53 Degrees presents...

Scott Matthews

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Thursday 09 December 2010

Advanced tickets: £12.50

Support: James Summerfield

Liam Blake

16+

NUS/Public

Doors: 7pm

Venue

7pm

“The most promising home-grown singer songwriter to emerge in years” Q magazine

‘He’s fantastic…an absolute genius’…………..…Janice Long, BBC Radio 2

'Hypnotic and timeless’………..The Guardian

‘Exceptionally good…an absolute blinder!’………Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2

‘Elusive has a beguiling, weightless grace’ ………MOJO

Scott Matthews released his debut album “Passing Stranger” on the San Remo label, through Island Records to widespread acclaim in October 2006.  His three singles ‘Ellusive’, ‘Dream Song’ and ‘Passing Stranger’ have been play listed on Radio 1, Radio 2 and XFM.  Scott Matthews celebrated performance on Later With Jools Holland, had Damon Albarn and Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol among countless others, singing his praises.

In 2007, Scott Matthews won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and lyrically, with his debut single ‘Ellusive’ and in 2008, he supported Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, on their ‘Raising Sand’ European tour. 

Scott Matthews new single ‘Fractured’ was released on May 18th and has received national airplay and his 2nd album entitled “Elsewhere” was released on May 25th Elsewhere features 11 new songs, including the powerful lead single’ Fractured’ and a duet with Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant on 12 Harps and features a guest vocal, from none other than Robert Plant himself!

Scott Matthews created his second album Elsewhere with a single aim in mind. “I wanted to make a record that locks you in,” he says, “something that gives you a feeling that stays with you. For me, making music is all about creating a mood.”

JAMES SUMMERFIELD

After much success with John Peel favourites Buick 6 (later, The Toques), at 21, James self-recorded his debut album, ‘Hailah, Hailah’, and followed this with the bluegrass-tinged ‘Paint the Road’ in 2005, gaining great reviews from Mojo, Maverick and Uncut. Since then, the acrimony of divorce and all the chaos this brings had dogged him, yet his 3rd solo album ‘Count to 10 and Start Again’ is undeniably frank, and deals with this dark period through beautiful melodies and arrangements that followers of James’ work will fondly remember. 

James is currently recording his forth solo album with a new band, already likened to Vetiver and The Jayhawks, and new members include fellow Peel veteran Simon Fox (Grover/World of Fox), Tom Haworth, Suzy Owen and Sam Fox (drummer for Scott Matthews).

Recently touring with Scott Matthews has certainly aided James’s UK popularity, although confusing spectator Robert Plant with Noddy Holder on the opening night may yet come back to haunt him.

“I know that feeling sad brings out the best in songs, but I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone”. James Summerfield ‘Paper bag’ from the album Count to ten and start again.

At the heart of this album is the songwriting craft that has had Wolverhampton-based Scott Matthews compared to such icons as Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley and John Martyn. But Matthews has also expanded his range this time out, with an adventurous approach to writing and recording, incorporating influences as diverse as Nick Cave, David Bowie, Bon Iver and The Smashing Pumpkins, and utilising an eclectic array of instrumentation from Theramin to brass band.
“Spontaneity is the key,” he explains. “The more you think about something, the more you lose the feeling of it. A lot of the vocal tracks on this album were recorded in one or two takes. I’d finish the lyrics and then record the song right away, just warm the microphone up and go. The performance aspect is something we’ve really gone for – it can be a great take first time.”

FOR MORE INFO!

Liam Blake

Liam has been writing songs in the pop-folk tradition since he was 17. At the core of his debut album ‘You and Other Stories’ is a deep sense of romance, not through sentiment but as articulate, intelligent, bittersweet story telling. He is a skilled songwriter with real sophistication and these are proper pop songs, laden with hooks and refrains that make them compelling and timeless. His narrative is the landscape of the troubadour – heartbreaking, idealistic, lush – a journey through life for everyman.
Liam has always been drawn to the West Coast singer-song writers of the 70s. If he’d been born earlier he would probably be hanging out in Lauryl Canyon with Crosby Stills Nash and Joni Mitchell. His other musical influences are an immense sweep – from Gershwin to Goldfrapp. He is a young dreamer and an awesome natural talent with a voice, described by BBC broadcaster Phil Jupitus as “achingly lovely”, that melts every part of you. 
Liam Blake will be released on Helium Records in Spring 2011 and will be accompanied by a full UK tour and national press and radio campaign.