Singer-songwriter Sam Williams has performed in the UK before but incredibly he’s never headlined a show on this side of the pond before. Last night he was able to tick that achievement off his bucket list when he took to the stage at The Lower Third in London, performing a 60-minute set that showcased his music, paid tribute to his lineage and previewed what’s coming up next.
The London show is part of a mini European tour for Williams and it was a chance for his fans to see him up-close-and-personal. Back by a drummer and a guitarist, Williams looked relaxed when he arrived on stage to open his set with ‘Wild Girl’ from his 2021 album ‘Glasshouse Children’. Sounding as resplendent live as he does on his studio recordings, Williams was captivating as he took the audience through an eclectic set-list that explored many facets of his unique approach to Country music.
Selections from Williams’ current project ‘Act I: Scarlet Lonesome’ were plentiful. The gorgeous old Hollywood feel of ‘American Actress’ sounded truly sumptuous while the deeply personal ‘I Was Home’, a song about the singer’s late sister, proved to be an emotional moment. ‘Runaway’, one of my favourites on the set, sounded as fantastic live as I’d hoped it would and it’s definitely one of the jewels in Williams’ arsenal. A rendition of ‘Carnival Heart’, which is part of Cirque Du Soleil's Songblazers show, was a highlight of the night with William’s powerful voice resonating strongly throughout.
Williams understands how to walk the fine line when it comes to honouring, and talking about, his lineage. The set was peppered with tributes to his father Hank Williams Jr. and his grandfather Hank Williams, who would have turned 101 yesterday (17th September). A storming, and tweaked, version of Hank Williams Jr.’s ‘Born To Boogie’ was received warmly by the audience as was a spine-tingling rendition of the the Hank Williams classic ‘I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’. He also closed the set with a cover of his father’s ‘Weatherman’, which was the song he first made an impression in music with when he decided to follow his musical inclinations.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the set came with the previews of ‘Act II’, which is pencilled in for release in 2025. When I spoke to Williams earlier this year he teased that the project would be very different, drawing inspiration from hip-hop and pop rather than Country. That was evident in ‘Country Star’, which was performed early in the set, but it still felt authentically Sam Williams. The song is crafted in such a way that it doesn’t fall outside of the realm of what you might expect from Williams but at the same time, it’s something fresh and new. ‘Problem’ and ‘Fugitive’ were two other previews, and they sounded promising fusing wider sounds into Williams' brand of modern Country. I’m excited to hear the full project.
Sam Williams is a true talent. If you strip away the baggage that comes with his famous relations, he’s without a doubt one of the most interesting artists in Country music, and indeed music in general, right now. With a voice way beyond his years and a penchant for mining personal experiences for vivid songs that connect deeply with the listener, Williams is the kind of artist that’s impossible to manufacture. Authenticity is a rare commodity in modern music but Williams is the real deal, and his debut headline show in London is a promise of bigger things to come.
Set list: 1. Wild Girl 2. Problem 3. Country Star 4. Born To Boogie (Hank Williams Jr cover) 5. Runaway 6. American Actress 7. Scarlet Lonesome 8. I Was Home 9. Carnival Heart 10. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry (Hank Williams cover) 11. Fugitive 12. Weatherman (Hank Williams Jr cover) Performance date: 17th September 2024
