TWENTY-FIVE years after their debut, Chris While and Julie Matthews are still as vibrant as ever.

Chris While (vocals, guitar, banjo, dulcimer and percussion) and Julie Matthews (vocals, piano, guitar, mandolin and bouzouki) are breath-taking singers, songwriters, musicians and performers.

They have been hailed as one of the most respected duos on the world folk roots scene.

Chris and Julie are the longest-lasting female duo in Britain and have played more than 2,500 gigs, appeared on over 100 albums, written hundreds of original songs and reached millions of people around the world.

They have been nominated ten times in the BBC Radio 2 Folk music awards in the Best Song, Best Duo and Best Live Act categories and winning Best Duo in 2009, but their outlook is more akin to the DIY philosophy of punk.

Their story is remarkable, one of two empowered women doing it their way, without compromise.

Shrewsbury Folk Festival commissioned a celebratory While & Matthews takeover, for which the duo curated the Sunday on the Pengwern Stage, featuring friends and collaborators such as Eddi Reader, Blair Dunlop and Charlie Dore.

In 2019, Chris and Julie are more powerful than ever and remain at the very top of their game. In the spring of 2018 they returned to Australia to make their 12th tour of a country that they love and in return, are much loved. Last year they were named Artists of the Year at the prestigious Port Fairy Music Festival, one of the biggest events of its kind in Australasia.

Chris and Julie will be at The Victoria Rooms in Milverton on October 18. Tickets cost £12.

To book email milvertonmusicclub@gmail.com or call 01823 400416.