By JOANNA STANDLEY
Staff Writer

Known for her witty and introspective songs, Williams' style has been compared to that of Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez with a twist. Receiving rave reviews for her appearances at such festivals as the Newport Folk Festival and this summer's Lilith Fair, as well as being featured on Fox's hit series Party of Five, Williams has established herself as one of the preeminent singer-songwriters of her generation.

Raised in Westchester County, New York, Williams was playing guitar and writing songs by age eleven. An early fan of folk, some of her favorite artists were Judy Collins, Joan Baez, Simon & Garfunkel, and the Byrds. A sports injury in her sophomore year of high school forced her to turn her attention elsewhere. She found her niche as a self-professed "theater nerd" and wrote music and plays for the remainder of her high school years.

Williams attended Wesleyan University, where she majored in religion and theater. After graduation she moved to Boston and worked as a stage manager for an opera company. Meanwhile, she wrote music and took voice lessons and soon her instructor encouraged her to try the coffeehouse circuit. After spending two years in Boston, which Williams refers to as the "boot camp of folk," she headed out to Northampton, MA, where she quickly became a favorite with the college and coffeehouse crowds.

Tonight's concert is sponsored by the Women's Action Coalition and the Freewill Folk Society, which are collaborating for the first time. Both groups saw Williams as the most appropriate performer for the event. "Dar fits quite well into a WAC/Freewill coalition," explained Ethan Miller '00, secretary of FFS. "WAC is a group striving towards a world vision based in love, community, and equality. Freewill is striving to support, encourage, and preserve the folk art that embodies such values." Other groups that are helping to sponsor the event include the Jewish Cultural Community, the multicultural center, Sangai Asia, and the New World Coalition. Miller added, "All eloquent waxing aside, we're bringing Dar because we all dig her."

Tonight's concert is about more than just good music. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the "Maine Won't Discriminate" campaign against referendum Question 1, a citizen initiated ballot question, that, Miller explains, "will legalize discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation." Students will have the opportunity to obtain information on the issue surrounding the ballot question and to register to vote and Williams herself will make an announcement to show her support for the campaign.

Tickets will be sold at the door. The tickets are $8 for Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby students and $12 for others.