The image of flowing water has long been used as a metaphor for life: navigating the rapids, wondering what’s around the bend, going with the flow.

River guide and singer/songwriter Casey Garland has been leading river rafting tours throughout the West for 32 years, and navigating the river of life for 54. He’s learned a few things along the way, but mostly that “we don’t know very much.”

Still, he’s spent more than 30 years putting his feelings about the river and its lessons into song.

He brings his river-as-metaphor songs to Seabold Hall Jan. 14 as the featured performer at the Seabold Second Saturday concert.

With his finger picking and singing, Garland said he has been likened to James Taylor in musical style.

“There was a lot of music written well in the ‘70s,” he said, although he doesn’t like to be pinned to one genre. His music runs from folk and pop to jazz and Latin.

He has been working on a CD of original songs, but doesn’t want to release it until it’s perfect.

“I’ve sold seven ‘rough’ copies at shows, but I want to put out a high quality product,” he said.

Songs on the album include “Desolation Sounds,” “Get Outside” and “The River Keeps on Flowing.”

Garland takes his guitar along on the river trips and entertains the rafters at stops along the way, often using an oar as a microphone stand. When he gets his CD produced, he figures his audience is the “3 million people who go river rafting every year.”

Garland is a somewhat familiar face at Seabold, having played half a dozen or so open mics there.

“Seabold is one of only two really good open mics around, because people actually really go there to listen,” he said.

Casey Garland performs 9:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at Seabold Hall, Corner of Komedal and Ralston roads, Bainbridge Island.

The evening starts with an open mic session at 7:30 p.m., all performers welcome. Signup for the open mic is from 6:30-7 p.m.

Performers and children get in free, all others pay $5 at the door. wu