While & Matthews

Chris While and Julie Matthews have been one of the leading forces in the British singer/songwriter scene for over 30 years.

In 2026 Chris While & Julie Matthews are more powerful than ever and remain at the very top of their game with another packed out tour.

They have played more than 3,000 gigs, appeared on over 100 albums, written hundreds of original songs and reached millions of people around the world. Now, 30 years after their debut, they sound as fresh and vital as ever.

They are two of the best and most hard working musicians on the world folk roots scene, both are highly regarded producers and they record everything that they are involved in at their own studio in a small Pennine town far from the Londoncentric music industry. They truly are inspirational women.​

Chris While (vocals, guitar, banjo, dulcimer, bodhran and percussion) and Julie Matthews (vocals, piano, guitar, mandolin and bouzouki) are renowned for their seamless harmonies and affinity for each other on stage, they are stunning singers, songwriters, musicians, producers and arrangers and performers whose energy and commitment to their craft and their audience is boundless.​

Chris and Julie have been nominated ten times in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in the ‘Best Song, Best Duo, Best Live Act’ categories, winning Best Duo in 2009 Their many award touch their hearts but it is their longstanding and devoted, growing fans that stir their souls.​​​

Last year saw them writing for Radio 2s “1s Century Folk appearing on BBC1s The One Show and Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2, singing their beloved song The Waiting Room’ live.​

They were awarded ‘Artists of the Year’ at the prestigious Port Fairy Music Festival in 2018, one of the the biggest events of its kind in Australasia. They have also performed in North America, New Zealand, Africa, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway and Italy.​

Though internationally acclaimed, they continue to be a leading force on the UK’s acoustic/roots arts circuit. Their songs cover life as they see it, from injustice and freedom to matters of the heart and everything in between. Their songs are covered by many singers the world over but it is While & Matthews’ musical partnership and obvious joy of performing together that really brings their songs to life. As performers they are unrivalled and their audiences leave their concerts having travelled an emotional journey.

“They light up the room with their amazing energy” – James Taylor

“It’s a real honour just to be an audience member but I’ve had the added honour of standing on a stage with them playing along in the background, things like that I’ll treasure forever, truly gifted human beings” – Richard Hawley​

“Chris While is the best singer in England” – Eddi Reader

“The undisputed queens of British folk duos continue to come up with the goods, 1st class songs delivered with to die for harmonies, immaculate musicianship & melodies that lodge themselves in your brain” – The Guardian