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Iain Matthews

Iain Matthews (born Ian Matthews MacDonald, 16 June 1946) is an English musician. He was an original member of the British folk rock band Fairport Convention from 1967 to 1969 before leaving to form his own band, Matthews Southern Comfort, which had a UK number one in 1970 with their cover of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock". In 1979, his recording of Terence Boylan's "Shake It" reached No.

Also recorded as Ian Matthews

Iain Matthews

Iain Matthews, founder member of Fairport Convention, at the 2007 Cropredy Festival

David Laws · CC BY-SA 3.0

Full name
Ian Matthews MacDonald.
Born
1946. · Scunthorpe.
Nationality
United Kingdom.
Occupation
guitarist, songwriter, singer, singer-songwriter, musician, composer and liedermacher.
Fields
traditional folk music.
Languages
English.

VALÉORINE Encyclopedia

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Documentary summary

Iain Matthews (born Ian Matthews MacDonald, 16 June 1946) is an English musician. He was an original member of the British folk rock band Fairport Convention from 1967 to 1969 before leaving to form his own band, Matthews Southern Comfort, which had a UK number one in 1970 with their cover of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock". In 1979, his recording of Terence Boylan's "Shake It" reached No.

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Note VALÉORINE

Iain Matthews (born 1946) is a composer, guitarist and liedermacher, among other activities, of British nationality. The composer was born Ian Matthews MacDonald in Scunthorpe. Iain Matthews is a member of Fairport Convention, Matthews Southern Comfort and More Than a Song, among others.

The work spans traditional folk music. Languages used include English.

Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026

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original value insufficient · checked 25 September 2026

Identity
resolved
Independent source families
0
Admitted assertions
0
Open conflicts
0

Authority files

wikidata · Q1655586 · wikipedia · Iain Matthews

In this article

  1. 01Biography
  2. 02Notes, references and evidence

The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.

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