On Thursday, Keith Harden, one of central Illinois' most vibrant and prolific musicians, returns from his adopted home in upstate New York for a show at the Trading Post Saloon. Harden, a long-time Champaign-Urbana full-time musician, has released several CDs, most recently Mostly Mississippi, a collection of old, updated Delta blues with a few originals mixed in for good measure. He's a consummate musician, stubborn enough to keep playing when everyone else quit to make a decent living, smart enough to figure out how to make music work, and good enough to earn the respect and attention of a finicky audience. There's no cover charge, so take a listen, buy a CD or two, and do yourself a favor by rewarding a musician for a lifetime of work.

-- Tom Irwin

This article was written by Illinois Times, writer, Tom Irwin and originally published in the June 24, 2004 edition

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