Biography
Three times winner of 'The South Australian Songwriter of the Year' and Bank's Music 'Best New Music U.K.' award winner, Cal Williams Jr, has recently competed his album 'Morning Star' to exceptional reviews. 'Cal Williams Jr is one of Australia's finest slide blues guitarists'-Hipnote, Australia
Cal Williams Jr has performed at a variety of leading U.K. venues and festivals including the Leeds In-The-City Festival, the Famous Spiegeltent, the Edinburgh Festival fringe, the Beverley and East Riding Festival, H2004 and H2005 Scarborough Beached Festival, Musicport World Music Festival, Baysound Festival and The St.Ives September Fringe.
Cal Williams Jr has performed with a variety of outstanding artists such as Dick Gaugham, Billy Bragg, KT Tunstall, Martin Simpson, C.W Stoneking, Lightning Willie and the Poor Boys, Kathryn Williams and Steve Phillips.
Cal has also performed live-to-airs on BBC Raw Talent, BBC Radio Cleveland, BBC Radio York, Fresh Air FM and BBC Radio Lancashire.
Since returning to Australia, Cal has performed at the 'Adelaide International Guitar Festival', 'Semaphore Music Festival', 'Radio Adelaide Live Music Festival', 'Adelaide Blues Festival', 'Sea and Vines Festival', 'Crush Festival', 'Rock the Vote' benefit show and has played live-to-air on Channel 7, Triple J, ABC Radio, Radio Adelaide and Three D Radio.
Cal Williams Jr has written and performed film soundtracks for the East Coast British surf movie '900 miles' , the award-winning Jan Tesitel directed 'Orange Business' and the critically acclaimed U.K. short film 'Wilderness'.
Cal has also formed his own band 'The Cal Williams Jr Band' comprising of Elder Conservatorium Jazz graduate Kory Horwood on Double Bass, and Classical graduate Anthony Pak-Poy on second guitar. The Cal Williams Jr band adds a beautifully rhythmic and melodic accompaniment to Cal's unique brand of slide-blues and gentle fingerpicking.
Reviews
Review for ‘In the water we are all beautiful’
Review for ‘Driving as a form of prayer’
From the moment you hear the slide guitar time stands still. Completely mesmerising and
wonderfully soulful, Cal's music gets into your very core and you are at it's mercy until the very
last note.
- Rock the Vote, Australia
The songs feel so pure that I can't fault this album at all, every aspect of it was phenomenal. 10/10
- Leeds music scene, UK
A captivating and addictive mix of acoustic folk and blues that will stimulate, invigorate and liberate you. A truly beautiful collection of songs.
- Sandman magazine, UK
A peaceful and shimmering musical landscape that is, frankly, beautiful.
- BluesWax magazine, USA
10/10
- Whisperin' and Hollerin' magazine, UK
A brilliant exhibition of slide guitar. Intense, angry and very accurate slide guitar madness.
- Vibrations magazine, UK
Absolutely brilliant. Really, really wonderful stuff.
- BBC Radio Cleveland
Beautifully played. Fantastic.
- BBC Raw Talent
A brilliant combination of hushed, haunting vocals and intricate slide guitar.
- Link magazine, UK
