Forget about cotton candy, the MegaDrop ride and beef sticks at Spring Fling this weekend - the mandolin is coming to town.

The David Grisman Quintet, comprised of bassist Jim Kerwin, flautist Matt Eakle, Joe Craven on percussion and violin, guitarist Enrique Coria and David Grisman on mandolin, plays two consecutive shows Saturday night. The concerts are part of the Rhythm and Roots concert series.

All those classical instruments and no vocals might sound suspiciously like a cousin of elevator music, and upon hearing a track from the new Quintet album Dawgwood, a first-time listener might find that it sounds like the beginning to "The Cosby Show," only a little faster.

To a certain extent, the observation is valid. Part of Grisman's sound does derive from jazz, like the introduction to the TV show. But jazz is only one spice in the simmering pot of what Grisman coins "dawg" music - a blend of fast jazz, swing, Latin and gypsy, all grounded in a bluegrass base.

And, given another listen, the album definitely takes on an "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" feel.

The result of all this genre-fusing is an upbeat melange of instrumental energy that is simultaneously sensuous, hillbilly, sophisticated and just plain fun.

"Dawg" is the nickname Jerry Garcia bequeathed on his good friend Grisman several decades ago when the two used to jam together. Grisman frequently played with the Grateful Dead, and was a guest on five albums, including American Beauty. The mandolin introduction on "Friend of the Devil" is courtesy of Grisman's nimble fingers.

"This show is as close as you get to having Jerry Garcia in town," Jonathan Holden, producer of the Rhythm and Roots concert series, said. "He's a member of the inner Dead family."

While Grisman is a living icon from baby boomer hippy culture, he is also the preeminent mandolinist whose musical journey pioneered the path for a new genre of music, "acoustic dawg."

Grisman has worked with musicians as varied as Dolly Parton, Emmy Lou Harris, Bonnie Raitt and Linda Rondstadt. Artists spawned from his unique style include banjo talent Bela Fleck and dobro player Jerry Douglas.

"Essentially, we talk about a lot of artists being part of a chain or lineage which we use to trace the history of music," Holden said. "David Grisman is not so much part of a chain as a hub of a wheel."

Realizing that the mandolin had the potential to be a major solo instrument, as opposed to a sporadic guest on only two or three songs per album, Grisman formed the Great American Music Band with fiddler Richard Greene in the early '70s. He continued to create purely instrumental music and formed The David Grisman Quartet in 1976.

Several factors about Saturday's shows promise to make the concert a top-notch event.

First, the David Grisman Quintet is playing at the Berger Performing Arts Center, a venue with excellent acoustics and intimate in size, with only 500 seats. The auditorium is located at 1200 W. Speedway Blvd.

Secondly, the Quintet does not traditionally plan their concerts from a set list, so each of the consecutive shows promises to be a spontaneous and original musical event.

KXCI community radio station (91.3 FM) played more Grisman music this week in anticipation for the concert.

"We at the station like his music a lot, and play the solo releases and Garcia music," Mary Buckley KXCI DJ, said. "He's done a lot of different things."

The station's bluegrass show Saturday and Sunday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon will feature Grisman's music this weekend.

The shows are Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Tickets range from $28 to $34 in advance, and can be purchased at Antigone Books, Enchanted Earthworks or by phone. Tickets can also be purchased at the door, and students can buy them there for the advanced price with a student ID. Call 297-9133 for more information.