Blues fingerstyle and slide guitarist, Tim Williams, will be returning to Legacy Guitar and Coffee House for a June 7 performance.
Long revered in Calgary as a blues and roots master and icon, Tim Williams was officially recognized as such on an international scale when he earned the highly regarded International Blues Award for best guitarist in the solo/duo category Jan. 26 at the 30th International Blues Challenge, held in Memphis, Tenn.,
The annual competition saw nearly 250 acts from 16 countries vying for first place.
“I knew I would do OK,” laughed Williams, blaming the win on ‘good luck’ and developing a ‘good rapport with the sound guy’.
“This was the first year our blues association — the Calgary Blues Music Association (CBMA) — entered our region into the contest,” he explained.
Williams said he was impressed with the level of competition — including Calgary’s own Mike Clark Band, who was sent down following a regional competition hosted by the CBMA — and that he remains grateful to a burgeoning local music scene for the support.
Calgary blues lovers can catch Williams every Tuesday evening at Mikey’s Juke Joint — at least when he’s not on the road traveling between festivals.
“I’ve always been lucky enough to play at some of best festivals in Canada and a few major international ones, but the southern U.S. blues circuit has always eluded me,” said Williams, who said that winning the prestigious award has opened doors and resulted in summer bookings at some high-level U.S. festivals.
Festivals on Williams’ itinerary this year include Portland Waterfront Blues Festival, Heritage Music BluesFest in Wheeling, West Virginia and the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, Oct. 4-11 in the Mexican Riviera.
An American by birthright, Williams, 65, left California and began to call Canada home in 1970.
His traditional blues-based style is steeped in early influences, including 1950s rhythm and blues and rock and roll, bluegrass, early 1960s folk, hillbilly and western swing and Hawaiian and Mexican music.
Production accolades include the likes of Little Miss Higgins, Miss Quincy and the Showdown and Ray Bonneville.
Touting his 2013 release, Blue Highway, Williams said his Legacy stage will be set up for all the Cochrane guitar lovers.
“Legacy always tends to draw the guitar nuts,” he said, adding that this crowd offers the opportunity for him to bring some of his less popular guitars, including his Hawaiian steel and 12-string.
Tickets to the show are available at legacyguitar.ca.
Learn more about Williams at cayusemusic.com.
