Autoharp hall-of-famer

Off Square Music will present Bryan Bowers at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Congregational Unitarian Church, 221 Dean St., Woodstock.

Bowers is widely regarded as the leading virtuoso on the autoharp.

For nearly three decades, he has been to the autoharp what Earl Scruggs was to the five-string banjo.

Bowers uses a five-finger picking technique and makes more music from an autoharp than a 12-string guitar and harpsichord combined.

His playing is masterful, his chord sounds rich and resonant.

He also is well known as a singer/songwriter/performer with the ability to enchant a crowd.

His label is the Chicago-based Flying Fish Records. In 1993, Bryan was inducted into the Autoharp Hall of Fame to stand only with Maybelle Carter, Kilby Snow and Sara Carter.

Admission is $12. For reservations, contact Keith at (815) 338-5164 or blueloom@sbcglobal.net.

Check the Web site, www.offsquaremusic.org. Off Square Music is a 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Corporation.