Iain Matthews to perform at Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls

Published: 04-16-2023 2:35 PM

Although he lives an ocean away, internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Iain Matthews hopes to feel right at home in his first trip to Turners Falls.

The frontman of folk rock band Matthews Southern Comfort, perhaps best known for their chart-topping cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock,” will perform at the Shea Theater Arts Center on Friday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m. The Netherlands-based musician’s stop in Turners Falls is one of 12 along the East Coast as part of his latest tour.

Matthews “soared to prominence” more than 50 years ago as a founding member of English folk rock band Fairport Convention, according to a short biography he provided. He then left and formed Matthews Southern Comfort two years later. After nearly two decades pursuing various music endeavors and working as an artists and repertoire representative, Matthews returned to performing and recording as a solo artist in 1987. His focus now lies back on Matthews Southern Comfort, a now entirely Dutch ensemble, as well as “his seemingly never-ending stream of solo recordings.”

Linda Tardif, managing director of the Shea Theater, said the venue is “thrilled to host” Matthews.

“I reached out to Iain as a longtime fan of Fairport Convention and Iain’s various solo projects,” said Patrick Borezo, who facilitated the connection between the co-hosting Shea Theater and The Rendezvous restaurant. “His records from the ’70s on legendary labels like Vertigo and Elektra have been in my collection forever and I really enjoy the eclecticism of what he does, how he chooses material to interpret, and the musicians and producers that he’s chosen to work with over time.”

Although he’s never been to the village, Matthews anticipates his Shea Theater audience will feel familiar. Similarly to how Franklin County events attract a congregation of people from a cluster of various small communities, events in Matthews’ small Netherlands community join residents from the province’s 14 villages. Additionally, Matthews finds comfort in knowing locals will likely appreciate his style, which is influenced heavily by the sounds of mid-to-late-20th-century classic rock icons.

“It’s that era of singer-songwriter that I come from,” he said. “I just get up there and hope people know who I am!”

Matthews said he doesn’t “necessarily have anything brand new” to share in his setlist, despite his band’s April 7 release of “The Woodstock Album,” which he described as “a wide diversity of songs” performed at 1969’s Woodstock Music and Art Fair “done in the style of Matthews Southern Comfort.” Rather than use the show to play this new music, Matthews hopes the evening is more centered around reconnecting with his listeners.

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