Hayward Williams Cotton Bell
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Hayward Williams

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Hayward Williams grew up with a guitar in his hands, performing from an early age in cafés, bars, and eventually rock clubs throughout his home state of Wisconsin and around the Midwest. A high school 'Battle of the Bands' champion, the textbook lonely college kid making dinner dates with his guitar, Williams took the well-worn suburban route to musical accomplishment: he hit the ground running with a '64 Gibson that his mother bought at a garage sale, listened hard to everything from the Beatles to Buckley, and somewhere along the way began to write the tunes that would become his own voice.


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Hayward Williams - Cotton Bell
Hayward Williams - Another Sailors Dream
Hayward Williams - Trench Foot
Hayward Williams - Uphill/Downhill

“Cotton Bell”

1. Cotton Bell
2. In Doorways
3. MockingBird
4. This ain't my bed
5. Every Night
6. I will understand(mary ann)
7. New Years Eve
8. Great Plains




US Customers: Machine-Inc

“Another Sailor's Dream”

1. The Ballad Of Benson Creek
2. Redwoods
3. You Were Right
4. Doctors
5. Careful Please
6. Problems With Hemingway
7. A Glance Back
8. Who’s It Gonna Be Today?
9. Devil’s Lament
10. A Song For Lou
11. Thunder Road

Buy Now: CD Baby | ITunes

“Trench Foot”

1. Ballad of Benson Creek
2. Smoke and Mirrors
3. Toe to Toe
4. Lazarus








Buy Now: ITunes

“Uphill/Downhill”

1. All at Once
2. Paper Hat
3. Simply Put
4. Before it Begins
5. Plaster of Paris
6. Somebody
7. Wear Me Out
8. My Swift Love
9. Problems with Hemingway
10. Cleverly Disturbed
11. Good Morning
12. 12
Buy Now: CD Baby | ITunes

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Press Photos

Press Articles

Cotton Bell Continental Song City **** (4 stars)

"Given the plethora of American singer-songwriters, to stand out they have to be something special. Wisconsin native Hayward Williams fits the bill to judge by this sparse, concentrated slice of thoughtful, folky Americana. Recorded “on the crest of the coldest winter in recent memory”, the music has a huddled-down, blanketed warmth in which you can almost hear the sparks of the fire as Dan McMahon’s electric guitar picks out notes against an acoustic guitar backdrop in the evocative title track and Mockingbird. There are splashes of violin, viola, mandolin and pedal steel, and hushed, tuneful voices to flesh out Williams’s rich, resigned tone. The eight songs (plus an unnamed extra), with themes of recollection and reflection wrapped in simple, timeless melodies, are most impressive."

Link: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/theticket/2010/0730/1224275720784.html

Americana-UK 8 out of 10

"Williams’ debut “Another Sailor's Dream” got a 9/10 review on Americana UK back in 2007. Four years in the making this follow up ranks almost as high as he delivers a fine set of soulful, introspective songs with his deep baritone trickling like honey throughout.

The album was recorded in a cold, cold winter in Milwaukee and there is a sense of huddling around a fire listening to late night songs and tales. Backed by Dan McMahon and Shauncey Ali who provide all sorts of strings and things the sound is lush with lashings of strummed acoustics sweetened with tasty pedal steel, violin and dobro. All that’s missing is the crackling of a good wood fire.

"At times the overall sound is reminiscent of John Martyn’s ambient recordings, no more so than on the opening, title, song which is a beautiful and hypnotic slink that has a swamplike, Southern feel around it. 'New Years Eve' is another standout evoking wintery nights with stark, keening steel guitar cutting through the frost. The final song, 'Great Plains' is another wintery tale which starts off with solo guitar and voice building up to a tremendous climax with female backing vocals and the band showcasing their skills. A hidden track at the end with Williams’ guitar and voice only serves to recall the Martyn comparison, gruff and sensitive at the same time with some fine guitar playing, a great way to end the album."

