Dar Williams November 20, 2009

One of the most acclaimed and evocative artists of her generation, Dar Williams crafts tunes that resonate with passion and integrity. Her growth as a person over her 15-year career has gone hand-in-hand with her evolution as an artist. Raised in Chappaqua, NY, and educated at Wesleyan University, Dar spent 10 years living in the thriving artistic community of Northampton, MA, where she began to make the rounds on the coffeehouse circuit. An early fan of her music was Joan Baez, who took Dar out on the road and recorded several of her songs.

Throughout her career Williams has eschewed clichéd and superficial expression in favour of digging deeper. To quote Dar herself, her motivation as an artist is to “Experience meaning without fooling myself. There are these moments where everything feels connected, and I think my art is about trying to find the stories that make us feel connected. That’s the verve of my life. It’s what keeps things interesting.”.

Dar’s most recent album, Promised Land, features 12 songs that showcase her wide range of stories and social themes on songs including "It's Alright," "The Easy Way," and "Buzzer." Dar also does a cover of "Midnight Radio" from the acclaimed rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, as well as a cover of the Fountains of Wayne song "Troubled Times." Lending support on the album are such renowned artists as Suzanne Vega, Marshall Crenshaw, and Gary Louris (of the Jayhawks).

Official Website: http://www.acousticsussex.org.uk