Dar Williams August 2009 Tour

Dar Williams August 2009 Tour

Coming up in August 2009, acclaimed singer-songwriter Dar Williams will perform in select markets as she tours in support of her latest album, Promised Land. Produced by Brad Wood (Pete Yorn, Liz Phair, Ben Lee), Promised Land features a collection of 12 reflective songs with special guest appearances by Marshall Crenshaw, Suzanne Vega, and Gary Louris from The Jayhawks. Please be sure to include Dar Williams's upcoming concerts in your listings and "Critics' Choices." Interviews and photos are available upon request.

One of the most applauded singer-songwriters of her generation, Dar Williams captivates audiences with an inimitable elegance and honesty in her folk-pop songwriting. On her latest album, Promised Land, Williams enlists credited producer Brad Wood and a new stall of top-shelf musicians including drummer Travis McNabb (Better Than Ezra) and multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz (Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Wilco, Sheryl Crow) for an inspiring set of 10 original compositions and two covers: Fountains of Wayne's "Troubled Times" and "Midnight Radio" from the stage musical and film Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Drawing in disparate stories and characters that present a wide array of social and political topics, Williams delivers visceral songs peeled down to their essence as she captures what's at the heart of each of her stories.

"With every album, I'm trying to figure out what I don't have to say, while still giving each song its due," Williams says. "On Promised Land, I was paring the stories down to their core. I wanted the songs to sound simple and down to what they were meant to be, which is hard to do. It takes a lot of knowledge to get to the point where you can say what you need to say - no more, no less."

Widely recognized for discovering the personal in such universal subjects as politics, religion, sexuality and family, Williams also finds herself influenced by "the high seas of parenthood" on Promised Land. Much of her new material surfaced after Williams, a wife and mother of a five-year-old son, finished her second children's book Lights, Camera, Amalee (Scholastic, 2006). She also writes about trying to be open to major life change ("It's Alright"), taking the high road in past relationships ("The Easy Way"), the perspective that comes with age ("The Tide Falls Away"), and the Milgram obedience experiment that took place at Yale University in the '60s ("Buzzer").

Williams comments, "I'll go through a day where the only people I'll talk to are my husband, my son, and the person behind the counter at CVS. But, being a parent has pushed me out into my town too. It connects me to all the stuff that I care about, but on a local level, like politics, the environment, one's town, and all the interesting personalities in it. I'm interested in those stories. I see them connecting to the big picture of how people approach life. I think that's in the songs."

Williams's community involvement spans the course of her 15-year songwriting career as she often performs at benefit concerts in small towns, and supports local food movements, eco-friendly initiatives, and arts outreach with kids. She notes, "In my mind, this country is like a patchwork of towns filled with people hanging out, growing gardens, listening to music, and talking about important stuff. In a way, that's what the album title is about. I found myself making a distinction between the Promised Land we claim and the actual promise of the land that we try to live up to."

Since the early '90s when Williams rose from the Northeast coffeehouse circuit to the national spotlight, she has toured with such distinguished artists as Joan Baez, Patty Griffin, Ani DiFranco, Shawn Colvin and many others. She has released one live album - Out There Live (2001); seven studio albums - The Honesty Room (1993), Mortal City (1996), End of the Summer (1997), The Green World (2000), The Beauty of the Rain (2003), My Better Self (2005), and Promised Land (2008); and one live DVD - Live at Bearsville Theater (2007). Through it all, Williams's motivation as an artist is, as she says, 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."

Never afraid to challenge herself or her audience, Dar Williams continues to charm a dedicated fanbase with her poignant new songs and spellbinding live shows. On her upcoming tour, she will highlight songs from Promised Land as well as select tunes from her previous albums.

"Dar Williams rocks out on her latest, in tuneful songs that offer incisive portraits of emotional entanglements and our perilous world. She helps speak to our better nature without preaching. It's a great record." -Wall Street Journal

"A leader in the folk-pop movement...intimate and profound writing style." -Performing Songwriter

"Williams tells personal and political stories with wit and warmth, coming across as an old friend onstage. Dar aims for the brain and heart, and she scores a bull's-eye with this release. Promised Land is as brilliant as ever." -Elmore

"Dar Williams's charm shines through [on her latest album Promised Land]." -Boston Globe

Dar Williams August 2009 Tour

Wednesday, August 5: Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA
Thursday, August 6: The Talkhouse in Amagansett, NY
Friday, August 7: Lowell Summer Music Series in Lowell, MA
Saturday, August 8: L.L. Bean Summer Concert Series in Freeport, ME
Sunday, August 9: Infinity Hall in Norfolk, CT
Tuesday, August 11: Is Venue in Charlottesville, VA
Thursday, August 13: Capital Ale House in Richmond, VA
Friday, August 14: The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, NC
Saturday, August 15: Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA
Sunday, August 16: WorkPlay in Birmingham, AL
Tuesday, August 18: Blueberry Hill in St. Louis, MO
Wednesday, August 19: Liberty Hall in Lawrence, KS
Friday, August 21: Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, MN
Saturday, August 22: Turner Hall Ballroom in Milwaukee, WI
Sunday, August 23: Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, IL
Tuesday, August 25: Bluebird Nightclub in Bloomington, IN
Wednesday, August 26: The Ark in Ann Arbor, MI
Friday, August 28: Ram's Head in Annapolis, MD
Saturday, August 29: Vasa Park in Hackettstown, NJ
Sunday, August 30: Pinkney Park in Rowayton, CT

Dar Williams Links:

MySpace.com: http://www.myspace.com/darwilliams

Official Artist Website: http://www.darwilliams.com/

Razor & Tie Website: http://www.razorandtie.com/

Dar Williams Media Page: http://www.razorandtiemedia.com/artistpage.php?artist=12