Largely the result of late-night wine-fuelled sessions with his Lucky Strikes compadres David Giles and Wild Jim Wilson along with other local luminaries.

Fans of his main band will recognise the same elegant acoustic and steel-guitar flourishes, combined with lyrics richly peopled by the characters of the mysterious marshland and industrial wastes of the Thames Delta.

A chance meeting while supporting Simone Felice in 2010, led to Matthew accompanying the upstate New Yorker at the Green Man Festival days later, along with a showcase at London's prestigious St Pancras Old Church, guesting with The Duke and The King at the Electric Ballroom that Autumn.

He'll be touring with Felice on his Spring dates this year. Formed in 2007, The Lucky Strikes have three albums available through Stovepony, the most recent being last year's critically acclaimed Gabriel, Forgive My 22 Sins.

Currently readying a fourth album for release later this year, both the band and The Whispering Pines will be playing various gigs and festivals throughout the Summer months.