Gateway 23

Gateway 23 is a trio of musicians based in northwest Sydney and consists of Dez Williams on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Karen Williams on acoustic bass guitar and backing vocals and Dave Astley on lead guitar.

The group perform original songs and also numerous cover songs. Their music is easy listening with a focus on lyrical diction and vocal expertise. Backed by rhythmic guitar, melodic lead guitar and driving bass the original songs will take you along a lyrical journey down governed, bludgeoned streets, over dreamingtime deserts, across timeless mountains, behind lines of crazy, lonely men who are searching for sweet, sweet love.

The band have recently completed recording their debut album ‘Old Street’ made up of 12 original songs written by Dez Williams whose primary songwriting influences are Bob Dylan, Rodriguez, Van Morrison, Neil Young and Leonard Cohen. Two of the group’s original songs were shortlisted in the 2010 Australian Songwriters Association Songwriting competition.

G23 gigs consist of 40+ songs where 15 are original songs and the rest are covers. Kaz sings lead vocal on 10 of the covers and Dez sings the rest. Covers include acoustic versions of a variety of artists including Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Katie Melua, The Waifs, INXS, Paul Kelly, The Motels, Dire Straits, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and many more.

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".