HUDSON VALLEY, New York – “It’s a highway, filled with deep, exotic colors and beautiful delicate things as well as the perils that come from moving so fast,” says Dar Williams, describing modern life. On her 13th album, Hummingbird Highway, out today on Righteous Babe Records, Williams celebrates the colors she glimpses from her vantage as a touring musician. “I was a kid from the suburbs who listened when her hippie teachers said to get out in the world,” Williams muses. Hummingbird Highway is the latest chapter in a richly unfolding story. Drawing on her experience as a playwright, Williams populates her latest album with nuanced characters that come alive in the space of a few minutes.
Listen to the album here.
Since 2013, Williams has been leading songwriting workshops where she teaches students to let songs find their own trajectories. The musician, author (What I Found in a Thousand Towns, How To Write A Song That Matters) and mentor will start her Hummingbird Highway 2026 tour in New Jersey in early February and conclude it with a week long stint in the UK. Many notable towns and cites will be visited in between, including Chicago, Nashville, Seattle, Los Angeles, Boulder and NYC.
Full shows and venues here and additional information here
Recent praise for the new album and its songs:
“Musically, the song (Hummingbird Highway) gallops along with a medium-tempo beat that almost sounds like the fluttering of a bird while Williams’ vocals glide right along with soulful warmth. There is a feeling of freedom, reflection, and celebration that comes from the rich timeless lyrics and soaring harmonies. For Williams, the song marks an exciting addition to a catalog that is already quite impressive.”
– GLIDE MAGAZINE
“…She’s absolutely masterful at mixing multiple threads of commentary and musical styles into a single song with layers of messages and stories and acoustics. Hummingbird Highway showcases that talent.”
– TWANGVILLE
“Olive Tree” closed captivatingly. Dar’s ability to perpetuate an expressive sound with rolling piano notes, an earthly Clara Kennedy cello that contrasts with the percussive drive, is superb. Other artists don’t dive this deeply. Their minds aren’t as proficient as their fingers. It may just be one of the year’s best.”
– AMERICANA HIGHWAYS
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