Yasmin Williams
Buy tickets: eventim.us/yasmin_williams
Doors at 6:00 PM
Show at 7:00 PM
Seated Show
When guitarist and composer Yasmin Williams sits down to compose, she does not search her subconscious for elaborate melodies or clever chord progressions. Instead, she goes granular—fixating on a single note. She plays it again and again, sustaining it, adjusting the attack or release, subtly shifting its character. Eventually, other notes begin to gather around it, forming chords and expanding its world. Williams calls this process “ruminating,” and it is central to her writing.
“I’ve learned a little about how to sit with a note, and to give things time,” the Virginia native says. “You find some tiny idea and just play it over and over again until something else appears. You have to trust that sometimes a note will take you where it wants to go next.” That intuitive patience led to the breathtakingly tactile and quietly riveting Acadia, her Nonesuch debut. Across nine original compositions, Williams expands dramatically on the sonic landscape she began shaping with her acclaimed 2021 release, Urban Driftwood.
In addition to the crisp fingerpicked guitar that established her as a rising force in instrumental folk, Williams performs on kora, harp guitar, banjo, electric guitar, and bass with striking authority. While her earlier recordings were largely solo endeavors, Acadia finds her collaborating across a broad stylistic spectrum, including vocalist Aoife O’Donovan, violinist Darrian Donovan Thomas, folk quartet Darlingside, synthesist Rich Ruth, and jazz alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins.
Though the songs on Acadia evoke rolling hills and rustic rambles, they are far from traditional folk. Many unfold as intricate suites, marked by sudden shifts in mood, spontaneous reharmonizations, and extended tension-building passages more commonly associated with progressive rock.
Williams organized Acadia in three movements: an opening section that channels the exuberance of old-time music while gently stretching its conventions; a middle passage rich with layered textures and atmospheric expanse; and a final segment introducing electric guitars and drums, embracing an experimental and improvisational spirit.
Written while touring, the music carries that momentum within it. There is breath, motion, and a sense of the world unfolding in real time.
It is music that feels alive.
Joining Yasmin Williams is East Tennessee native Rachel McIntyre Smith, a songwriter whose comfort-twang storytelling bridges tradition and modern charm. Holler Magazine calls her “Loretta Lynn for the TikTok Generation,” and that blend of classic country influence with a fresh, relevant perspective shines through every lyric.
A classically trained pianist who began lessons at age nine, Rachel won the Tennessee State Piano Competition twice and earned the prestigious Paderewski Medal for ten consecutive years of superior Guild ratings. Her deep foundation in music theory shaped her multi-instrumental approach, leading her to teach herself guitar and ukulele while developing a distinct, melody-driven songwriting voice.
Her debut EP Glory Daze was featured on BBC Radio and Spotify’s Best of Fresh Finds Country, and the title track was named one of the best country songs of 2022 by Grady Smith. Her latest release, Honeysuckle Friend, highlights poignant lyrics layered with banjo, mandolin, and rich three-part harmonies.
With brightly colored style, smooth vocals, and small-town warmth, Rachel brings a heartfelt, roots-inspired energy that beautifully complements an evening of expressive, genre-bending musicianship.
Buy tickets: eventim.us/yasmin_williams
Venue Policies (Please Read):
No large bags or backpacks. Small purses or clutches only. Outside food and drink are not allowed unless otherwise noted. Exceptions may be made for medical or infant needs. All bags are subject to inspection. Concerts are 18+, and we ID everyone at the door. Ages 17 & under are allowed IF accompanied by a parent/guardian. All ticket sales final unless the show is cancelled by the venue. If you have questions, please contact the venue in advance.
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