ASTORIA — The Brownsmead Flats will kick off the first Sunday of Stout Month at the Fort George Brewery. The unofficial ambassadors of Fort George folk, the Brownsmead Flats will bring their blend of old-time folk and bluegrass music to the upstairs stage. Come out to raise a glass of dark beer or the beverage of your choice at 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1.

The Brownsmead Flats play acoustic music that may best be described as crabgrass. This folk/bluegrass style has a strong emphasis on vocal harmonies. A variety of instruments are played by the quintet. Dan Sutherland is featured on the hammered dulcimer, mandolin and fiddle. Ray Raihala picks banjo, guitar and mandolin. Robert Stevens plays the guitar and banjo. John Fenton is on bass and mandolin, and Ned Heavenrich plays harmonica.

The group has four recordings to their credit. “Potluck” was produced in 1996, followed by “Rain” in 1999. In March 2006, the Brownsmead Flats released two recordings. The first, “Astoria,” was a year in the making and features numerous compositions that explore Astoria’s history and topics related to the Columbia-Pacific region. The second CD, “Live at the Liberty,” was recorded at the Liberty Theater as part of the bicentennial celebration of Lewis and Clark’s journey to the Pacific.