When Sean Connery described Karen Matheson as having "a throat surely touched by the hand of God" and Billboard magazine described her as "the finest Gaelic singer alive today…", this tells only part of the remarkable story of a singer at the forefront of the Celtic music scene. Her new album Downriver is mostly inspired by traditional Gaelic songs she grew up with and is mainly an acoustic affair, leaving space for the voice which has mesmerized audiences the world over.

Karen has enjoyed a stellar career as lead vocalist of Celtic super-group Capercaillie, “the most exciting and vibrant band in the field of Celtic music today” (Billboard), with the band selling over a million albums worldwide. In 1995 Capercaillie wrote, recorded and starred in the blockbuster movie Rob Roy, with Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange, in which Karen performed a solo rendition of a Gaelic lament.

Karen was given an OBE in the 2006 New Years Honours list, an astonishing achievement to add to her award of “Best Gaelic Singer” from the inaugural Scottish Folk Awards. As a solo performer, Karen has been involved in various projects of collaboration including the award winning BBC series Transatlantic Sessions, where she recorded tracks with Emmylou Harris, The McGarrigle Sisters, Nanci Griffith, Rufus Wainright and a host of respected musicians.

“a gorgeous, understated gem” HMV Choice on Downriver

“A glorious capturing of a singer in her prime” Irish Times

“...remarkable in English but breathtaking when she draws on Hebridean roots to sing in Gaelic.” The Daily Telegraph

“Karen Matheson’s vocals are the coolest - swirling and slamming - amazingly dynamic.” NME

Karen’s website: www.karenmatheson.com