The New Quintet & Nicholas Edward Williams

Biography

Nicholas Edward Williams, a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, storyteller, and preservationist from Chattanooga, Tennessee, began his musical journey amid personal challenges including athletic injuries that ended his college sports career. Initially performing under the moniker 'Whetherman' starting in 2007, inspired by The Phantom Tollbooth, he self-recorded his debut album 'Bull' and built a career through relentless gigging, open mics, and van life tours across the US, culminating in 180 shows over four years. A pivotal burnout in 2017 led him to end the Whetherman era during a farewell tour in Costa Rica and transition to performing under his birth name, settling influences from a chance encounter with guitarist Joan in New York's Adirondacks that deepened his roots music passion.

Williams' career flourished as an independent artist, releasing ten full-length albums funded entirely on his own, including the 2019 debut 'As I Go Ramblin’ Around' which hit #6 on International Folk Radio DJ Charts, the 2021 'Folk Songs For Old Times’ Sake' praised by David Holt and Oliver Wood, and recent works like 'Rags, Folk, and Blues, Oh My!'. He has toured 10 countries across three continents, opened for acts like Taj Mahal, The Wood Brothers, CAAMP, Dom Flemons, and John Craigie, and hosts the roots music history podcast 'American Songcatcher'. As founder of EarthTone Booking Agency (2018) and ReString Appalachia for Hurricane Helene relief, he bridges historical roots genres—ragtime, Piedmont blues, traditional folk, old time, early country—with modern interpretations.

His musical style fuses preservation with innovation, reimagining American roots music through authentic vocals, tasteful guitar arrangements, and sparse production, earning acclaim for authenticity without emulation. Williams' legacy lies in 'playing it forward,' educating via live presentations like TEDx and museum sessions, while maintaining independence without labels or managers, influencing contemporary folk and blues revival scenes.

Fun Facts

• Performed 180 shows in four years living in a van ('Black Betty') with his wife, showering only every four days while traversing the US.
• Originally an athlete kicked out of college after injuries, he tortured friends with early guitar and 'dying cat' singing before open mics.
• Founded ReString Appalachia to provide instrument relief after Hurricane Helene and EarthTone Booking Agency in 2018 while self-funding 10 albums.
• Met a pivotal guitar influence named Joan at a 90+ degree farmers market in Keene Valley, NY, leading to a cinematic onstage reunion that night.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Joan (guitarist) - Chance encounter that sealed his roots music path and inspired advanced guitar learning (Adirondack Mountains farmers market performance influencing his style)
• Richard “Rabbit” Brown - Stylistic inspiration via historical folk song (“James Alley Blues” from Anthology of American Folk Music) [Historical, performed 2017]

Key Collaborators

• The New Quintet (also referred to as The New Quinet) - Band member as guitarist and vocalist (Performances including 'Thank You, Richard Winham' concert)

External Links

• Spotify