Bluegrass artist Casey Driessen doesn't limit himself to just bluegrass.

"I came out of bluegrass, but over time I became curious of other music," said Driessen, who performs with his band The Colorfools at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 7, at Rock Springs Nature Center.

The performance is in conjunction to the Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit "New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music," currently on display at Rock Springs until June 16.

The 28-year-old has interests in jazz, folk, ethnic, Far East and rhythm and blues music, just to name a few.

Part of his influence stemmed from members of his band, the Colorfools, who has experience in all different backgrounds of music.

"We're always trying to turn each other onto something new," Driessen said. "We're excited about music and want to share it."

With an interest in a wide range of music, Driessen learned to create music of his own, while incorporating varying musical flavors - including bluegrass, of course.

"It's about finding my own voice and adding it to the music I like to make," he said.

The Nashville resident began playing the fiddle at the age of 6, encouraged by his father.

He remembers as a young boy playing with his father at bluegrass festivals and attending fiddle camps and playing with other children around the campfire.

"You'd recognize a song and want to take out the fiddle and play with them," he said. "I could stay out as long as possible, as long as I was jamming."

Driessen graduated in 2000 from Berklee College of Music in Boston and decided to venture into music professionally.

After making album appearances on John Mayer and Steve Earle's albums, plus more, it wasn't until 2006 that he released his debut album, "3D."

"It was a long time coming," Driessen said. "It feels good.

"This was the first opportunity to try ideas from different experiences I've had."

His album is also where he demonstrates his signature "chop" style on the fiddle, which he describes as a staccato sound, creating a percussive, rhythmic element to his playing. The sound emulates the need of a snare drum that keeps rhythm, he said.

After the release of his first album, Driessen has already received his first Grammy nomination, for the song "Jerusalem Ridge" in the Best Country Instrumental category.

Driessen also most recently embarked on the first-ever U.S. sponsored cultural mission to Tibet with the Sparrow Quartet, headed by Abigail Washburn, and also gave several performances along China's eastern seaboard, said a press release.

He will continue to tour promoting his album and is currently working on new material.

With only a three-member band, including himself, Driessen said the audience will be shocked of the sound only three musicians can produce.

"They'll wonder where the sound is coming from," he said. "The allure is playing music for people."

WHAT: Casey Driessen

WHEN: 7 p.m., Thursday

WHERE: Rock Springs Nature Center, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur

The concert is free and open to the public.

Alicia Spates can be reached at aspates@herald-review.com or 421-6986.