Moving to London from his native Scunthorpe in the mid-60s and fronting the short lived UK surf/harmony outfit The Pyramid, releasing 'The Summer Of Last Year' on Deram, Iain McDonald dropped the second I from his name and soon found himself in Fairport Convention after being spotted by Ashley Hutchings. He left during the sessions of third album Unhalfbricking (having fronted the band first with Judy Dyble and then Sandy Denny). In 1969 supported by most of his old band mates Iain issued a solo album under the name Matthews Southern Comfort, which harked back to his recent past, before forming a solid band around the same name and releasing Second Spring and Later That Same Year in 1970 and 1971. Further embracing American folk-rock and country-rock in the mould of Crosby, Stills & Nash, Neil Young, The Youngbloods and other notable West Coast hippies Matthews Southern Comfort gained a surprise #1 hit with a cover of Joni Mitchell’s ‘Woodstock’.
Band friction saw Matthews quit to record solo material in a similar vein prior to signing to Elektra with Plainsong, finishing what his previous group had started, whilst as Southern Comfort the remaining guys soldiered on for another two albums. Moving to America Matthews enjoyed a long and varied career that saw him veer off into all kinds of styles and genres from pop and jazz to electro-pop and new wave. Now he returns to the source material that allowed him to spread his wings.
Tour dates...
Wed 21st November, Kinross - Backstage @ Green Hotel
Thu 22nd, Scunthorpe - Plowright Theatre
Fri 23rd, Liverpool - Leaf On Bold Street
Sun 25th, Exeter - Phoenix
Mon 26th, Birmingham - Kitchen Garden Cafe
Tue 27th, Hebden Bridge - The Trades Club
Thu 29th, Whitstable - Royal Native Oyster Stores
Fri 30th, Tonbridge - West Kent College
Sat 1st December, London - The Borderline
Sun 2nd, York - The Duchess
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