The Blue Heron brings back a night of the blues

A bluesy thing happened on the way to Vashon Allied Art’s “Blues Reunion” concert in December — it got snowed out.

A bluesy thing happened on the way to Vashon Allied Art’s “Blues Reunion” concert in December — it got snowed out.

Now, the weather has cleared up and the concert with John Browne and Carter Castle is back on, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Blue Heron.

The concert was originally set for Dec. 19, and all tickets sold for that evening will be honored. Remaining tickets, $10 and $12, can be reserved by calling 463-5131.

Guitarists Browne and Castle will play a full evening of roots and blues music, taking turns between solo and duo tunes.

Ricker Winsor, who lives in Vermont, was also scheduled to be a part of the concert in December but is unable to return to the Island this time around.

Carter, who is originally from Maryland, performed during the lively 1980s Greenwich Village music scene. He has played with the likes of Iris Dement and Rod MacDonald. In Seattle, he has performed at venues including Tractor Tavern and Northwest Folklife.

“When I first heard John Browne play, I thought, ‘Now there’s a guy who really knows how to play the blues.’ He’s the real thing,” said Castle.

Browne has lived on Vashon for 25 years and played guitar since he was a teenager. He has played harmonica for more than 40 years.

Browne performed with the band pH Factor while living in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury in the 1960s. The group opened for country blues guitarist Lightnin’ Hopkins and shared stages with Big Brother and the Holding Company, Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger, The Byrds, Mothers of Invention, Lenny Bruce and Jefferson Airplane. Browne and his wife now own Judd Creek Nursery.

Browne plans to play a variety of his own roots music.

“I’ve written enough music to fill an evening myself,” he said.

He’s been working on a CD and thanks to the weather delay, it may even be available by show time.