Eric Lindell's music defies description - even to him.

"It's baby-makin' music," the performer said, laughing. Turning more serious, he added, "I don't know. Nowadays, everything's so cross-pollinated."

Decatur gets a chance to decide for itself Saturday when Lindell headlines the evening music activities at the Lakeside Music and Arts Festival.

Lindell's latest album is "Gulf Coast Highway," the seventh of his career.

His newest work has drawn an assortment of comparisons, with Delbert McClinton and especially Van Morrison coming up as touch points.

"It's funny what others perceive," he said. "The label writes stuff, and writers write stuff, and it doesn't seem like anybody really taps in to what it is. I just imagine people who like my music like the same stuff I do."

That "stuff" includes some of the expected blues and rhythm-and-blues performers: Buddy Guy, McClinton and Stevie Wonder. But Lindell also mentions Hank Williams Sr. and a couple of recent rediscoveries thanks to record stores.

"I was in Chicago on Record Store Day and picked up a bunch of (Curtis Mayfield and The) Impressions stuff, and I'm playing that so much that the family really complains when it comes on in the car.

"And lately I've been really into a lot of Aretha Franklin stuff."

Lindell started in his early 20s in blues bands in his native northern California.

"I've got people who've been seeing me for so long," he said. "Back in my 20s, we were blues purists, but the way we played it was like most white young bands: more hopped up and rocked out.

"We had a huge following. It kind of (ticked) off the old blues guys."

He worked his way to New York for a couple of years, then found himself drifting toward New Orleans.

"After playing most of your life," he said, "you kind of settle into your own thing. You explore different avenues, and you find grooves, and you settle in."

Lindell's live sets have helped build his reputation. Observers call the shows "fun" and "high-energy," and they may be best-known for being set list-free.

"We're coming out there to give it to you firsthand," Lindell said. "It's just good old-fashioned American soul."

WHAT: Lakeside Music and Arts Festival.

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

WHERE: Nelson Park, Lake Decatur.

ADMISSION: Admission and parking are free.

MUSIC SCHEDULE:

Saturday

Kathryn Raistrick (Australian folk songs): 11 a.m. and 12:25 p.m., Beach House

Storyteller Linda Dust: 11:45 a.m., Beach House; 12:50 p.m., Amphitheater

Paul Van Heuklom, American Indian flute player: noon and 1:35 p.m., Amphitheater

Emerald Underground (Irish songs): 1 and 2:40 p.m., Beach House

Jah's Gypsy Dance Troupe: 2:25 and 3:20 p.m., Amphitheater

The Chicago Cossacks (Russian music): 1:50 and 3:30 p.m., Beach House

Decatur Park Singers: 3 p.m., Main

Michael Scherer (jazz/blues): 6:30 p.m., Main

Eric Lindell (blues): 8:30 p.m., Main

Sunday

Soul Purpose: 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., Main

Hapa Haole Wahine Hawaiian dancers: 11:20 a.m., Beach House; 12:20 p.m., Amphitheater

Mother Goose the Storyteller: noon and 1:35 p.m., Beach House

Paul Van Heuklom, American Indian flute player: 1:05 and 2:40 p.m., Amphitheater

Samba Llamas (Brazilian):: 12:40 and 2:20 p.m., Beach House

McKinney and Hennessey (Irish duo): 1:50 p.m., Amphitheater, 3:15 p.m., Beach House

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