CONTRIBUTED

The blues come to the Rooster's Wife's Home Fires Burning Concert series Sunday, April 5, at 6 p.m., as guitarist Brooks Williams takes the stage.

The program features this Boston artist's original tunes as well as traditional blues. Williams' appearance is the second in a group of four blues events presented by the Rooster's Wife. The series continues with Scott Ainslie (May 13) and the Jon Shain Trio (May 31).

Brooks Williams is a blues-singing, guitar-picking, bottleneck slide-playing certified road warrior who has toured continuously for over 21 years. His unique combination of traditional and original music inspired Dirty Linen magazine to call Brooks Williams one of "America's musical treasures." His guitar skills won him a place on the Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists list, in company with the likes of Michael Hedges, Chet Atkins, Leo Kottke, Doc Watson, and David Bromberg, to name a few.

A native of Statesboro, Ga., Brooks has played stages throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and, most recently, Istanbul, Turkey. He has gigged with Taj Mahal, John Hammond, David Bromberg, Maria Muldaur, Chris Smither, Leo Kottke, and Rory Block, and performed the Trowbridge Festival, the Guitar Stars Festival, the Marlborough Jazz Festival, the Champlain Valley Festival, and New Bedford's Summerfest. And Williams shows no signs of slowing down, with an ongoing schedule of performances in both North America and abroad.

Williams has released more than 16 albums on labels like Signature Sounds, Green Linnet Records, Red Guitar Blue Music, and Solid Air Records.

"The Time I Spend With You," released in 2008, went to No. 3 on the FOLKDJ charts (with three top 10 singles, including the Mississippi Fred McDowell standard, "61 Highway") and remained on the charts for six months. Other titles in Williams' extensive discography include the

best-selling roots/blues "Knife Edge" (1996), produced by Colin Linden, the

award-winning instrumental "Guitar Player" (2005), which made the 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitar Albums list, and his acoustic gem, "Blues and Ballads" (2006).

Williams' recordings are favorites on roots and blues radio programs, as well as XM Satellite Radio. His innovative guitar sound-bites can be heard in between segments on National Public Radio and on Public Television.

In addition to his own music, Williams has recorded tracks on an impressive list of compilations, most notably the "National Resophonic Instrumental Project" (a Blues AIDS benefit), "Letters To Bert" (a tribute to guitar legend Bert Jansch), and "DeLovely Guitar" (a tribute to Cole Porter). He has also collaborated with and/or worked as a sideman for Sloan Wainwright, Rani Arbo, Steve Tilston, Karen Tweed, and Paul Asbell.

A devoted educator, Brooks Williams is in high-demand on the summer guitar camp circuit, teaching at The Swannanoa Gathering, Acoustic Alaska, Cedar Run Song Workshops, Newport Guitar Festival, and WUMB's Summer Acoustic Music Week, to name but a few.

He also runs a two-week Guitar For Kids program near his home in Western Massachusetts, as well as sponsoring an annual Guitar Day celebration. Williams' unique approach to teaching has resulted in the highly anticipated release of his first guitar instructional DVD, "Guitar Groove: A Session With Brooks Williams," on Woodhall Music.

Admission is $15. Seating is general admission with the doors opening at 7 p.m.

The music starts at 8 p.m. at the corner of High and Blue in downtown Aberdeen.

The Rooster's Wife is a private nonprofit association organized to celebrate the performing arts in Aberdeen.

For information, visit www.theroosterswife.org, or call (910)944-7502.