Larry Mathews (musician) facts for kids
Larry Mathews is a talented musician from Glenbeigh in County Kerry, Ireland. He sings and plays different types of music, including traditional Irish Folk songs, his own original songs, and even Rock and Pop. Larry is skilled at playing the Irish Fiddle, the Guitar, and the Bodhrán, which is a special Irish drum.
He has shared the stage with many famous musicians like Christy Moore, The Furey Brothers, and The Dubliners. He has also recorded music with other artists, including Hannes Wader.
Contents
Larry's Musical Journey
Starting Young
Larry Mathews began playing the violin when he was just eight years old. Five years later, at age 13, he picked up the guitar, which became his second main instrument.
He and his brother Terry, who plays banjo, mandolin, and guitar, formed a folk duo called Mathews Brothers. They traveled all over Ireland and Great Britain, performing their music. They even appeared on radio and television shows! Later, they played at music festivals in many countries, including Scandinavia, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the USA.
Recording Music
In 1977, Larry and his brother Terry recorded their first album together, called A Kiss in the Morning Early. They later recorded another album, Mathews' Wilson And Doonan, with two more musicians, Tony Wilson and Mick Doonan.
Larry also played with an Irish folk band called Spáilpín. They had some songs that became very popular in Ireland.
Touring and Bands
Since November 2000, Larry Mathews has been living in Hamburg, Germany. He often performs with Ralph Bühr, who plays the Mandolin and Guitar. In 2003, a bass player named Björn Beutler joined them, and they formed a band called Larry Mathews Blackstone. They named the band after a bridge over the Caragh River in Larry's home county of Kerry, Ireland.
In 2010, Björn Beutler left the band, and Andy Schmidt took over as the bass player. That same year, Bernd Haseneder joined the group, playing the Bodhrán and Cajón. Since early 2014, Henning Wulf has been a member of the "Larry Mathews Blackstone Band." He plays many instruments, including whistles, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, and the Irish bagpipe, known as the "Uilleann Pipes."
Larry Mathews also tours by himself, playing his fiddle, guitar, and Bodhrán across Europe, Canada, and the US. In 2012 and 2013, he joined German musician Achim Reichel on his "Solo mit Euch" (meaning "Solo with You") tour throughout Germany.
Larry Mathews' Albums
Here are some of the albums Larry Mathews has released:
- 2016: Falls On You (CD)
- 2014: Stuck here inside (EP) – This was a shorter album, featuring Stefan Wehrmann on electric guitars, bass guitar, and backing vocals, and Moncef Dellandrea on drums and keyboards.
- 2006: Solid Ground (CD) with Larry Mathews Blackstone – This album included Martin Röttger playing the Cajón.
- 2003: Easy and Slow (CD) – With Ralf Bühr (mandolin, guitar), Tony O'Flaherty (bass, keyboard), Uiairi O'Flaherty (guitar), and Patrick O'Connor (drums).
- 2000: To Ferry Me Over (re-issued in 2011)
- 1981: Mathews' Wilson And Doonan (LP) – With Tony Wilson (guitar, mandolin, bass, banjo, vocals) and Mick Doonan (Uilleann Pipes, Piccolo, Irish flute, vocals).
- 1977/78: The Mathews Brothers: A Kiss in the Morning Early (LP)
