American blues, by way of Guatemala

Tuesday nights are blues night at Blind Lemon’s, a lakeshore music club and restaurant in the mountains of Guatemala.

There, American ex-pat owner Carlos Funk (aka William Freed) and visiting musicians hold forth beside beautiful Lake Atitlan, bringing an authentic taste of the blues to the Mayan highlands of San Marcos.

Carlos Funk has deep roots in the blues, but also in the Swannanoa Valley.

His visit with local family will give local music lovers a chance to hear him at the White Horse Black Mountain on May 31.

Carlos Funk was in college when he discovered The Lovin’ Spoonful. Their music, with its echoes of pre-war country blues and jug band music, called to the young player.

But he never really got to the heart of the tradition until the first-ever Blues Week at the Swannanoa Gathering.

That experience changed the direction of his life, and he set off in pursuit of the blues.

“In this particular pursuit,” he said, “you never actually get there, but you have so much fun on the trip, you don’t care.”

Blind Lemon’s lemonade

What: Carlos Funk

When: 7:30 p.m. May 31

Where: White Horse Black Mountain

Cost: $10