Music Style Guitarist-percussionist playing expressive, upbeat folk.

Artist History Entering through the back door of Boston's famed Club Passim, singer-songwriter Christopher Williams brushes the New England snow from his shoulders, hangs up his jacket and hat on the small stage's coat hook, grabs his guitar, and launches into "Every Time I Say Goodbye." As Williams begins, the first sold-out crowd of three weekend shows, packed tightly into the subterranean space, becomes still. A nonstop year-round touring schedule that has Williams playing 120+ shows a year zigzags him back and forth to cities across the U.S. But Williams - a New York born, Bucknell University Religious studies graduate and former Seattle preschool teacher - is always happy to return to Club Passim, his hometown venue. It's a place that truly echoes his strong commitment to music and serves as his second home - when he is home. "I'd been on tour all fall and was so glad to be back in Boston for the holidays that I wanted to make my shows at Passim feel as comfortable as possible," Williams says, "So, I brought my living room to the stage...my grandmothers rocking chair, tables with photos of family and friends, candles, books I've been wanting to read, and even blankets for the audience." The mix of comfort and authenticity generated at these nine sold-out Passim performances during May 2000-2001 bore Williams' newest CD, side streets, his first live record and fourth solo release since his career began in 1993. Nominated for his second Boston Music Award and after selling 14,000 of his previous releases, the last of which was hailed by Performing Songwriter magazine as an "assured sense of craft...lifting Williams into a gifted field," side streets serves as a testament to his songwriting/performing career. side streets highlights the best songs from Williams past three releases, as well as a new song, "End of the Tunnel," sung acappella with the djembe hand-drum. Caught in their most honest and true form, these songs spring to life with an energy that is both genuine and contagious. "I love being in front of an audience with just my guitar and drum, trying different things musically each night," says self-taught Williams, who is one of few singer-songwriters to deliver his songs on guitar as well as djembe."I try not to make a plan and instead let the moment decide where I am going because that is where the real music comes from. It's funny...playing the djembe started as one of those moments - just a whim and it's now turning into a direction. Not just a direction as a sideman supporting others, which is a great card to have in my back pocket, but as an integral part of my solo show." It's this passion and emotional approach to music, along with a genuine gratefulness for his musical gifts and desire to support those in his field that has propelled Williams from merely being inspired by folk music greats to playing along side them. Over the last few years, Williams has not only opened for but accompanied such renowned performers as David Wilcox, Peter Himmelman, Bruce Hornsby, Patty Larkin, Tom Rush, Ellis Paul and Lucy Kaplansky, at venues ranging from the Somerville Theatre in Boston to McCabes in Los Angeles to the Caravan of Dreams in Forth Worth. He's also brought his music to audiences at festivals across the country, including the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in Hillsdale, NY, the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest in Lyons, CO, and the Kerrville Folk Festival in Kerrville, TX. Williams placed second in the 2000 and 2001 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Troubador competition; won the Wildflower Festival Songwriting competition in Texas in 1999, and was a finalist in both the KRCL Songwriting competition in Salt Lake City in 1998 and the South Florida Folk Festival in 1997. A truly self-made musician, Williams has the presence to make a barren stage feel like home. His approachable style, passion for music and dedication to his East Coast roots crystallize in his first live release, side streets, a continuation to the next chapter in Williams' well-traveled music career.

Albums Side Streets - Live (2001), The Silence In Between (2000), One Man Service Station (1996), Seek Higher Ground (1994) & Remember the Day (1996, Matthew's Brother), Meet the Bixbys (1999, the Bixbys)

Press Reviews Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange (Review, One Man Service Station): http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/p00511.htm

Location Boston, MA - USA

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