Australian singer songwriter William Crighton is embarking on his first headline solo tour which will see him stopping by the Brass Monkey on April 28 a to play songs from his acclaimed first two albums.
''This is my first headline tour performing solo and I've been putting a lot of effort into making it a memorable one," Crighton says.
"I'll be playing some keys and other various stringed things. I'll be telling some stories, sharing some thoughts and performing songs from both albums as well as airing some new material for the first time.
''Obviously, I love the band and it will be a different experience not having them there this time but exploring, experimenting and peeling back the songs solo, finding out what can be conjured together with you in this format is an exciting prospect for me''.
After the critical acclaim of his 2016 self-titled debut, Crighton knew expectations would be high that his second album, Empire, would continue his appeal.
"It's a progression, I suppose," Crighton says. "An evolution in the sense that the first album was a few years ago now. So naturally my life has changed and my observations have changed, grown and I've gotten new ones."
Crighton's debut was characterised by his uniquely Australian story-telling. It was written predominantly at his former property at Burrinjuck in south-west NSW and reflected on his transient country childhood living between Dubbo, Ardlethan and Tumut.
On Empire, Crighton based his lyrics on more universal themes. War and murder, love and happiness.
It's more abstract and reflective of the two years in between albums, which have taken the 32-year-old around Australia and to North America on relentless tours.
"One of the main things is reflecting upon our history and my history as a white fella in this country, and in a greater scale, just my place in this country and the planet at this point," he says.
"I'm just trying to grow and learn as much as I can about the world around me and music and keep expressing that," he says.
- William Crighton plays the Brass Monkey, Cronulla, on Sunday, April 28.