The inaugural Queensland Music Trails (an initiative of QMF), where the great Aussie road trip meets the music festival and music lovers are invited to immerse themselves in some of the country's best natural locations, kicks off this winter.
It'll be a different experience for roots-rock singer-songwriter Karl S. Williams (who recently won the Blues / Roots Award at Queensland Music Awards for 'God Is A Bomb'), who says he likes the idea of venturing off the beaten path to perform.In Windorah, Karl will perform acoustic sets across two evenings alongside Emily Wurramara and Hussy Hicks.
His is the style of music that one might associate with stemming from and being inspired by such locations, with those outback landscapes and the lonesome red dust.
"It's been a long time since I've been in the desert, so to speak, but it is definitely the background of my music," he says.
"It's rooted in the Delta blues. My influences are very much based in rural communities and folk music, as well."
Last year, Karl released his second album 'Lifeblood', which certainly emulates the influences he cites.
To some degree, this experience of being part of the Queensland Music Trails will, Karl says, almost certainly inspire a follow-up to that release.
"I'm in a bit of a writing mode at the moment. I'm collecting little particles of songs and finishing things off.
"Particularly being on the road – because we're going to be on the road a lot to get out there – there's going to be a lot of opportunity to sit there and daydream. There's bound to be a lot of inspiration along the way."
The chance to explore the lesser touched areas of the country, to connect with communities far from the urban city dwellers, would certainly be a point of jealousy for many.
Though Karl has done a little regional touring, he says performing for isolated communities, particularly when compared to shows in a major city, presents itself with a wealth of feelings.
"When I was young, I lived in a town out near Dubbo. It was a similar longitude, parallel to Windorah.
"Since I've been playing gigs, I've never made it that far west. I think it's a really different thing to go that far out. I've done regional towns along the coast, but this will be a really different thing."
Taking part in the Oasis Nights segment of the Trail, the name of the event generates a great deal of imagery for Karl, who draws parallels between his dreams of the landscape and his own songs.
"I have a very visual idea of what an oasis looks like in the desert. I guess there's an element of my music which is fitting for a pause – it does seem to have the laidback element before the bigger bashes [of the Queensland Music Trail] which, from what I see, is pretty huge."
Being a brief opportunity for respite before the next big event on Queensland Music Trails (The Big Red Bash), Karl says he feels like a well-qualified performer to best emulate the calm and peace the event boasts. "I hope so," he says.
"I think that kind of feeling will come about of its own accord, because so many people will have been through that same experience to get to that point, and then the onward journey to the Big Red Bash.
"I feel like that alone tends to illicit a certain amount of togetherness and people will be wanting to recuperate and prepare for the next thing.
"I feel like that feeling will be echoed back to us as performers, and that tends to come trough in the music in one way or another."
Karl S. Williams will be joined by Emily Wurramara and Hussy Hicks, performing in Windorah 3-4 July as part of The Queensland Music Trails, which runs 25 June to 8 July.
Karl S. Williams 2021 Tour Dates
Thu 13 May - The Met (Sunshine Coast)* with Andrea KirwinFri 14 May - Eudlo Hall (Sunshine Coast)* with Andrea Kirwin
Sat 15 May - Saltwater Eco Tours (Sunshine Coast)* with Andrea Kirwin
Sun 16 May - Cooroy Butter Factory (Sunshine Coast)* with Andrea Kirwin
Fri 4 Jun - Forest Fuzz (Brisbane)
Sun 27 Jun - Creekfest (Gold Coast)* free entry
