Bellefonte native and blues guitarist Ramblin’ Dan Stevens returns to the Bullfrog Brewery, 229 W. Fourth St., with a mix of traditional finger style blues, Americana and originals, 8 p.m. Monday.

“Ramblin” Dan Stevens performs a mix of traditional blues, early jazz, popular favorites and originals and has entertained audiences throughout the U.S., Germany, UK, Canada and Virgin Islands. His unique style of “bottleneck” slide playing popularized by early bluesmen includes use of a homemade, three stringed “Cigar Box Guitar” and one stringed “Diddly Bow.”

Originally from Bellefonte and currently residing in Old Lyme, Connecticut, Stevens started playing guitar as a teenager and was lucky to have been influenced by some great teachers.

“My first guitar teacher, Bill Joyce, was very knowledgeable in folk fingerpicking,” Stevens said. “He captured my imagination with his knowledge of early folk and blues artists, many of whom I got to see live.”

Stevens’ repertoire reflects the influence of his revered teachers who actually knew and performed with many of the legendary blues masters.

“One of my favorites was the great Mississippi Fred McDowell, who became a big influence on my slide guitar playing,” he said. “I also studied with Paul Rishell in Boston and the legendary Greenwich Village icon Dave Van Ronk in New York City.”

Stevens’ tastes include delta blues “bottleneck slide” tunes, the more carefree piedmont style and arrangements comprised of complex orchestration with plenty of chord changes up the neck in the spirit of Van Ronk. His originals remain true to the traditional forces, which powerfully shaped his early musical development and prompt listeners to praise the authenticity of his approach.

“I play several guitars in my shows, including a vintage Gibson acoustic guitar, a 1970s Harmony hollow body electric, and a homemade three-string cigar box guitar and a one string “diddly bow,” both primitive blues instruments,” he said. “I’ve played in a one-man band format with a hi hat cymbal and a bass drum fashioned from an old suitcase.

Stevens will perform lots of finger-style vintage blues, early jazz, some popular tunes and some originals as well. His latest recording, “Dirt Floor Sessions,” highlights the variety of music he is currently performing.

“Dirt Floor Sessions” has been described as having a real, raw, rockin’ feel with songs-encompassing sounds from Stevens’ major influences. Several cuts are interpretations of intricate finger-style arrangements learned directly from mentor Dave Van Ronk. Others invoke the spirit of the delta through his newfound interest in primitive homemade instruments, specifically the three-stringed cigar box guitar and one-stringed diddley bow. Rounded out with his originals and the addition of tuba, clarinet, lap steel and percussion, the disc is a true snapshot of his musical evolution.

A finalist in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, Stevens has been lauded as a raconteur and for the authenticity of his approach. Long an advocate for young people in various capacities, he is the President of MusicNow Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization with a mission to engage, enrich and inspire young artists through mentorships, performance opportunities and more.

As a full-time professional musician since 1991, Stevens continues to tour incessantly along the East Coast, U.S. Virgin Islands, U.K., Germany and Canada. He has appeared with such artists as Johnny Winter, James Cotton, Charlie Musselwhite, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Charlie Daniels, Livingston Taylor, Ronnie Earl and others.

Termed “Connecticut’s hardest working bluesman” by the New York Times in 2002, Stevens plays over 200 engagements a year, including concerts, clubs, festivals, coffeehouses, community and private events and educational programs. He has appeared at Long Island’s Riverhead Blues Festival, the Berlin Blues Festival in Connecticut and was the closer in the acoustic section of the Fleet Blues Festival in Albany, New York. and Pennsylvania’s Harry Smith Festival. Stevens also plays regularly in the New York City Subway System in locations such as Times Square and Grand Central Terminal.

“I am touring full-time as I have been for many years,” he said. “I’m looking forward to expanding my Pennsylvania dates and including more theaters such as the State Theatre in State College, where I performed a few months ago.”

Stevens has been playing at the Bullfrog Brewery for many years on his Pennsylvania tours and is very thankful for their support of live touring musicians like himself.

“I am happy to have been making a living full-time from my music, and I hope to continue to do so in quality venues like the Bullfrog Brewery, concerts, festivals and more,” he said. “Being able to perform and connect with audiences is always a thrill.”

Stevens also will be performing 8 p.m. Saturday at Elk Creek Cafe, 100 W. Main St., Milheim and 8 p.m. Sunday at Skeeter’s BBQ, 106 Victor Lane, Shamokin Dam.