Acclaimed acoustic fingerstyle guitarist Yasmin Williams performs at McCarter Theatre Center on Thursday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Williams is known for her unorthodox and expansive approach to the guitar. Inspired by artists ranging from Chuck Brown to Jimi Hendrix, she began developing her distinctive technique while studying music theory and composition at NYU.
Incorporating alternate tunings, percussive elements, lap tapping, and even playing kalimba and guitar simultaneously, Williams expands the sonic possibilities of the acoustic instrument. She often integrates kora, harp guitar, and banjo into her work.
Her “radiant sound and adventitious origins have made her a key figure in a diverse dawn for the solo guitar,” wrote The New York Times. NPR Music has observed that “the joy and possibility she brings to the guitar reminds me more of Eddie Van Halen than any of the other fingerstyle guitarists to whom she’s compared.”
In 2026, the International Folk Music Awards recognized Williams’ impact, stating: “Through her boundary-pushing artistry and principled activism, Yasmin Williams stands as one of contemporary music’s most visionary and courageous voices, fully embodying the values and ideals of the folk community.”
Tickets are available at mccarter.org or by calling Patron Services at 609-258-2787.
