Matthew & the Atlas [alt-folk]

“Bold, strident work, Matthew & The Atlas is a project fuelled by
experience, and framed by maturity.” – Clash

“The writing is exquisite and Matt Hegarty’s unique weathered baritone is the unshakable central pillar holding everything aloft.” – Belwood Music

Founded by Matt Hegarty, Matthew and the Atlas was forged from the late 2000s folk rock movement, where he became a regular in the West London scene. After playing the Communion Club night run by Mumford & Sons’ Ben Lovett and Kevin Jones of Bear’s Den, Hegarty was picked up by the pair’s Communion record label, which released his first official EP in 2010. Since then, he has released four albums, traversing a range of musical territories from classic acoustic folk to dramatic synth-laden electronica and urgent guitar-led alt-rock. The common thread has been a songwriting style that marries a subtle melodic sensibility with lyrics full of natural imagery and dark emotional heft – all delivered with his striking and distinctive voice. In the process, Hegarty has quietly built a major cult following in Europe and the US.

On his latest record, Matt travelled to the famous Rockfield Studios in Wales, recording 11 tracks live to tape over just a couple of days. Here, he once again worked with Kevin Jones, looking to capture a moment in time and a sense of place in the recording, with all the magic and intimacy that a lone voice and a guitar can bring. The beautiful result is the gorgeous Many Times, released on Communion Records last summer.

Now, Matthew and the Atlas take to the road for a rare tour of intimate venues. They join us at Peggy’s this November for an unforgettable evening that will take in fifteen years of Hegarty’s evocative songwriting.