FORMER Fairport Convention singer, Iain Matthews, will perform live at Barry Arts Festival.

The 76-year-old singer will perform with his current band – The Matthews Baartmans Conspiracy – at St Mary’s Church in Barry on Friday, August 12.

This is the band’s only show lined up in Wales, and one of only four on this tour of the UK.  

With his band, Matthews Southern Comfort, Iain Matthews reached number one in the charts in 1970 with the Joni Mitchell song Woodstock, and he is still making new music today. 

During lockdown, he and fellow musician, BJ Baartmans, wrote a collection of rootsy Americana songs for an album called Distant Chatter.

Songs from this album will be performed at the Barry gig, along with the singers’ extensive back catalogue of more than 50 years’ worth of songs.

The gig is part of this year’s Barry Arts Festival. 

Organiser Mike Duggan said: 

“It’s always a pleasure to welcome Iain Matthews to Barry.

“His long career in live music has seen him perform his hits across five decades, appearing on more than 100 albums during his lifetime, including his earlier years with Fairport Convention, Matthews Southern Comfort and Plainsong. 

“On behalf of the Barry Arts Festival, I’d like to thank sponsors Barry Town Council and Newydd Housing Association for their support in putting this event on.”  

Tickets are available £13 in advance online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/barry-arts-festival or in person from The Vinyl Frontier on Holton Road, or £16 on the night.  

The concert is at St Mary’s Church, Holton Road, Barry.