About
“He’s a wrecking ball, a loaded gun. He’s an unmerciful magistrate. He’s “a daisy-cutting, motherfucking judgement day.””
Karl S. Williams… A genre defying, multi-instrumentalist and award-winning artist with a voice and conviction so powerful it takes your breath away. Karl's music is timeless and deeply rooted in tradition yet ever conversant with the present. Drawing from folk, blues and gospel his songs are steeped in the swamp water of the northern NSW cane country where he was raised, lending the distinct flavour of this land to all his work.
Distilling life, love and the human condition, his music calls with urgency and sings without apology. His solution and vocation: to love more. A Karl S. Williams performance - either solo or with his band - is frequently referred to as a spiritual experience, leaving an audience slightly altered in the best way possible.
“So good, it might save your life!”
For over a decade Karl has performed at festivals and venues throughout the country including Bluesfest, the Woodford Folk Festival, Festival of Small Halls, Dark MOFO, Panama, Queenscliff Music Festival and the Tamworth Country Music Festival, among many others.
In 2022 as the world slowly regained its equilibrium, Karl continued to work on writing and recording. The result is a collection of new songs, lost songs and unreleased material recorded alone and live-to-tape. Simple, unadorned and vital, they mark a full circle in his artistic journey and capture the essence of his solo performance as never before. The first volume of this material will be released September 1st, 2023 and Karl looks forward to sharing these songs with audiences in intimate performances throughout the country.
In 2020, Karl released his second band album, 'Lifeblood' (Winner – Release of the Year - GCMAs 2021), just as the COVID pandemic took hold. ‘Lifeblood’ sits alongside his critically acclaimed debut, ‘Heartwood’ (2014).
“All killer, no filler from start to finish, ‘Lifeblood’ is an absolute winner”