Rhythms Magazine. (Australia)

"Looking at the bespectacled youth peering out from the album bio, you would never expect the smoky authoritative voice that swells from Cotton Bell. But maybe Williams' appearance belies his age, this being the Milwaukee singer-songwriter's third full length album. Williams' is the voice of maturity and restraint, and by voice I mean not only his deep, resonant singing, but his approach, attitude, songwriting - the whole deal. Full of gentle, tender songs beautifully recorded, Cotton Bell presents nothing groundbreaking or startling. But the deeper you listen, the further you appreciate those sounds and songs. Dan McMahon's guitar and pedal steel and dobro are consistently grace full and as a co-producer, he's clearly a crucial ingredient to the impact of Cotton Bell. Strings and harmonies flesh out the songs beautifully throughout - Third track in 'Mockingbird' is a great example,just gorgeous to listen to, a breathtaking guitar solo, strings and harmonies swelling and subsiding, and Williams' vocal melody glowing throughout."

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Booking:

jhaywardwilliams@gmail.com


Euro Label: CRS

Website: http://www.continental.nl/


Australian Label: NMM

Website: http://www.newmarketmusic.com.au/



Publicity, Europe :


Peter Holmstedt, Hemifran


Website: www.hemifran.com


Austalian Booking


Cat Leahy, The Booking Stable


Phone: 0438 202 565
Email: cat@thebookingstable.com


Australian promotional contact: (Victoria)


Justin De Rhede


Email: justinjd79@gmail.com

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Hayward Williams News
Hayward Williams Shows
About Hayward Williams

April 11, 2012

PLEASE GO TO THIS LINK AND HELP ME FINISH MY RECORD!! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/haymaker2012/hayward-williams-new-album with you generosity we can finish this thing.

December 27, 2011

EURO TOUR ANNOUNCED: I happy to report that I'll be opening up for Jeffrey Foucault's band "Cold Satellite" on their upcoming European tour. Also, it sounds like i'll be hoping up on stage to play Bass Guitar for their set too. So take cover for that. Hope to see you out there.

December 06, 2011

It's been a while, but things are going well. Working on a new record. Setting up tours. writing, reading etc. Gonna be Heading out to Europe With Jeffrey Foucault in January. So if you're over there. we'll be seeing you soon.

May 02, 2011

Back From Australia/New Zealand. Had an excellent time, met great people and even started a twitter account. Follow the link on the opposite side of the site and then follow me!

March 15, 2011

Playing some great shows down under.

November 22, 2010

Had a great show with Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts up at Cranky Pat's in Neenah saturday night. thanks to everyone for coming out.

September 18, 2010

In Melbourne Australia. A few shows under the belt and I finally have my head on strainght from the jet lag. check out the schedule, and if you in the area it'd be great to see you.

August 20, 2010

Sadly the boat show was canceled. With poor weather the good people of Milwaukee boat lines decided that it would be better to cut the show than to subject you all to a thunderstorm boat ride and all that that would entail. tickets will be re-funded.

August 15, 2010

For tickets and info for the August 20th. Milwaukee River Iroquois Boat Tour Show. go to: http://www.mkeboat.com/cruises/concert.html - hope to see you on there. Everett Thomas opens the show! www.everettthomas.com

May 06, 2010

Cotton Bell Released in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. check out New Market Music for more info: http://www.newmarketmusic.com.au/album/cotton-bell.phps

March 11, 2010

The Release Show was a great success. Nearly 300 of you showed up and made it a very memorable night. Thank you so much for your support. Heres are two links to some pic galleries of the show. Ray Aten: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eraten/ and Tony Krup: http://www.flickr.com/photos/krupphotography/

January 23, 2010

Hayward Williams will Release his long awaited album "Cotton Bell" at the beautiful Skylight Opera house in Historic Third Ward Milwaukee. Come out and enjoy the album from front to back, plus many old favorites fully fleshed out with many of Milwaukee's Finest musicians.

August 14, 2009

On tour in Australia! if you happen to be in the southern hemisphere Check out the show dates in Melbourne and Sydney.

August 12, 2009

New Website Up! Bookmark my new website so you can stay up to date with my music, news and tour dates!


There are currently no upcoming shows. Check back soon!


From the mind of Hayward:

"RT @TCrabtree83: There's only two types of people in Oklahoma City: those in blue and those in white."
twitter.com/haywardwilliams - 22 hours ago


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