music that is steeped in blues, gospel and old-time folk

Karl S. Williams and Sally Wiggins make music that is steeped in blues, gospel and old-time folk, with poetic sensibilities that call to mind the classic singer-songwriters of yesteryear.

With a voice that sounds about a thousand years old, Karl moves between guitar, piano and banjo while Sally holds it down on the kit with rhythms drawing from fife and drum music, New Orleans clave and her wealth of jazz and Afro influences.

At this show they are excited to be performing material from their debut release Araluen // Dargiin which was recorded at Frying Pan Studios inside MONA in Hobart, Tasmania with Chris Townend (Portishead, Silverchair) in early 2025. The record is comprised of two distinct sides; side one Araluen is five new tracks, while side two Dargiin (the Badtjala word for rainbow) contains five duo versions of songs from Karl’s solo album Rainbows in the Gasoline. As a whole, the album captures the roots of their collaboration and points the direction forward.

Expect a show which ranges from acoustic intimacy and hypnotic spirituals to rollicking piano blues and beyond.

Sally and Karl have been playing music together since 2023, including some notable shows opening for The Whitlams, Ash Grunwald, Steve Smyth, and The Cruel Sea. Karl has been releasing music since 2013, including the award-winning album ‘Lifeblood’ (2020). His debut album ‘Heartwood’ (2013) was described by Noel Mengel in The Courier Mail as “So good it may even save your life.” Sally is a reputable percussionist who has been playing drums for over 25 years and was noted by Dom Famularo in America’s Modern Drummer Magazine (2015) as one of “the finest drummers and drum instructors in the world.”