It’s been 30 years of “just one more year.” At least that’s how banjo player Greg Cahill explains his bluegrass band’s longevity. And its success.

Cahill was in his late 20s when he and his bandmates decided to take Special Consensus on the road — to go beyond jam sessions in Chicago’s Hyde Park, gigs at local clubs and performances at friends’ parties.

“There wasn’t a 30-year vision by any means,” said Cahill, who is bringing the latest incarnation of his band to headline Saturday’s fourth PlainSong Folk Festival.

“I decided to give it a year or two just to get it out of my system,” he added. “I’ve been doing it for one more year ever since.”

He then laughed, recalling how his father, a certified public accountant who filed his income taxes, would ask him every year how he could live like this.

“It’s gotten better,” Cahill said.

Has it ever.

Friday, Special Consensus is arguably one of the top bluegrass bands in the country.

It made its first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville two years ago and tours regularly in and out of the country, playing about 180 dates a year — down from the 240 it used to perform to make ends meet.

“We’ve kind of built up a reputation,” Cahill humbly admitted. “We’ve done well in the world of bluegrass.”

The band celebrated its 30th years with its release, “Everything’s Alright,” which came out in March.

Like past albums, the disc features a mix of swing, gospel and traditional bluegrass music. What’s different is that eight of the 12 cuts are originals.

“We’re pretty happy about that,” Cahill said. “We’ve really received some good airplay, especially on satellite radio.”

Festivalgoers most likely will hear several of those songs during the band’s performance, which begins at 7 p.m. in Olive Creek Orchard near Hickman.

This year’s festival again will feature a variety of music, dance, poetry, storytelling, children’s activities, food and workshops. Gates open at 11 a.m. with entertainment beginning 45 minutes later.

The festival’s Web site — www.plainsongfestival.com — has a complete rundown of what’s available and when.

PlainSong artistic director Terri Jo Dodson said the band’s anniversary was part of the reason for scheduling Special Consensus this year. She also said festivalgoers requested bluegrass music, which was missing from last year’s entertainment lineup.

“It all just kind of clicked,” she said.

Dodson agreed that the festival definitely needed a bluegrass element to it.

“It’s the kind of music that just makes you feel happy,” she said.

That, more or less, is how Cahill felt when he happened upon the genre as a young man.

He was into folk music as were most musicians in the late ’60s and early ’70s. He even played guitar in a folk trio.

But then a friend introduced him to a Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs recording.

“My mouth was dragging on the ground for two weeks,” he said.

He took some lessons and attended festivals. He became more exposed to the music while in the army while stationed in Georgia.

“I loved the acoustic sound (of bluegrass), the timbre of the acoustic instruments,” he said. “Add the voices and harmonies, and it was so powerful. Fast, slow, sad, glad … it was all awesome.”

After leaving the service, he dabbled some more in bluegrass while he attended graduate school at the University of Illinois.

He became proficient at the five-string banjo by duplicating what he heard on recordings by Scruggs. He broke down songs by slowing his 33 LPs to 16.

“That’s how I learned to play,” he said. “Later, I would play at clubs at night and made enough money to make it enticing. That was the beginning of the one year thing.”

Cahill, 58, is the one constant to Special Consensus.

The group’s personnel has changed often over the years. Turnover usually is a result of talented players getting big money offers, starting their own bands or wanting to spend more time with families.

“It’s the nature of the beast,” Cahill said. “Most people stick around for three or four years. We always part as friends.”

Cahill currently is surrounded by Ron Spears (mandolin, fiddle), whose resume includes a stint with internationally acclaimed Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, Justin Carbone (guitar) and Tres Nugent (bass).

Carbone, 24, and Nugent, 20, were born after Special Consensus was formed.

“That’s what kills me,” Cahill said, laughing.

Although they are young, neither one is inexperienced. Carbone attended bluegrass festivals as a kid, and Nugent grew up playing music in Louisiana, where his grandfather had a band.

Cahill’s story is similar. His father sang in the church choir and his mother played honky-tonk piano. Cahill took up the accordion when he was 6, and he’s never really stopped playing music since then.

He plans to keep at it — at least for another year.

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.

If you go

What: PlainSong Folk Festival

Where: Olive Creek Orchard

When: 11 a.m. Saturday

Tickets: $25; at the door or in advance at Wilderness Perk, Meadowlark Coffee, Crescent Moon Coffee, The Blend, Dietze Music (both locations), Acoustic Music Plus

Directions: Orchard is 2.8 miles south of Hickman. Take U.S. 77 to Hickman Road, then east 4 miles to Hickman, turn south on 68th Street to Olive Creek Road. The Orchard is just east of 68th Street.

Entertainment schedule

11 a.m. — Tractor Bob, farm poet from Unadilla

12:15 p.m. — Doris Winkler & Friends, contemporary folk musicians from Grand Island

1 p.m. — Capital City Cloggers, folk dancing

2 p.m. — Didgeridoo & Dulcimer Too!, traditional folk artists Phyllis and Bob Dunne of Omaha

3 p.m. — Marge Saiser & Friends, poetry readings

4 p.m. — Dorian Michael, California finger-style guitarist

5 p.m. — Five Mile Chase, Celtic duo from Minneapolis

7 p.m. — Special Consensus

Note: Only 350 seats available for Special Consensus