By Sara Baldwin
The Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library will host blues musician Brian Keith Wallen for a two-hour concert on from 6-8 p.m., July 27. Wallen, a blues-influenced acoustic guitarist, is known for his unique combination of storytelling and blues.
“I play guitar and sing. I also have a homemade percussion instrument called a stomp board,” Wallen said. “I’ll be playing a mix of original music and traditional blues, including songs recorded in Indiana in the 1920s and 30s.”
Born and raised in Indiana, Wallen tours on the road, but says that he always enjoys getting to come back to Indiana to play gigs. He has released multiple albums, travels the country playing numerous festivals and events, and won second place in the 2015 International Blues Challenge, ranking in the top two out of hundreds of artists from around the world. He was also named “Artist of the Year” by the Starr-Gennett Foundation.
“He came highly recommended by another library,” said Orton Ortwein, the Adult Programming Coordinator at Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library. “I trust my fellow librarians on matters such as this. We’ve had great turnout at previous library concerts and we are expecting good things.”
In terms of the “storytelling” aspect of his performance, Wallen will be giving some historical information about the songs he plays.
“I love the history of music. It’s something I’ve always been passionate about,” Wallen said. “I try to gather as much information as possible about the songs I’m playing, and then try to present it in a way that’s entertaining and informational.”
Registration for this event is required. The concert will take place on the northwest lawn of the library, near the 6th street entrance. Attendees will need to bring their own blankets or lawn chairs for seating. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be moved inside to the nonfiction area of the library.
To register for the event, visit tinyurl.com/yb3wlcnp.
