Matthew and the Atlas

Matthew and the Atlas

Matthew and the Atlas is a United Kingdom folk and indie group centred on singer and songwriter Matthew Hegarty, who comes from Aldershot near London. The project begins as a five-piece band and later becomes a vehicle for Hegarty, with supporting musicians and occasional stripped-back solo performances under the same name.

Formation and early influences

Hegarty teaches himself guitar at 15 and first plays in a heavy alternative rock band, drawing on System of a Down and The Smashing Pumpkins. His direction then shifts towards folk and singer-songwriters including Bob Dylan, Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley, alongside contemporary artists such as Iron & Wine and Sufjan Stevens. He adds acoustic guitar and banjo to his setup and starts performing solo acoustic shows.

Band lineup and development

During a performance in Woking, Hegarty meets pianist Lindsay West and multi-instrumentalist Dave Millar, and they form the original line-up. The group becomes part of the UK folk movement and plays regularly at London’s Notting Hill Arts Club. Over time the line-up includes Alex Roberts on guitar, Tommy Heap on bass and keyboards, James Drohan on drums, and Emma Gatrill on harp. The current membership also includes Harrison Cargill.

Recordings and releases

Matthew and the Atlas releases its first EP in 2009 on Communion Records, the label co-founded by Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons. To the North is Communion’s second release and helps establish the band’s following, supported by touring as an opening act for Mumford & Sons. Later EPs include Kingdom of Your Own. The first full-length album, Other Rivers, appears in 2014 and features more polished production, with keyboards and electronic percussion added to the sound.

In 2016 the band releases Temple, recorded with members of Foreign Fields, and also issues an acoustic version of the same material as Temple (Unplugged). Hegarty’s writing is described through a changing palette that ranges from classic acoustic folk to electronica and alt-rock, while keeping his vocal style and emotive songwriting at the centre.

Live activity

The group builds a strong live following in London and tours widely, including with Mumford & Sons. Hegarty also returns in 2011 to performing “solo” under the Matthew and the Atlas name after a band member leaves, keeping the project active as a flexible live and recording identity.