Kirkland Fine Arts Center on the campus of Millikin University in Decatur, Ill., is gearing up for a Bluegrass Weekend this Friday and Saturday, April 3 and 4.

Chicago-based band Special Consensus, which last week just released a new CD, Signs, on the Pinecastle label, will appear in concert both Friday and Saturday evening. The Gordons, a Southern Illinois duo, will also perform Friday. On Saturday, Special Consensus has the warm-up honors for Asleep at the Wheel, which is known for its Western Swing, not bluegrass.

The concerts, all with paid admission, are part of a scholarly conference at the university, which is known for its high quality music education programs. The conference, focused on music in rural America, will feature a key address by Paul F. Wells, a country music scholar and professor of music at Middle Tennessee State University. Wells is due to speak at noon on Friday.

On Saturday, the conference continues at 2:15 p.m. with a panel discussion that includes Gary Gordon of The Gordons and Greg Cahill, band leader for more than 30 years with Special Consensus.

Meanwhile, the Kirkland Center box office is offering a deal on tickets for folks who want to attend concerts on both evenings. The $12 Friday night tickets are being reduced to $5 for fans purchasing tickets for the Saturday show. Those Saturday tickets range in price from $14 to $24.

Information is available at www.milikin.edu/kirkland or at 217-424-6318.