Trumansburg Events

People everywhere agree: You cannot take your eyes off of this performer once he gets rolling… he has shattered all expectations of what a solo performer can be! With moving, lyrical songwriting married to virtuoso guitar playing, audiences of all ages and musical tastes are awestruck by this artist’s grace and groove. If you like guitar music, love songs, jazz, folk, americana, classic rock or alt-country, you will LOVE this show!!

William Nicholson has been making music for a long time. As a child, he had formal training on the trumpet before later moving on to the guitar. He cites legendary jazzman Miles Davis among his many influences, which also include Pat Metheny, John McLaughlin, and Leo Kottke. William was lucky enough to study guitar with Windham Hill Records founding artist Alex deGrassi, and in addition to his Americana and Roots-Music, he will enthrall with music on his one-of-a-kind 11-string harp guitar.

However, all of these sources converge on his songs that exude a pop simplicity, while maintaining the deep soul-searching layers that permeate all of his work. The result is a complex sound that is a thick stew of rockin’ roots, country blues, rock, swing jazz, folk, bluegrass, and dense Americana. With songs that speak of love and longing, loss and melancholy, hope and healing, he creates an American music of the heart and soul. Nicholson sings with a fragile honesty that says, “I can make every one of you tough guys cry.”

William Nicholson is also an expert guitarist who cheerfully jumps genres from folk and jazz to pop, rock and beyond. An energetic, engaging performer, he has blown away audiences from Burlington to San Francisco, from London to Barcelona with moving, lyrical songwriting married to virtuoso guitar playing. From smoky jazz clubs to sunny festival stages, audiences of all ages and musical tastes are awestruck by this artist’s grace and groove. In addition to his six-string technique, Nicholson amazes audiences with the exquisite music he makes on his custom-made 11-string harp guitar.

Or as one reviewer recently put it: “part Bob Dylan, part Stevie Ray Vaughan, playing on shadows and light”

“Watching his fingers dance across the strings is like seeing a masterpiece flow from a palette and a brush”

“Extraordinary guitarist plays with intimacy and honesty”

When he performs live, guitarist William Nicholson can captivate an audience with his intriguingly complex fretwork. As a soloist, Nicholson impresses with his ability to deliver so much with just two hands and one guitar

William has shared stages with modern folk luminaries Brooks Williams, Diane Zeigler, Langhorne Slim, Pamela Means, Patrick Ross (Cieli Rain), Beau Stapleton (Blue Merle), Adam Frehm (Smokin’ Grass), Larry Keel, and more. You may also find him sitting in with various rock outfits and other places under the pseudonym Steve Jones.

The songs of Justin Lantz harken back to a time when records where recordings of people playing music in a room together.  Justin’s voice is Earthy like the rust covering his lyrics. New songs written with honesty in well honored Folk/Rock forms.
Justin throws off your shackles of the work-a-day life, and cuts a path into the jungle where he waits for you to follow. Escape with him to the safety of words wrapping around your soul. The gentle fingers of his verse tickle your neck as they tighten the noose around your common experiences.
The Don’t Know Whys (Barry Miller & Tom Covell) provide the Drum & Bass foundation for Justin’s songs to drive their way into your heart, mind & memory.