Guitarist and signer/songwriter Colin Lake is giving up performing live for the next year or so, but for a lovely reason. He and his wife have purchased a 42-foot sailboat and they plan to sail throughout the Caribbean during what is being called a “personal lifestyle change.” Having grown up in a family of sailing enthusiasts, Lake is putting aside music for a while to spend time with the other great love in his life.

However, New Orleanians will get a change to say “bon voyage” in person at Chickie Wah Wah on Friday, October 20, where he’ll perform material from his latest album One Thing That’s For Sure and more. He moved to New Orleans more than eight years ago and has since garnered acclaim for his take on blues greats with his guitar, lap steel, and powerful vocal style.

Lake, who grew up in a family of sailing aficionados, moved to New Orleans over eight years ago and set about making a name for himself as a songwriter and guitarist. His powerful vocal style and soulful touch on the guitar and lap steel owe heavily to countless blues greats, but it’s Lake’s knack for song craft that sets him apart from almost anyone in that genre. In recent years, Lake has opened for acts like Dr. John and Gary Clark Jr. and performed at festivals around the country, including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Austin City Limits Music Festival, Alabama’s Hangout Music and Arts Festival, the Key West Songwriters Festival and New Orleans’ French Quarter Festival.

More information about the October 20 performance can be found on the Facebook event page. He’ll be joined by supporting performer Michael Pearce.