Deak Harp has soul from his head to his toes.

Harp, of Oakland, has performed the blues across the U.S., the Caribbean and Europe, and he plays three instruments simultaneously.

Harp said he began playing the harmonica 38 years ago when he was 12, and he started making his own harmonicas about 20 years ago. He also plays the diddley bow, and he plays drums with his feet.

“Playing the blues is a way for me to let my soul out and release all of the tension from the day through my instruments,” Harp said. “It can be a real feat to get (the instruments) in sync, but the worst part is making sure all of the wires don’t get tangled up.”

Harp will perform at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Douglas-Hart Nature Center at the “Blast of Blues” concert. The event is free to the public.

The concert is the first event co-sponsored by the Douglas-Hart Nature Center and the Mattoon Arts Council.

Justin Grady, the chairman of the Mattoon Arts Council, said Harp will speak about the evolution of the blues after his performance.

“(Harp) is very personable and laid back, and this will be an opportunity for people to be in close, casual interaction with a musician that they wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to,” Grady said.

Harp drove the tour bus for Muddy Waters, and he said he learned a lot from watching and interacting with harmonica legend James Cotton.

“The way that you can phrase notes on a harmonica had a soulfulness that always captured me,” Harp said.

Grady said he met Harp two years ago at an event sponsored by the Mattoon Arts Council, and thought he would be interested in performing because he played at the Decatur Nature Center about a year ago.

“I think it is important for people to see someone from our geographic area who can make a living doing what he loves,” Grady said. “

Tina Hissong, the executive director of the Douglas-Hart Nature Center, said the “Blast of Blues” is the first concert offered at the Douglas-Hart Nature.

“It is a bit of a change in direction for us, but we thought it would be an enjoyable and educational opportunity for the community in the middle of winter,” Hissong said.

Rachel Rodgers can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].