Local singer-songwriter to perform

Bronwyn Mason, owner of Artisans International Gallery in Minden Village, is hosting a free concert featuring local singer/songwriter Duane "Beans" Sousa.

Mason believes in the importance of offering all kinds of arts to the community. In addition to the art offered in the gallery from around the world, live music will be part of the gallery's offering several times a year.

"We had a five-piece Peruvian music group in the gallery last November and they were very well-received by the community," Mason said.

She plans to continue to offer music as long as it draws an audience. Sousa will be at the gallery from 2 to 4 pm. on Saturday.

"It is a good day to come out and enjoy some music and do some shopping for your loved one right before Valentine's Day," Mason said.

Sousa is a guitarist and singer who demonstrates a broad range of expertise on the Spanish classical guitar as well as a vocal style that has been highly praised by the likes of Leon Russell, George Harrison, Jose Feliciano, David Crosby, Leo Kottke, Phoebe Snow, Lacy J. Dalton, The Doobie Brothers, and Merle Haggard; all of whom he has worked with in some form, according to Mason.

Raised in the San Francisco Bay area, he began his career in restaurants of Northern California in 1971, including the Rusty Scupper chain, The Crow's Nest in Santa Cruz, and the now infamous Shadowbrook of Capitola.

After gaining exposure to a wide variety of musical genres, including performing folk and country music, and a 20-year touring schedule with singer, Lacy J. Dalton, Sousa chose to focus on instrumentals and styles of American traditional music.

Sousa is well known for his recording productions and album appearances. In 1999 he produced Dalton's world renown "Wild Horse Crossing" as well as his own CD "Into The Blue." The "Into The Blue" CD is a compilation of original songs, the majority of which were written by Dalton and Sousa. They are joined by the musical community of the surrounding Reno area. Both albums are receiving radio play.

Sousa now lives in the mountains near Lake Tahoe. As an avid trout fisherman, he is often found performing night clubs on the West Coast and making appearances at the Strawberry Music Festival and High Sierra Music Festival.

The gallery is located at 1653 Lucerne St. in Minden Village, Minden. For information, call the gallery at 783-8881.