Gateway 23 is based in Sydney and consists of Dez Williams on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Dave Astley on lead guitar and Karen Williams on bass guitar and backing vocals. G23 perform cover songs and original songs written by Dez and perform regularly at different venues and festivals around the greater Sydney area.
The Singer Songwriter / Folk Rock / Adult Contemporary perform both original songs and cover songs. Their songs are easy listening style backed by 3 acoustic guitars. Their inspired selection of songs will take you on a pleasant journey of melodic tunes and lyrical harmonies
G23 have recently completed recording their debut album 'Old Street' which is made up of 12 original songs written by Dez whose primary songwriting influences are Bob Dylan, Rodriguez, Van Morrison, Neil Young and Leonard Cohen.
Two songs from the debut album were shortlisted in the 2010 ASA Songwriting competition.
Tone Ranley of the Songwriting Society of Australia wrote in its magazine 'Connections'; "Dez Williams sends me, I can't put it plainer than that, his songs are as good as you can possibly get, people like Dez can stop you in your tracks with a wise observation about life and its foibles".
Chris Spencer, in his Trad & Now CD review of 'Old Street' wrote " A competent debut album and I look forward to hearing more of Dez's writing".
Since Lina has moved on G23 have found a lead guitarist who has brought a brand new sound to the group since the recording. The new set list consists of 40+ songs where 15 are original songs and 25 acoustic versions of cover songs by The Cure, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springstein, The Waifs, Paul Kelly, INXS, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Jethro Tull, Katie Melua, Old Crowe Medicine Show and many more.
Kaz sings lead on ten of the set songs. Karen sings lead vocal on 10 of the songs and Dez sings the rest with both singing back up vocals.
CD Recording
To the right and below are some photos of G23 taken at the recording studio in north west Sydney during the making of our CD 'Old Street'.
The CD has 12 songs written by Dez and arranged by G23. The lyrics and chords to all the songs are posted here on our site.
We are really excited about the CD and patiently awaiting plenty of sales to help us fund our next CD recording.
Studio Photos taken by Robert Brindley - brindleyimages
To hear audio samples of the songs from our CD go to our Shop page - Click Here
More About G23
Dez
I grew up in Mudgee NSW with parents who both loved music. My father played guitar in a country band in his youth and mum's beautiful voice was often heard through the house. I received an acoustic guitar for my 14th birthday and it sat on top of my wardrobe until I was 17. I had caught a train to Perth where some Kiwis had guitars and played and sang for the 3 day trip. When I arrived back home I bought a Bob Dylan songbook and taught myself some of his epic songs like Tambourine Man and A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall. I started busking and playing at parties and joined my first band 'Kif Karson and the Cutlunch Cowboys' when I was about 20. I started writing verse and soon was putting the words to music. While performing solo gigs at a local night club/restaurant I played a few originals and got some great feedback so decided to continue songwriting. So far I have written all the songs we sing but I am still trying to convince the girls to get one of theirs down off the cupboard shelf for some fresh air.
Kaz
Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a child I enjoyed the piano and banjo being played by my grandparents and family and friends singing along to their songs.
By the age of eight I was singing solo at family functions, supported by their music accompaniment.
As a young adult I started playing the acoustic guitar and writing lyrics and poetry. Eventually, I picked up the bass guitar and within six months I joined my first band and began playing and singing originals and covers.
DaveI started playing many moons ago when I was 8 years old and now play lead guitar or drums with a few different bands. My favourite guitar is my Gretsch which I use when playing in Rockabilly and Rock bands. When playing with G23 I play the Dean or my Cole Clarke. I enjoy playing acoustic music because it is quieter and suits my laid back and leisurely outlook on life.
NOTE: Lina has now moved on since recording the debut album.
Lina
I grew up with a fascination of the guitar but didn’t get my hands on my first guitar until I was 16. I grew up in the small town of Dorrigo, NSW so guitar teachers were few and far between, so like Dez, the guitar sat at the back of the cupboard for many years. I was in my mid 20’s before it really emerged and with friends taught myself a few chords. Things fell into place and I started playing in a folk band called Latitude. My interest in learning the Mandolin and Bodhran developed from that and teaming up with Dez and Kaz has allowed me to bring these two instruments to a musical genre different from their traditional origins. I’ve always enjoyed looking outside the square with music – rules were meant to be broken!
