Singer William Beckmann performed at Sundance’s Bluebird Cafe Concert Series on Aug. 28.
Beckmann, a singer-songwriter from Del Rio, Texas, sang songs in both English and Spanish. He said he got his start in the music business by teaching himself but was greatly influenced by where he grew up.
“Given that I didn't come from a musical family, I sort of had to teach myself how to play guitar and how to write songs,” Beckmann said. “A lot of the things I write are things that are, you know, personal and have happened to me.”
Beckmann also said that music is all he has ever loved.
“I love it for so many different reasons. I love exploring ideas. I love playing the guitar and coming up with different melodies,” he said. “It makes me feel good."
Each year, the concert series highlights songwriters and allows them to share their music.
During this year's concert, Beckmann played a mixture of old and new songs, including ones Beckmann wrote and ones he grew up with.
He also included songs from his new album, “Whiskey Lies and Alibis.”
“I wrote a majority of the songs or co-wrote them … I wanted it to be kind of like a heartbreak album, but I wanted the songs themselves to sort of sound differently sonically, so that it could kind of take you on somewhat of a rollercoaster ride. And each song is supposed to kind of sound a little bit different,” he said.
Attendees sang along with some of the songs, with others even dancing during many numbers. Concert attendees Zach and Madison Allen said that this was their first time at the Sundance’s Bluebird Cafe Concert Series.
Zach Allen said he tends to go to symphony or orchestral concerts, but he enjoyed the energy of this country performance.
“This is really amazing," he said. "I really just enjoyed the entire vibe, and I've not really ever gotten to concerts.”
Madison Haws Allen said that since she grew up in Wyoming, she loved the country vibes and country dancing at the concert.
“I love the tie-in with the old classics, both old Western classics, as well as just old solid classics, mixing it into the new,” she said. “Just being here in such an electric amphitheater is so wonderful, being close to nature."
Zach Allen also said Beckmann was a great performer.
“It's one to be like a good musician and a good singer, but then it's another whole thing to be able to perform and keep people engaged and have them have a good experience. He did that really well,” he said.
Madison Haws Allen added that “he utilized and built upon the energy that was already here, and just amplified it. It was great.”
Beckmann said that when he meets his fans or learns they know his songs, it is fulfilling and inspiring for him.
“That's probably the coolest feeling in the whole world, is when you get to see just a massive crowd of people singing, singing your songs like that,” he said. “That is something that no matter how many times you get to witness or experience, it's like feeling it for the first time.”
He also said he hopes people can relate to his music.
“Hopefully you just walk away feeling inspired or like a little bit more understood,” Beckmann said. “That's kind of all you ever really dream for, is for there to be some sort of connection with your music.”