True Blues: Cedric Watson and Corey Harris

Two masters of the blues, Cedric Watson and Corey Harris, will share the stage at East Lansing’s University United Methodist Church 7:30 p.m. Friday (Jan. 12) at a concert hosted by the Ten Pound Fiddle.

Watson, a four-time Grammy nominee, is a fiddler, accordionist, singer and songwriter. He specializes in French music, having played in 17 countries and on seven albums with various groups, including his band, Bijou Creole. “Watson’s albums are a tapestry of pulsing rhythms and Creole poetry, and his unforgettable live performances are at once progressive and nostalgic,” his website reads.

According to the Ten Pound Fiddle website, Harris “has earned critical acclaim as one of the few modern-day bluesmen able to channel the raw, direct emotion of acoustic Delta blues without coming off as an authenticity-obsessed historian. Along with Keb’ Mo’ and Alvin Youngblood Hart, Harris raised the flag of acoustic guitar blues in the mid-1990s.” The guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and bandleader has played shows across the globe and mixes a variety of influences in his songs, from traditional blues to reggae, soul, rock and West African music.

“It’s a special combination,” Ten Pound Fiddle booking manager Sally Potter said of the performers. “These are two incredibly well-known blues artists. They’re going to share the stage and play on each other’s stuff and tell some stories. They play acoustic blues, which is quieter and a lot more lyrical. It’s in the blues genre, but there are still stories to be told within the songs.”

Tickets are $25 for the public, $20 for Fiddle members and $5 for students. They can be purchased at tenpoundfiddle.org or at the box office an hour prior to the show.