One of the finest and most loved duos on the British and world folk-roots stage.

Chris While (vocals, guitar, banjo, dulcimer, bodhran and percussion) and Julie Matthews (vocals, piano, guitar, mandolin and bouzouki) are stunning singers, songwriters, musicians and performers whose energy and commitment to their craft and their audience is boundless.

With more than twenty-five years of unrivalled musical partnership and gathering numerous nominations, awards and critical acclaim along the way, they celebrated a quarter of a century last year as one of the best loved and most prolific female duos to come out of this country.

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 London-centric music industry. They truly are inspirational women.

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 the industrial waste lands of the north, to injustice and freedom, matters of the heart and everything in between.

Their songs are covered by many revered 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 been through an emotional journey.

Chris and Julie have been nominated ten times in the BBC Radio 2 Folk music awards in the ‘Best Song, Best Duo, Best Live Act’ categories and winning Best Duo in 2009 but it is their longstanding and devoted growing fans that they care about most.