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About Bet Williams

“A new-folk, blues-roots tone poet with a highly charismatic stage presence and an astonishing four-octave range voice.”  - National Public Radio

THE OFFICIAL STORY:

Bet Williams is a fearless vocalist and dynamic performer whose four-octave-range voice has mesmerized audiences across America and Europe. Williams' music blends folk, rock and roots rhythms with intelligent lyrics and infectious hooks. With a gift for storytelling and spontaneous humor, her stage performances go from profound and poetic to wild and spontaneous, at times bordering on performance art.

“Her lyrics are at once thought-provoking and humorous, poetic and passionate. The emphasis is on rootsy, blues-influenced music that showcases her four-octave powerhouse voice.”

—Philadelphia Inquirer

BET WILLIAMS BAND
Bet Williams with Marc Gransten from Sweden - the grooviest bassist in Europe, and “Defunkt” drummer legend, Kenny Martin.

With an astounding 4-octave-range voice, intelligent lyrics and a highly charismatic stage presence, Bet Williams infatuates audiences with “super human reserves of energy” (New York Daily News). Full of raw emotion and a startling honesty, she ventures places most performers hesitate to go. When the Bet Williams Band takes the stage; folk, rock and blues merge with stirring melodies and infectious grooves.

Audiences around the world have been mesmerized by what SING OUT! Magazine calls “the sheer beauty of her instrument and the passion with which she sings.” On festival stages with the powerful energy of the band, or in small theaters with a single acoustic guitar, Bet creates huge soundscapes with her voice that reach beyond the boundaries of folk, blues, world music or rock. “Bet Williams is a performer who is seething with life,” according to NPR. No wonder she has appeared on stages with artists such as Taj Mahal, Joan Osborne, Herbie Hancock, Arlo Guthrie and Lucinda Williams. 

BET'S VERSION:

When I was thirteen, living in Virginia, I got my first guitar. With the two chords I had just learned, I pressed my fingers into a sad love song (after all I was thirteen). Many chords and some decades later I am still writing songs. Some sad, some funny, some poignant, confessional or wild.  But over the years I found that what I really like to do is play live.

I spent my college years playing with groups like Bookends and Ticapoo Brain. I made my first CDs in Nashville with producer Brad Jones (Jill Sobule, Marshall Crenshaw) and Jim Rooney (John Prine, Nanci Griffith). I was too quirky for Nashville so I headed up the coast to play in Philadelphia and New York where I found some lifelong friends and a great music scene. I’ve shared the stage with some incredible musicians including Lucinda Williams, Bobbie McFerrin, Arlo Guthrie, Taj Mahal, Joan Osborne, Annie Haslam, The Corrs, Herbie Hancock and a bunch of other wonderful artists.

I’ve had my California years with record deals, big time actors and big promises. I’ve worked on organic farms, danced at Rainbow Festivals, and marched against wars. I’ve had my New York City and Woodstock Chapters. Then there were the years in Berlin when we toured continually around Europe. Not to mention the Armenian years, playing music with my family band (John Hodian and our awesome then 12-year-old son on drums) and writing songs under the spell of the beautiful and mysterious, Mount Ararat.

Now I survive (spiritually and financially) by touring the world as a solo artist and with my band, the Bet Williams Band. From New York to California, Berlin to Paris, Copenhagen to Armenia. I sing songs for a living. It's an interesting life. A strange, interesting and magical life. Even in these crazy times. Music goes on. I believe to gather is more important now than ever before. To share thoughts, ideas, music, art, different points of view. To listen to each other. To share the joy of being alive together, with all life, on this planet.

HOST A HOUSE CONCERT!
If you think you might want to host a Bet Williams house concert, we can explain how easy and fun it is to bring music into your home and share it with your friends. Yes, anywhere in the world. Or if you have a favorite venue near you that would be interested, let us know by emailing info@betwilliams.com