Chalk up Sue Foley as another solid example of how Ottawa natives continue to make their mark in popular music.

Foley had already carved herself a comfortable niche in the crowded blues marketplace by releasing four lauded CDs on the Austin Texas-based Antone Records and showcasing her snarly guitar gymnastics and robust vocals on the road.

Foley's back with a twist with her new CD, 10 Days in November, which she will show off live tonight at Perfect Strangers on Rideau St.

She admits the new collection features a bit of a move away from straight blues and into a more rootsy, folk territory.

"It's certainly more of a singer-songwriter approach and it's nice to have the opportunity to spread my wings a little bit," Foley says over the phone from Toronto.

"My new label (Shanachie) has let me move in a new direction because frankly I just didn't have a straight blues album in me this time.

"I think it's really important that if you make music a life-long career you've got to be able to work in as many styles as possible. I've got my feet in the blues pretty deep, but I'd like to see where this new sound takes me."

Foley's actually sliding into some very Dylanesque styles on November, especially on the "road" songs that open the disc.

"Without a doubt, Bob Dylan has been an influence on me over the past few years. As a songwriter I think he's absolutely second to none.

"When you write in the blues it's pretty simple writing and when you try to break out of that chordal structure it's essential to be more expansive.

"I guess the idea is to keep the listeners guessing a bit so that by the time they've figured out what I'm doing with this one, I'll be breaking out somewhere else."

In fact Foley is already pretty sure where her musical path will lead.

"I think the next record will lean much more heavily on the instrumental side of things. It should focus on my guitar playing and probably will sound much rootsier."