Garret T. Willie Channels Grit, Heritage and Nashville Fire on Powerful New Album Bill’s Café

Garret T. Willie Channels Grit, Heritage and Nashville Fire on Powerful New Album Bill’s Café

release date: 27th February 2026

​Garret T. Willie is a 25-year-old blues-rock force of nature from Alert Bay, British Columbia, whose sound carries far beyond his years. He has already proven himself on stage, often with solos ripped from the back his head.
 
His debut album “Same Pain” earned international acclaim, with airplay on BBC Radio 2, Top 20 chart placements in the UK and US, two Western Canadian Music Award nominations, ‘Best New Touring Artist’ nomination at the Canadian Live Music Industry Awards and tour dates opening for Kenny Wayne Shepherd, John Fogerty and Joe Bonamassa.
 
His second studio album, Bill’s Café out on the 27th of February is rooted in family history, indigenous identity, it’s a tribute, a turning point, and a reckoning. Named after his grandfather’s pool hall café in Alert Bay, BC, Bill’s Café bridges Willie’s small-town upbringing with the bright lights of Nashville, where the album was recorded under Grammy Award–winning producer Tom Hambridge. The project marks a defining step forward for Willie, capturing a sound that is raw, bold, and emotionally charged.
 
Ahead of his first Nashville writing session, Willie visited the Johnny Cash Museum — an experience that deeply resonated. His grandfather bore a striking resemblance to Cash, sharing similar mannerisms, Air Force service, and quiet presence. The moment connected Willie’s roots to a larger tradition of outlaw storytelling that continues to inform his songwriting.
 
‘Bill’s Café’ is a road map of grit, heart, and soul. Written and recorded between late nights, long drives, and recording sessions, the album captures the restless spirit of a young artist carrying old-soul blues and rock traditions into the future. Across the album, Willie threads tales of whiskey-fuelled nights, missed chances, stubborn resilience, and the freedom that only comes with chasing music town to town.
 
Known for his cutting vocals and gritty guitar work, Willie delivers songs that feel lived-in and urgent. He doesn’t just sing the blues — he bends it into something dangerous, timeless, and personal.
 
‘Bill’s Café’ is a tribute to where Willie comes from and a statement of where he’s heading.
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Album Tracklist 
1. Hypnotist
2. Devils Doll
3. Going to Toronto
4. It Won’t Get Done
5. Small Town People
6. High Beam Blues
7. Young Country Boy
8. Golden Highway
9. I’m Late
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Album Credits
GARRET T. WILLIE : VOCAL & GUITAR 
TOM HAMBRIDGE : BACKING VOCAL & DRUMS
AUDLEY FREED : GUITAR (TRACKS 1,2,3,4,6)
KENNY GREENBERG GUITAR (TRACKS 5,7,9)
TOMMY MACDONALD : BASS
KEVIN MCKENDREE : KEY’S (TRACKS 1,2,3,4,6,8)
MIKE ROJAS : KEYS KEY’S (TRACKS 1,2,3,4,6,8)
PRODUCER : TOM HAMBRIDGE 
ARTIST MANAGEMENT : ELI WENER 
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS : GUY HALE, MIKE ZITO & OLIVER OVERTON 

​Website:
garrettwillie.com

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