Making the relatively short, thirty-minute journey from my home in Lincoln, towards the county’s premier americana music venue, the Town Hall in Kirton in Lindsey, I was constantly distracted by the setting sun as it slipped towards the horizon. The hands on my watch created a perfect vertical line, while the knowledge that in just a few hours the clocks would be going back and by this time tomorrow it would be dark, provided a stark reminder that winter is on its way. However, all negative thoughts were immediately banished by the pending excitement of seeing the undisputed queens of British folk music, guaranteed to brighten up the darkest corners of the world, whatever the season.
Chris While and Julie Matthews have been one of the leading forces in the British singer-songwriter scene for over thirty years. During that time, they have played over 3,000 gigs, appeared on over one hundred albums, written hundreds of original songs, and reached millions of people worldwide. Last September, they celebrated their incredible thirty-year collaboration by releasing their thirteenth studio album, the highly acclaimed “Days Like These”. Together, they have been nominated no less than ten times in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in the ‘Best Song, Best Duo, and Best Live Act’ categories, winning ‘Best Duo’ in 2009. In addition, they have individually built an extensive solo body of work, as well as being members, recording and performing with both Daphne’s Flight and St Agnes Fountain. Tonight, they were making their long-overdue debut upon the hallowed boards of the stage at Kirton’s town hall.
Having extensively toured to promote the release of their latest album during the last few months of 2024 and the early part of 2025, tonight saw the duo’s set draw from a broader selection of their back catalogue, and as they took to the stage, side by side, with guitars in hand, they immediately connected with the local congregation with the opening song ‘Seventh Wave’. The following number, ‘Crow’, like the previous song, had originally appeared on the 2022 album “Woman Of The World”, with Matthews now seated at the piano as While took the lead vocals on a track that was apparently initially inspired by a rather cheeky jackdaw. Despite transport issues a few days earlier that had resulted in the duo having to cancel an intended gig in Portsmouth, both While and Matthews appeared in good form, as well as good voice, with their exquisite harmonies excelling on ‘Gone Girl Gone’ and ‘Lucky Today’, a song from last year’s release written by While for Matthews. Next up was a wonderful rendition of ‘Carved In Stone’, the oldest of the original songs from tonight’s set, having first appeared on the 2010 album “Hitting The Ground Running” and featuring some delightful mandolin playing from Matthews.
Having intended to take the summer off and enjoy a well-earned break, the duo found themselves performing at seven different festivals throughout the season. In addition to this, they were also invited to participate in the BBC Radio 2 series, ’21st Century Folk’, a program that pairs songwriters with individuals whose lives have remarkable stories to tell. While and Matthews were paired with Tom Yeo, who was born out of wedlock to Irish Parents in 1965, and was just two weeks old when his birth mother left him in a waiting room at Reading Station. Needless to say that in the hands of such skilled songwriters, While and Matthews took Yeo’s story and turned it into a simply sublime, heart-rending song which they would perform on both the BBC’s ‘The One Show’ and ‘Jeremy Vine’s Radio 2 programme’. This evening, they shared the song with the Town Hall’s attentive audience, recounting the story behind the writing and the nerves of performing it for Yeo for the first time.
In truth, most of While and Matthews’ songs come with a story, whether it be from their own personal experiences, or, very often, stories from history that require re-telling. The next two songs from the first set were classic examples of the latter, with both inspired by the ‘Child Migration Programme’ that took place between 1920 and 1970, where as many as 130,000 children were shipped for a so-called “better life”, mainly to Australia or Canada. Instigated by charities such as Barnardo and the Fairbridge Society, along with both the Anglican and Catholic Churches, these children were often told they were orphans, with many being separated from their siblings on arrival in a new and foreign land. One can only imagine the distress and heartbreak they had to endure. ‘With Small Cases, Full Of Big Dreams’ and ‘Pinjara Dreams’, While and Matthews showed all their craft and wisdom, creating two songs that perfectly captured the sense of hope and despair, delivered with genuine, heartfelt empathy, which resonated around a hushed hall.
There was just time for one more song before the obligatory interval, with the title track from last year’s album “Days Like These” closing the set with a burst of positive energy, which included some enthusiastic audience participation, sending everyone off to the merchandise stall, or should that read emporium, as well as the bar with a spring in their step..
Two more songs from the “Women Of The World” album got the second set underway, including the title track, inspired by the plight of young girls in Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban. The second number, ‘Starfish Thrower’, has fast become a crowd favourite with its uplifting message delivered by Matthew’s delightful and impassioned vocals, which were matched by While’s on the melancholic ‘Long Lost Friend’ that recounted her school days growing up in her hometown of Barrow. Next up was ‘Nothing Yanks My Chain (Like You Do)’, a co-write with the equally fabulous singer-songwriter Charlie Dore, that bristled with attitude, verve, and just a little hint of sass in the vocal delivery from While.
At this point, the duo deviated from songs recorded under their own names to perform a track they recorded as part of Daphne’s Flight’s most recent album, “Favourable Light”, released early this year. The quintet had intended to tour to promote the album, but due to founder member Melanie Howard’s ill health, plans had to be changed, and though the tour went ahead with the remaining four members, it was announced as a farewell tour. While and Matthews were visibly moved as they explained to the town hall audience the gravity of Howard’s condition, but also the emotional pride that Howard had given the remaining members of the band her blessing to carry on as a unit. With that, they delivered one of the high points of the night, and a truly emotive version of ‘Ballad Of The Seven Sisters’ that resonated around the hall with a reverence that felt almost anthemic. The intensity was immediately contrasted by the following number as While sang with just minimal accompaniment on the sublime ‘Our Corner Of The World’.
One of the standout songs from the duo’s latest album was ‘Kalamazoo’, a song that told the story of the female workforce that worked in the legendary Gibson guitar factory between 1942 and 1945. Having built nearly 25,000 guitars from rationed materials during this period, including the highly prized ‘Banner Guitars’, the Gibson hierarchy tried to eradicate these women from its history once the war was over. However, John Thomas, an American journalist, uncovered this extraordinary act, revealing all in his book “Kalamazoo Gals: A Story Of Extraordinary Women & Gibson’s Banner Guitars of WWII”. While and Matthews have taken this story and, doing what they do best, turned it into one of the finest songs of recent years, high on energy with the most infectious chorus, it has fast become a fan favourite and a staple of their live set. However, this evening’s rendition came with an added bonus, as just before starting the song, Matthews broke a string on her guitar, and to fill the void while the culprit was changed, While delivered a fabulous version of the 1952 vocalese song ‘Twisted’ originally sung by Annie Ross, who had also written the lyrics.
With that, it was time for the final number, with ‘Pride’ proving the perfect closer, offering the local congregation the opportunity to join in with the chorus, their vocal contribution throughout the evening proving a hit with the duo on stage. Unsurprisingly, the demand for an encore was almost deafening, with While and Matthews finishing with their distinctly unique version of the classic song ‘Tennessee Waltz’, which again encouraged audience participation, though singing proved difficult with the hilarious antics being delivered by the duo on stage. As the final notes of the final song of the evening’s show were played, the crowd rose as one, offering a well-deserved standing ovation for a truly fantastic performance from the true queens of the British folk singer-songwriter scene. Long may they reign.
