Iain Matthews

 Fairports/Plainsong/Matthews Southern Comfort                                                  

 When some artists are referred to as “legends” it is usually measured in years, or based on the quality of their music. Few are measured in both time and quality. One artist that has been judged by both is Iain Matthews

As a founding member of Fairport Convention back in ’67, Matthews appeared on the band’s first three recordings (Fairport Convention, What We did on our Holidays and Unhalfbricking) until musical differences caused him to leave in ’69 during the recording of their third album. It had become obvious to him that the group’s newfound traditional folk/rock direction would involve him far less than its contemporary work.

  The next two years would yield three critically acclaimed releases for his new band, Matthews Southern Comfort. The band went on to chart a #1 UK single with their version of Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock”. At the pinnacle of the bands’ rise to stardom, Matthews quit the band to pursue a solo career.

 The 70’s, were extremely productive for Iain, releasing 10 more albums as both solo artist and member of the band Plainsong. In 1978 the Stealin’ Home, album - thought by some as Matthews’ finest effort of all time - yielded the Top 10 US hit ‘Shake It’. In recent years, Iain has appeared on several high-profile releases, including What’s That I Hear - The Songs of Phil Ochs and Nanci Griffith’s Other Voices. He also toured the UK with Nanci in support of her record during the latter half of 1998. That same year saw the release of his own highly acclaimed album ‘Excerpts From Swine Lake’. Iain moved abroad to Holland, touring there as well as Scandinavia, Germany, the UK and the USA.

  2012 sees Matthews on a major label again with the release of a 3 disc career anthology set “Collected.”

  After almost forty five years of creating music, Iain Matthews, guitar at the ready, voice intact and eyes fixed steady on the horizon, is still moving forward and at the top of his game. Iain usually performs live with keyboard player Egbert Derix - Matthews claims it's the best musical partnership he's ever had. The pair have an uncanny balance of joy and musicality between them on stage and are preparing to release their second album together on Universal’s Verve Forecast label.

   “Iain has one of the best and most distinctive voices in popular music, and also one of the most recognizable musical styles. He has written some fabulous songs, and turned himself into a bloody good guitar player. Of all the soccer players turned musicians, he knocks spots off Julio Inglesias.”
Richard Thompson

“I played with Iain in Fairport Convention in the late 1960s, when he and Sandy Denny formed an incomparable and stunning vocal pairing. What I can say with complete confidence is that his commitment to music has always been total, his attention to detail is legendary and his standards are always of the highest calibre. And his voice, like his youthful good looks, never seems to age. Curse him!”
Ashley Hutchings