Homer Alaska - Arts

Versatile folk, blues, bluegrass and reggae musician Peter Rowan plays at the Down East Saloon starting at 7 tonight. Rowan's professional musical career goes back to 1964, when he was the lead singer and played rhythm guitar for Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys in Nashville, playing at the Grand Ol' Opry weekly. He played with Dave Grisman, and with Jerry Garcia, Vassar Clements and John Kahn formed the legendary bluegrass group, Old & In the Way, cutting two albums. Garcia of the Grateful Dead covered Rowan's "Moonlight Midnight" and "Mississippi Moon."

Since 1978, Rowan has played solo or in collaboration with musicians like Tony Rice on guitar and Jerry Douglas on dobro. His work crosses over from traditional bluegrass to Tex-Mex to reggae. For his Homer appearance, Rowan performs with David Phillips on bass and Joshua Zucker on pedal steel guitar.

Tickets for the nonsmoking show are $32 in advance and on sale at the Homer Bookstore, the Down East Saloon and online at www.Inticketing.com. For music samples, visit www.peterrowan.com.