The versatile bluegrass/folk one-man band man is hitting the road in support of his first-ever kids’ album. The album, which is simply and appropriately titled Kids, is set for release Oct. 26.
Williams says he drew inspiration from traditional bluegrass, “Chester & Lester” guitar technique, Robin Williams and Bobby McFerrin.
Songs titles include the two-beat “Taking a Bath,” the hip speak-singing “Horseback Rider” and “Grandma’s Feather Bed,” the danceable “Keep It on the Paper” and the country waltz, “Because I Said So.”
“I’ve always felt, even before I had kids, that all my music was simple and playful enough to connect with kids, that it was naturally kid-friendly,” Williams said. “It’s been a long time goal of mine to make music especially with children in mind.”
In late July Williams performed with Grateful Dead drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart at the Gathering of the Vibes festival in Bridgeport, Conn.
He’ll join Yo Gabba Gabba! as a “Super Music Friend” at select shows in November.
The Gabba Gabba gigs include INB Performing Arts Center in Spokane, Wash. (Nov. 12), Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Ore. (Nov. 14), Hult Center For Performing Arts in Eugene, Ore. (Nov. 15), Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento, Calif. (Nov. 18) and Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco (Nov. 21).
Williams has also lined up several shows for his slightly older fans including Bottle & Cork in Dewey Beach, Del. (Sept. 2), Infinity Hall in Norfolk, Conn. (Sept. 12), Bourbon Theatre in Lincoln, Neb. (Sept. 24) and Neumos in Seattle (Nov. 13).
In addition, fans can catch Williams at the following festivals: Catskill Chill Music Festival in Hancock, N.Y. (Sept. 11), Starry Nights Music Festival in Bowling Green, Ky. (Oct. 2) and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in San Francisco (Oct. 3).
Click here for Keller Williams’ website.