WORLAND – Summer has arrived in the Big Horn Basin, and the just the right band to listen to on a hot summer night will be in the basin this weekend-and they're bringing a Big Horn Basin native with them.

Missoula, Montana's Local Yokel - a sort of Americana, bluegrass band with influences ranging from Paul Simon to classic blue grass - will play three sets this weekend in Worland, Thermopolis and Ten Sleep.

The band sports Worland native Ethan Ryan on guitar and vocals, Dave Wilbert on the bass, Trevor Snodell on guitar and vocals, Nick Chapoy on the mandolin and Kaya Juda-Nelson on the fiddle, banjo and vocals.

Ryan said that he is excited to return to the Big Horn Basin to play a few sets. Ryan is a 2011 graduate of Worland High School.

The band offers original songs rooted in folk, bluegrass and country. In essence, the band's music is a reflection of contemporary America, which is appropriate given many of the songs emit a hot summer night in the country.

The five-piece group which has been playing for about five months has already begun racking up accolades, winning Missoula's Zoo Town music festival earlier this year.

According to the band's Facebook page, Local Yokel is a "high-octane, Rocky Mountain bluegrassfolkrock band."

"In the brief time since their formation, Local Yokel has attracted the attention of Montana music enthusiasts with their unique blend of charismatic bluegrass, late-night rock and Americana. Local Yokel embodies the boot-stompin,' hip shaking and smooth-talkin' nights of Missoula, Mont.," the page reads.

Ryan said the band's ultimate goal in returning to the Basin is to "put some feelers out" and see if playing in Wyoming is a viable option.

The band's raspy vocals purvey a lazy summer night around a bonfire in the middle of nowhere when performing "Dark in Here." Juda-Nelson's fiddle on the same song adds an ominous, dark tone to the piece.

"All I want is you and a bunch of Kale, a bottle of wine...Sittin' on the porch on a July night...," goes "Bunch of Kale," an upbeat, romantic ballad sung by Juda-Nelson that grabs the listener's attention as well.

"Our best shows are when everyone is engaged and dancing," Juda-Nelson said.

Juda-Nelson is also no stranger to the Big Horn Basin. An avid rock climber, Nelson hopes to spend some time on the cliffs of Ten Sleep Canyon, an international rock climbing mecca, this weekend.

"Hopefully we can get up before our show in Ten Sleep," Juda-Nelson said.

Ryan said that the band's shows often make for a memorable time. Fans often break down in dance.

"Our shows are a little rowdy," Ryan said.

The band's music is reminiscent is that of standing around a large bonfire with friends-a bottle of whiskey, perhaps-on a hot summer night under the stars. That's Missoula's Local Yokel in a nutshell.

To get a taste of Local Yokel, visit soundcloud.com/local-1. Or, better yet, wait for the surprise and go see them when they come to the Basin.