Singer/Songwriter Brooks Williams will perform at Music on Malphrus, 110 Malphrus Road, in Bluffton on Friday, April 20th at 7:00 pm. General Admission is $20. Doors open at 6 pm.
Brooks Williams hails from Statesboro, Georgia, the town made famous by country-blues legend Blind Willie McTell. Not one easy to pigeon-hole, Williams’ music a roots music love-child. “Soulful Americana, full-on blues and tasty rootsy grooves. He really rocks!” writes fRoots. Friend and fellow guitar-wizard Martin Simpson calls Brooks Williams the “Real Thing!”
Williams got his start in the clubs and bars around Boston, the same music scene that years earlier sparked the careers of Bonnie Raitt and Chris Smither. There, playing 5-6 nights a week, he developed his signature sound.
He’s a mean finger-picker and a stunning slide guitarist, and is ranked in the Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists, Plus, “he has a beautiful voice,” says AmericanaUK, “that you just melt into.” In fact, in 2013 Williams was nominated “best male vocalist” by the UK’s foremost roots-music mavens, Spiral Earth.
His massive repertoire reads like a roots music Hall Of Fame. From classic Bessie Smith or Memphis Slim blues to compelling Dave Alvin and Buddy Miller Americana covers. “On top of all this,” writes American Roots UK, “is his songwriting, which stands comparison with virtually any of his peers.” Rooted in tradition, wryly observed and relevant.
With twenty-two albums to his name, including “Brooks’ Blues” (2017), “My Turn Now” (2016) and “Shreveport Sessions” (2014), his music shows up on roots music playlists around the world. WUMB-FM (USA) voted him in their Top 100 Artists.
He’s is one of acoustic roots music’s guiding lights. One of its most respected ambassadors. He’s always on tour ranging from Dallas to The Netherlands, Boston to Glasgow, Belfast to Memphis, Little Rock to London. Blues In Britain saysBrooks Williams is, “At the top of his game, setting new standards and a fresh direction for the blues.”
Music on Malphrus concerts happen at The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry, 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton, SC, 843-837-3330. www.uulowcountry.org
