Matthew and the Atlas is an English alternative folk outfit centered around… Read Full Bio ↴Matthew and the Atlas is an English alternative folk outfit centered around musician Matthew Hegarty, who hails from Aldershot near London. The project initially began as a five-piece band but has since evolved to focus on Matthew Hegarty with supporting musicians. Hegarty also performs with a stripped-back setup during live shows.

At the age of 15, Hegarty taught himself to play the guitar and later joined a band playing heavy alternative rock, drawing inspiration from bands like System of a Down and The Smashing Pumpkins. However, his musical direction shifted when he discovered the works of singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley, as well as contemporary acts like Iron & Wine and Sufjan Stevens. This newfound interest in folk music led Hegarty to pick up the acoustic guitar and the banjo, paving the way for him to perform solo acoustic gigs.

During a performance in Woking, Hegarty met pianist Lindsay West and multi-instrumentalist Dave Millar, with whom he formed the initial lineup of Matthew and the Atlas. The band gained recognition as part of the emerging folk movement in the United Kingdom and became regulars at London's Notting Hill Arts Club.

In 2009, Matthew and the Atlas released their first EP on Communion Records, a label co-founded by Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons. Their EP "To the North" was Communion's second release and helped establish the band's following, further bolstered by touring as the opening act for Mumford & Sons. Subsequent EPs like "Kingdom of Your Own" followed.

In 2014, Matthew and the Atlas released their debut full-length album, "Other Rivers," showcasing polished production and the incorporation of keyboards and electronic percussion. For the album "Temple" (2016), the band recorded with members of Foreign Fields and also released an acoustic version of the same songs titled "Temple (Unplugged)."

Over time, the band's lineup solidified, with members like Alex Roberts (guitar), Tommy Heap (bass and keyboards), James Drohan (drums), and Emma Gatrill (harp) joining Hegarty.

Matthew and the Atlas has built a devoted live following in London and has embarked on tours, including a UK tour with Mumford & Sons. The band's musical journey has seen them explore various styles, from classic acoustic folk to electronica and alt-rock, all the while maintaining Hegarty's distinctive vocal style and emotive songwriting.

In 2011, after a band member's departure, Matthew Hegarty decided to return to performing "solo" under the Matthew and the Atlas moniker.

Currently, Matthew Hegarty is preparing to release his new album, "This Place We Live," on Communion Records in November 2023. For the first time, he takes on recording and producing duties, crafting a collection of deeply personal songs that reflect on past experiences, family, parenthood, love, and loss. To support the album's release, Matthew Hegarty will embark on a solo tour throughout the UK and Europe in the fall of 2023.