WATERLOO -- Eric Sardinas doesn't do anything by the book.

The bluesman, a lefty, plays his guitar right-handed. And although he's been making music since age 6, Sardinas doesn't read notes.

"It's all by ear," said the Florida-native, now 38. "I was exposed to a lot of music when I was growing up -- the blues, soul, gospel, rock 'n' roll -- and my ears were always pretty much connected to what was around me."

The unconventional artist will headline the 2009 Winter Blues Blowout Saturday at the Electric Park Ballroom, revealing yet another aspect of originality as he jams with his band, Big Motor. Unlike other musicians lumped into the nebulous category of blues-rock, Sardinas' onstage efforts have earned the approval of fans of both genres. Aggressive rock vocals and delta blues riffs complement each other in many of the guitarist's songs, a style not seen at a Blues Blowout for quite some time.

"A lot of headliners we've had in the past have leaned a bit more traditional," said Scott Vezdos, spokesman for Iowa Public Radio, which is sponsoring the show. "Eric tends to be a bit harder and a little edgier. I think it's something people are going to enjoy. It's very high-energy."

Sardinas' quirks -- including his left-handed guitar-playing -- only add to his appeal. He plays slide style and plucks at the strings using fingerpicks. The combination gives his instrument as unique a voice as Sardinas himself. The musician takes pains to retain that ingenuity onstage and in the recording studio.

"There's always growth and movement and I like to try to push myself forward as a musician," said the guitarist, who released his fourth album, "Eric Sardinas and Big Motor," last week. "I shoot for honesty and energy� not a bunch of computer stuff."

The long-haired, tattooed Sardinas, who dons a cowboy hat during his live shows, acts the part of a Southern rock star. He's brazen and a little cocky, often lighting his guitar on fire after his shows. Sardinas' persona is part of the appeal, no doubt, but fans are more impressed by his musicianship. He may play a little harder than traditional blues artists, but Sardinas' is equally as committed to preserving the art form and helping it grow.

"I think that what connected me to early blues was the purity of it -- a single performer and their instrument telling a story," said Sardinas, who counts Charlie Patton, Barbecue Bob and Bukka White among his earliest influences. "The human element's very alive in it."

The songwriter strives for that emotion every time he picks up his guitar.

"It's about making a connection," Sardinas said. "For me, that's the success factor."

Contact Mary Stegmeir at (319) 291-1482 or mary.stegmeir@wcfcourier.com.