This year, organizers of Helena’s Buck Creek Festival aim to have enough musical acts to satisfy any taste.

“We’re looking for all kinds, so there’s something that somebody likes to hear, whether it’s country, rock or bluegrass,” said organizer Cris Nelson. “We’re looking for all genres. If you don’t like country, we’ll have something down there sometime during the day for your fancy.”

This year’s festival will be May 8-9, and Nelson said organizers are looking for two bands to play Friday night and seven bands to play during the day Saturday.

Bands can contact organizers themselves, or others can recommend bands to the festival committee. Information, including a band’s Web site or upcoming play dates, should be e-mailed to band chairperson Bill Ginas at bgccc@msn.com.

Nelson said interest has already been high for musical acts. While bands are paid to play at the festival, Nelson said organizers ask musical acts to keep in mind that the festival is a charity event.

“Some of these bands make really good money on a Friday or Saturday night, but they usually discount their prices for us,” she said.

Festival workers rent a plug-and-play stage, which decreases the amount of equipment that bands have to bring with them, which in turn decreases costs for the bands themselves.

Nelson said bands would be announced at the beginning of April.

Also, the Buck Creek Festival cover art has been selected. Helena resident Laura Joseph’s design was selected, and will be displayed on the Buck Creek Web site within the next few days, Nelson said.

Festival workers are searching for sponsors to help shore up the festival’s financial backing. Finding sponsors is harder than it’s been in recent years because of the economy.

“Without sponsors, we don’t happen, so we’re working on finding those to participate,” Nelson said. “The economy is really affecting that.”

Despite the economy, the festival is on track to help raise more money for charity, adding to the $102,000 total raised over the past seven years.

“We’re real proud of the money we’ve raised, so we hope we can continue that this year,” Nelson said.