Location: The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar Street Berkeley, CA 94709
Date: Friday, March 7, 2025, 7:30pm – 9:30pm PST
Hillside Echoes presents Iain Matthews, Berkeley, CA
An evening with Iain Matthews, founder of Fairport Convention, Matthews’ Southern Comfort, and Plainsong.
Iain Matthews originally rose to prominence as a founding member and vocalist for the pioneering Fairport Convention’s first three albums, which transformed the voice of folk music in his nation. He went on to produce Matthews’ Southern Comfort, which reflected his appreciation in American music. Joni Mitchell’s ‘Woodstock’ became a European No. 1 smash. Iain, never one to keep stationary for long, moved on to another group, Plainsong, in the 1970s. An ensemble with British musician Andy Roberts allowed Iain to develop as a writer and agile acoustic guitarist. Between his own solo recordings and various Plainsong lineups, Iain released twelve critically acclaimed albums, including another Top twelve US smash with the track ‘Shake It’.
During the early 1980s, Matthews worked as an A&R representative for Island Records, but was convinced to return to music by Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin.He returned to the United States to continue his solo career and make Plainsong albums. During this time, he recorded a fantastic rendition of Peter Gabriel’s “Mercy Street,” contributed to a Phil Ochs tribute CD, and recorded and performed with Nanci Griffith. Before finally departing the United States, he published another highly regarded album with the slightly sardonic title “Excerpts from Swine Lake”.
Matthews moved to the Netherlands in 2000, where he found a busy, joyful life in Europe, including additional touring of the UK and continent. More well-received joint recordings were released, including a tribute album to Sandy Denny. Since residing in the lowlands, Matthews has met some of his most sympathetic musical collaborators in jazz pianist Egbert Derix, American guitarist Jim Fogarty, and multi instrumentalist B.J. Baartmans. Despite these superb collaborations, plus a unique partnership with Norwegian alternative rock band, The Salmon Smokers, resulting in one of his most imaginative albums to date, “Fake Tan”, Matthews now feels he has finally found an almost perfect musical sweet spot, playing solo, in support of one of his more recent solo recordings, the acoustic”.
With time no longer an ally (Matthews is now in his 78th year), he will release his 38th solo recording later this year (2024), intriguingly titled “How much is enough”.
General admission is $25.
Students and Seniors: $20.
Hillside Club members pay $15 with a coupon code. If you need the code, please contact Ellen at manager@hillsideclub.org.
Children under 12 are admitted for free.
