Detroit blues artist Kroha performing Tuesday in Ida

The Monroe News
·2 min read

IDA — Explore early blues, gospel and folk music Tuesday in Ida.

Detroit blues artist and guitarist Danny Kroha will offer a “Tuesday is Blues Day” concert at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Ida Branch Library, 3016 Lewis Avenue. The concert is part of the Monroe County Library System’s annual Black History Month Blues series. Admission to all programs is free. The public is welcome.

“Kroha brings together the past and the present to recapture the original sound of blues, gospel and folk from the 1920s and ‘30s,” the library system said. “Much of this music was common to both Black and white musicians playing together in similar regions. Kroha pays tribute to lesser-known masters, such as Furry Lewis, Doctor Ross and Doc Boggs. To give new life to the songs, he often combines lyrics and melodies producing new arrangements."

Kroha
Kroha

Kroha has been on the Detroit music scene since the early 1980s. He began on the blues-punk scene with the band The Gories.

"In recent years he has been drawn to American roots music and has recorded solo albums of traditional blues, folk and gospel," the library system said. "His most recent recording, 'Detroit Blues,' on the Third Man record label, has been widely reviewed. Kroha was awarded a prestigious Kresge Fellowship for his innovative work in 2016."

“A long-standing concert series like the Blues is more than just music — it's a symphony of memories and a timeless celebration of community, connection, and creativity,” said Nancy Bellaire, Monroe County Library System director.

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The 'Tuesday is Blues Day' concert series continues at library branches around Monroe County each week through March 5. All offerings begin at 7 p.m.

Other programs in the series:

  • Feb. 24: Big Gig! Monroe County Community College

  • Feb. 27: Zoom and her Band, Ellis Library & Reference Center

  • March 5: Harmonica Glazer and Harmonica Sah, South Rockwood Branch Library

Monroe County’s 37th Annual Black History Month Blues Series is presented by the Monroe County Library System, Monroe County Community College, and the 2024 Blues Coalition of community partners: DTE Foundation, Monroe NAACP, Friends of South Rockwood, Friends of Carleton, Friends of Dorsch, Friends of Ellis, Friends of Ida, and Friends of Bedford.  This project is funded in part by the Michigan Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Michigan Arts and Culture Council.

Additional information can be found on the library website mymcls.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Detroit blues artist Kroha performing Tuesday in Ida