Blues Under the Blue Roof kicks of Monday evening

The Newton Public Library began its Blues Under the Blue Roof series Monday with the first show featuring Heath Alan. The month-long series showcases the music from blues singers and shares history behind the blues music itself and is each Monday in February.

Alan, who is originally from Nashua, is no stranger to blues music. His mother is also a blues signer and most of his family has a deep history involving music.

“It is just kind of part of what I do,” Alan said.

While Alan is a musician and performs shows much like he did at the library Monday evening, he is also a teacher in Des Moines. When he gets the chance, he travels throughout the country to perform.

“In the summer I travel and play music ... I’ve got a couple of things booked,” Alan said.

As a blues musician, Alan likes the immediacy and the honesty that is behind the music.

“With blues it’s just that connection that one note that says something without a word that makes you go ‘oh yeah, I felt that’,” Alan said. “I love that about music it just really speaks to the heart of the human condition.”

The event itself is sponsored by the Newton Public Library Association, South Skunk Blues Society and the Jasper County Arts Connection. It has been a part of the library programing for more than 10 years public services Librarian Rebecca Klein said.

“We are getting to the point where it has got a long history here now,” Klein said.

The concert series this year will look a little bit different than previous years. For this run, not only will performers play blues music but they will also explain the history of their specific blues, as well.

“I think this is something that will kind of freshen it up a little bit this year and maybe add a bit of context for people who enjoy the music but don’t really know that much about it,” Klein said.

President of the South Skunk Blues Society Mike Pender added, “This year I wanted to focus more on the educational portion of it.”

The concert series will run from 6 to 7 p.m. every Monday in February. The shows will be suitable for all ages and will be free.

“They are going to have different styles of blues music at each performance so if you already know you are not into Chicago blues but you would enjoy delta blues you can come to the next one,” Klein said.

The full list of performers includes Heath Alan, Lewis Major, Bob Pace and Kathryn Fox and Rob Lumbard.

“It is always a lot of fun. It is fun for all ages we expect a turnout of people from children to senior citizens which is exciting for us to have a program that reaches such a broad audience,” Klein said.

Pender added, “It’s just more of a one on one atmosphere. You feel like you are sitting in your living room.”

Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com