Top folk duo to return to Isle of Man
TWO musicians who won the best duo award at the 2009 Radio 2 Folk Awards are heading to the Isle of Man later this month.
While and Matthews, consisting of Chris While and Julie Matthews, will be performing at Peel Centenary Centre on Saturday, August 29.
Both are former members of Daphne's Flight, which also featured Manx singer songwriter Christine Collister.
Dave McLean, of the Centenary Centre, said this will be the first time Chris and Julie have performed in the Island as a duo, though they have recorded here in years gone by.
He said: 'I first met Chris and Julie when Christine Collister asked me if her new band Daphne's Flight could come to the Island and record their first album in our studio which was then at Glen Wyllin.
'I was obviously delighted, and even more so when I met them, as they were all big characters, continually laughing, joking and genuinely pleased to be on the Island.
'I knew of Chris and Julie from their time in the Albion Band, and Julie had been in Intuition with Kate Rusby et al, but I was also amazed to find that another member was Helen Watson, who had been in Little Feat, one of my all time favourite bands.
'We had been refurbishing the studio, and although I thought all the work would be finished, there was no heating when the girls arrived, and this was January.
'We hired a large industrial heater, and recorded in chunks of half an hour, and then had a break to warm the studio up again (and retune all the instruments!).
'The album was finished on time and is still selling well to this day. Obviously, we hadn't managed to put Chris and Julie off, as they phoned next year and asked if they could do Chris's solo album, though they did come in the summer this time.
'Once again Anglin Buttimore did the engineering, and the result was a wonderful record, In the Big Room (the name of the studio). I have seen Chris and Julie live on a number of occasions, and the quality of the songs, singing and musicianship is breathtaking.
'We are also lucky to have Katherine Crowe with Kelly Sweetman (cello) and Katie Lawrence (fiddle) joining us to play a set at the gig. Anyone who has seen Katherine perform will know that she is one of the Island's finest voices and her new songs are stunning.'
Chris (vocals, guitar, banjo, dulcimer, bodhran and percussion) and Julie (vocals, piano, guitar, mandolin and bouzouki) are breathtaking singers, songwriters, musicians and performers whose energy and commitment to their craft and their audience is boundless.
They have been hailed the best and most hard working acoustic duo on the folk roots scene. Their songs cover life as they see it, from the industrial wastelands of the north of England, to injustice and freedom, matters of the heart and everything in between.
Barbara Dickson said about them: 'I have become one of their biggest fans as a result of listening to their superb output. They are what I most admire, intelligent and musical with attitude.'
While and Matthews are also the founding members of Blue Tapestry, celebrating the music of Carole King and Joni Mitchell with Martin Allcock, Pete Zorn and Neil Marshall.
They also team up with Chris Leslie and David Hughes each December to become St Agnes Fountain, giving Christmas Carols a new groove.
Tickets for the While and Matthews gig at Peel Centenary Centre are 10 and are available from Celtic Gold, Peel, Peter Norris Music, Douglas, Mostly Manx, Douglas, Shakti Man, Ramsey or on the door if not sold out.
www.centenarycentre.com
www.whileandmatthews.co.uk
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Weather for Isle of Man
Saturday 04 February 2012
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