More on Al Witham and Faultlines...

Witham’s songs combine a swampy blues feel with finely crafted lyrics that explore the faultlines of modern relationships and life, delivered with a unique bourbon baritone voice and an instantly recognisable guitar style based on feel rather than pyrotechnics.

His first album, Just Is, was released in 2004 and was well received in the local blues/roots scene, establishing him as a writer and performer to watch. Capital Times’ Dave Burgess reviewed the launch of Just Is and described Al Witham as a “brilliant guitarist, with an expressive voice lying somewhere between [Johnny] Cash, Tom Waits and a bag of gravelly cement”. Burgess also rated the album at 4.5 (out of 5) and described it as “blues of the highest calibre” that “could have come straight from the banks of the Mississippi with a sprinkling of something tasty from the streets of Wellington”.

The new album finds Witham hitting his straps and achieving a fully developed personal voice that goes beyond the tired cliches of blues. The band on Fautlines includes some of Wellington's finest: Richard Te One (who also produced the album), Wayne Mason, Bob Smith, Dave Murphy, George Barris, and Terry Casey.

Those musicians will perform the album live at the Ruby Lounge, followed by a party set of songs from Just Is and classic blues by artists like John Lee Hooker, Howling Wolf and Tony Joe White.