable chairs, wearing full rain gear, under umbrellas, under plastic tarps, or some combination of it.

The crowd was upbeat. Toes were tapping, and the rain didn't really matter.

Always popular with area fans, Lang Termes opened the event at noon.

Six Mile Road entertained with great bluegrass and ended their set with "Rain, Please Go Away."

Members of Savage Henry waited out the last couple of hours before they were to perform at a nearby restaurant having a warm meal and relaxing. Conversation included guitars and music, but no one seemed daunted by the thought of performing to crowds in the rain.

Although the stage was well covered and protected, it had to feel a little damp.

Headlining on Saturday was Columbia Records recording artist Mat Kearney. Kearney is currently touring to promote his new album "City of Black & White."

And just who were those people under the umbrellas?

Dave Alaniz and his wife, Shelly, from Gillette, Wyo., were attending for a fourth year.

"We always talked about coming over for several years before that," Dave Alaniz said.

Donned in full rain gear from the hood on his jacket to his waterproof pants, he visited as he stood at the bandstand in the rain. He didn't think the rain was a bad thing,

"Usually, it's so hot when you go somewhere. Last year, it poured all night long."

Later, he joined his wife under the shelter of the visitor center. Both were visiting and laughing with other music fans.

Dick and Jackie Pankonin were among the people who had it all: rain gear, umbrella, tarp and chairs. Asked where they live, they will tell you their RV. The couple are retired workers from Sioux Falls.

"We used to spend a lot of time in Oregon, so this doesn't really bother us," Dick said as he sipped a hot coffee.

Nearby, a family of South Dakota and Wyoming residents were enjoying their annual family get-together. They had variations of the same rain gear and umbrellas as everyone else. Ray Kietfors of Whitewood and his sister, Mary Satterfield, of Casper, Wyo., sat together catching up on family news. Other members sat nearby.

Why have they been meeting at the Jam the past 17 years?

"We like good music," Satterfield said.