John has been a judge since 2020

John performs with Van Buren & Wells at Bitter Jester in 2013.

John performs with Van Buren & Wells at Bitter Jester in 2013.

John Williams

Bitter Jester Music Festival Judge

2013 Bitter Jester Grand Champion

John Williams is an accomplished guitar player and singer. He is also a former Bitter Jester Music Festival winner with his former band Van Buren & Wells in 2013 and three-time finalist in the event along with fellow Bitter Jester Judge Jackson Dreyer.

He has played guitar for 13 years along with a handful of other instruments including bass, drums, trombone, and piano. John has been singing and writing songs for as long as he can remember.

His alma mater is Adlai E. Stevenson High School and currently studies communications at UIC. His current band, Today's Trade, has played in venues all across the Chicagoland area and recently released their third EP titled "Revisited.”

 
I’m excited to be a judge and I can not wait to hear all of the amazing talent out there. Good luck!
— John Williams
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