Scott Matthews deserves to be bigger than he is.
No stranger to the music industry, the Wolverhampton-born musician first appeared on the scene nine years ago to great acclaim (Robert Plant being a huge fan) and soon racked up three albums showcasing his intense, lyrical and beautifully introspective songs.
Blessed with a voice which sits comfortably between John Martyn and Jeff Buckley, his melodic drawl has the power to transport the listener and - despite being on the stage outside the Fiddler’s Elbow playing to a crowd who had clearly taken advantage of a selection of real ales over the course of the day - he transfixed the Alternative Escape audience.
Switching instruments regularly and introducing harmonica and the odd bit of slide guitar, Matthews displayed his consummate musicianship, and you got the feeling he was clearly at home strumming and singing in his understated way.
Playing songs from his recently self-released fourth album, Home Part One (recorded in his home built studio) he tended to plough a rather lonely furrow with this set, and you can’t exactly call his music upbeat, but this is one artist I’ll be definitely adding to my faves playlist. Gorgeous.
Four stars
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