The Adobe Flash Player is required to watch videos on this page

Crys Matthews

Quick Links
About the Artist
Music
Achievements
Press Coverage
Stage Specs
Return to Crys Matthews' profile

At-a-Glance
One-Sheet

Hometown	Herndon, VA
Genres
Band Members	Crys Matthews
Achievements	» more
Upcoming Shows	None

Contact Information:	Booking CD Darden cddarden@gmail.com 8287196711
# Years Experience Performing Live:	4
# Live Perfomances Past Six-months:	45
Market Draw:	Washington, DC: 31-50; Jacksonville, NC: 76-100; Portland, OR: 76-100; Columbus, OH: 51-75
Venue History:	WOW Hall - Eugene, OR Busboys & Poets @ 5th & K St - Washington, DC Jammin' Java - Vienna, VA Blue Ridge Pride - Asheville, NC Folkfest St. Pete - St. Petersburg, FL Ohio Lesbian Music Festival - Pataskala, OH
Opener Experience:	Dar Williams; Melissa Ferrick; Chris Pureka
Similar Artists:	Ruthie Foster; Toshi Regan; Tracy Chapman
Performing Rights Society:	N/A

Expand All Expand All

Expand

About the Artist

"Imagine Jill Scott and Otis Redding had a daughter and Tracy Chapman was her god-mother... now imagine she spent summers teaching herself piano in Chicago and guitar in the mountains of North Carolina... that would probably sound something like the...

Expand

Music

Expand

Achievements

Top 10 in Pro Performance Video , March 2014

Top 10 in Pro Performance Video , February 2014

Top 10 in Pro Performance Video , January 2014

Expand

Press Coverage

Crys Matthews brings her folk-blues sound back to by Aniesa Holmes
Like her musical influences, Matthews said that her listeners are also a surprising mix of age groups, races and background who share the common experiences of life. She hopes that her concert will serve as an event that the whole family can enjoy and serve as an inspiration for her fans. “I think no matter how old or young you are, every human being relates to love and loss,” Matthews said. “They are the two hardest things to articulate, but I do pretty well with a guitar in my hand.”

Crys Matthews plays first hometown concert by Rachel Jenkins
Matthews has a hard time explaining her music when people ask what she plays. Her website says, “Imagine Jill Scott and Otis Redding had a daughter and Tracy Chapman was her god-mother…now imagine she spent summers teaching herself piano in Chicago and guitar in the mountains of North Carolina…that would probably sound something like the music I am fortunate enough to call my own.” Growing up as a preacher’s daughter in southeastern North Carolina, Matthews was exposed to lots of gospel music along with some blues, country, and other musical styles. Living in the mountains for twelve years gave her an appreciation for bluegrass. “Some of those things just get in your fiber,” said Matthews, “and it’s kind of hard when you’re writing songs not to have your fiber come out.” These geographical influences along with her personal taste have cobbled together a surprising and uncommon musical style. And we can’t forget the music itself. “If you looked at my iPod, you’d probably understand why my music has so many influences,” Matthews said.

Neo-Soul Troubadour by Nick Mattos
Up-and-comer Crys Matthews is a notable exception to the mediocrity. Fusing Americana, blues, funk and jazz, she comes off like Jill Scott covering Joe Cocker, or perhaps Unplugged-era Lauryn Hill minus the crazy. Become a believer—check out the only Pacific Northwest show of her current tour, December 5 at In Other Words Bookstore. “Music has always been a part of my life—even before I actually took my first breath,” Matthews explains of her upbringing. A preacher’s daughter raised in North Carolina, the 26-year-old admits that gospel music was her first love. “I’m always amazed at how much true soul music sounds like what I grew up listening to in church when I was a little girl.” Those roots are clear—her work resonates with a reverence and joy for life, even as her songs tell distinctively modern and often brutal stories. Breakout track “2000 Miles” deftly explores the landscape of queer heartbreak without getting bogged down in cliche or navel-gazing. Matthews’ work is fun, current, deep, and sure to explode in popularity. Catch her before everyone becomes a fan!

Expand

Stage Specs

Technical Requirements

Set-up Information: Performer will plug directly into 'house system' and will need access to an electrical outlet within five feet of stage position, which will be front-and-center. Performer requires a tall stool OR table (for beverage/set-list/towel), performer will bring a Para-acoustic DI box for input from passive pick-up installed in guitar to PA. Sound crew must ensure a passive DI box is available as a backup. Performer prefers, but does not require two monitors. Performer requires a mic stand with a boom arm. Please note that Crys Matthews is a left-handed guitartist, but prefers (when possible) to be miced from the right).