Blues under the Blue Roof returns tonight

After being on hiatus while the South Skunk Blues Society went through some difficult times, the Blues under the Blue Roof series returns tonight when soulful blues guitarist Bob Pace kicks off a month full of blues-related programs sponsored by SSBS.

Pace will appear at 6:30 p.m tonight at the Newton Public Library. That show will be followed each Monday in February by a different blues performer playing at the library. Bryce Janey is slated for Feb. 13. Kevin “BF” Burt will appear on Feb. 20 and Rob Lumbard is scheduled for Feb. 27.

Hailing from Marion, Iowa, Janey will showcase his talents as a songwriter and guitarist on of one-of-a-kind electric and acoustic melodies, and Burt returns to the Newton Library with his guitar and harmonica with nearly 20 years of electrifying blues performances.

Rounding out the series is Lumbard who writes of his finger-picking guitar work, “My music is Blues/Folk based but depending where I’m playing, you might find me covering a Jazz standard, Robert Johnson, Lyle Lovett or doing a set of my own tunes.”

In addition to the return of the February blues series, the SSBS will also have Burt in town that week for a “blues in the school” program and a harmonica workshop — events that could help expose more than 1,000 students to blues music.

It’s something that SSBS President Craig Peterson has been wanted to do for awhile.

“I’m just excited because this is the mission of the South Skunk Blues Society. We’re a non-profit organization, and we want to give back to the community. And this is a great way to do it with education of the youth,” he said. “Every elementary student in Newton will have an opportunity to learn from Kevin. This is really exciting.”

Peterson said he would have more information on Burt’s visit in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, the public is invited to attend the Blues under the Blue Roof series free of charge in the meeting rooms in the front of the library. The Friends of the Newton Pubic Library will provide free refreshments.