Mark Janiga, one third of the local acoustic ensemble String Fever, says he, as well as his audiences, would be lost onstage without his fellow bandmates.

"These guys are just the most fun to perform with, and it's not just the one person in the group that makes the group work," he said. "I really believe that if one piece of the puzzle were missing, it would not be the same."

Scheduled to perform a pair of shows with guest appearances by the Mayer School of Irish Dance Sunday at the Towle Community Theater in Hammond, Janiga, of St. John, was encouraged to begin playing the hammered dulcimer in 2000 by Schererville's Paul Horgash.

Coworkers at a digital printing company in Merrillville by day, Janiga first saw Horgash playing the hammered dulcimer in the local band New Element.

Horgash took Janiga under his wing and, in 2002, the duo made their debut at an open mic night at Seekers, the now defunct coffeehouse in Dyer. To round out the ensemble, Horgash brought Schererville guitarist John Roth on board.

"Paul's very musically talented, as is John, and they've both been playing their instruments for well over 20 years," Janiga said. "Paul has been a great teacher and a great inspiration."

Over the course of the last half decade plus, they have performed at coffeehouses such as Hammond's Blue Room Cafe and Spago in Dyer and summer festivals such as Whiting's Pierogi Fest, as well as benefits for organizations such as Meals on Wheels.

While the trio started out playing primarily traditional Irish music, they have incorporated everything from polka to Caribbean music into their mix. In 2005, they recorded and released their self-titled debut, an eight song effort that Janiga said showcases the band's influences.

"It was a very fun and exciting experience, and there was a little bit of pressure there," Janiga said of the band's first studio foray. "You have to be on and you have to give your very best without making any mistakes ...but it was a fun kind of nervous to have."

Janiga also said the group plans to record what will be its second collection of songs this summer.

On Sunday, String Fever will be joined on stage by performers from the Mayer School of Irish Dance. The School has branches in Chesterton as well as in west suburban Villa Park and West Dundee as well as in St. Louis and Dubuque, Iowa.

"It's an excellent fit," Janiga said of his Towle stagemates. "To see them come from the sides of the stage and come out and perform is such a thrill. They're an excellent complement to the music."