Communion Artists | Communion

Artists

Pete Roe

Pete Roe learnt his trade amongst the cobbled paths of Bristol and old jazz musicians. He soon found himself playing piano for Laura Marling after taking off to London in 2008. Having recently toured with Laura Marling as both part of her band and support act, Pete is now stepping into the limelight himself with ‘The Merry-Go-Round’ released by Communion Records.
‘The Merry-Go-Round’ – recorded completely live and solo – showcases Pete’s tender vocals and storytelling which have seen him compared to Bert Jansch and John Martyn.

Matthew and The Atlas

The eponymous Matthew Hegarty – by day a landscape gardener, by night the purveyor of a bruised, soulful and muscular brand of modern folk music. By accident or design his songs have a distinct sense of the earth and the elements; as though the dirt under his fingernails is settling on his guitar strings, shaping the tone and colour of their sound.

The voice is the thing; it sounds a hundred years old and is etched with all the heartache and weariness that implies (imagine Joe Cocker singing Bon Iver in a pair of steel toe capped boots after a hard day’s work in the field). But wrapped around these melodies, and offset by the fragile backing vocals of Lindsay West, the rough edges are softened to a real tenderness.

The beautiful ‘Deadwood’ was a “standout” (The Independent) in esteemed company on the recent sold-out ‘Communion: The Compilation’, which featured tracks by the likes of Mumford & Sons and Johnny Flynn. The ‘To The North’ EP, recorded this winter in a stormy and snowy London, is another big step forward and further indication that Matthew & The Atlas is destined for bright things.

From the harmonies, swelling hand-claps and rolling rhythmic banjo of rousing EP opener ‘I Will Remain’ through to the aching, quietly epic closer ‘In Winter, this is a special collection of songs from a warm and intoxicating new songwriter. Live, the five piece Atlas have also been stealing the show on bills in London and beyond this year with a set that sways from ‘hear-a-pin-drop’ fragility to moments of foot-stomping, heart-swelling communal magic.