Described by Folk Roots as "awesomely talented" Julie Matthews is a dynamic performer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist. (Piano, Guitar, Bazouki, Mandolin, Piano acordion, harmonica)
Born
in Sheffield, England, she left school at 18 and began writing songs for a
small London publishing company. The contract lasted only a few months before
the company went bankrupt and forced Julie to "go out and learn her trade
properly", as she put it. So she began singing in pubs, wine bars and
then piano bars around the world, honing her performing skills by night and
her writing skills during the day.
Throughout this time, Julie worked in a duo with Pat Shaw and in 1993 they
released their debut album 'Lies and Alibi's'. It was the first collection
of Matthews' songs on CD and received critical acclaim; this led to them opening
for Mary Chapin Carpenter at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. Sadly this was
one of their last performances together as shortly afterwards the duo split.
In 1990 she was asked to join the legendary Albion
Band. Matthews agreed and over the following seven years she became a
leading member of several of their line-ups, her songs becoming an intrinsic
part of the bands repertoire.
It
was during this time that Julie joined forces with Singer/Songwriter and fellow
Albion Band member Chris
While and in 1997 they left the band to pursue their duo career. Their
partnership has gone from strength to strength, releasing seven major albums
together and touring each year throughout the UK, Europe, Canada and Australia.
Though internationally acclaimed, they continue to be a leading force on the
UK's acoustic/roots arts circuit. Their songs cover life as they see it, from
the industrial wastelands of the north, to injustice and freedom, matters
of the heart and everything in between.
In
1997 'Daphne's Flight' was created with Julie joining Chris While, Helen Watson,
Christine Collister and Melanie Harrold. Together they released an album of
the same name and completed a sell-out tour of the UK.
While and Matthews are also the founding members of Blue
Tapestry, celebrating the music of Carole King and Joni Mitchell with
Maartin 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 breath of fresh air and a new
groove.
The beginning of 2006 saw Julie involved with the historic new BBC Radio 2 series ‘Radio Ballads’, writing 11 of the songs and covering 4 of the programs for the critically acclaimed shows. In 2007, Julie embarked on a solo tour that featured these songs , interspersing the live performances with recordings of the original testimonies the songs were written around.
Matthews
is recognized as one of the most talented songwriters to have come out of
the British Isles. She has been compared to Richard Thompson and Mary Chapin
Carpenter, but Julie's powerful style puts her in a class of her own.
Her songs have been covered by: Fairport
Convention, Mary Black (‘Thorn
upon the rose’ was a top 10 hit in both Ireland and Japan!) Barbara
Dickson and Frances Black,
to name but a few.
In recent years Julie has produced albums for other artists, notably Helen
Watson's 'Somersault' and 'Lifesize' and Kellie
While's 'Tenacious'.
As well as the albums made with the various collaboration mentioned above,
Julie has released two solo CDs to date; 'Such is Life' and 'Slow'.
To buy these or any of the While and Matthews catalogue visit the secure online
shop.
