CHRIS While and Julie Matthews are making a big impact on audiences for their performing and song-writing abilities. And on Saturday they bring their blend of blues, bluegrass and contemporary folk to the Wharf, Tavistock.

But ironically there would be no delightful duo and no outstanding CDs without the legendary Albion Band.

'We were both, by different circumstances, in the Albion Band together — and that was the first time there had been two females in the line up at the same time,' said Chris.

The band went to Canada and Chris and Julie had such a good time they thought it would be good to go back with a line up of Albion's previous women singers and call it Women of Albion.

'We just wanted another excuse to visit Canada. It was a good idea but no one else could make it — so we went as a duo. We had such a great reception that when we came back we reaised we didn't need the rest of the band!' laughed Chris.

So in 1997 Chris and Julie pooled their talents and the duo was launched. 'We went to Australia — and when we came back we discovered my daughter Kelly had become the lead singer with the Albion Band — and she still is,' said a delighted Chris.

They believe that having a good time is the key to making good music.

'I don't know how people make it their life when they don't enjoy it. We have a great time. Julie writes her own songs and so do I and then there is stuff we write together that has a totally different sound.'

Their separate song writing abilities have attracted the attention of some famous recording artists.

Julie was working in Belfast and she had written the evocative 'Thorn Upon The Rose'. Someone said take it to Irish singing star Mary Black. So she drove up to Dublin and dropped the song off at her recording studio. The result was a top ten hit in Japan and Ireland — along with one very happy Mary Black and an equally happy Julie Matthews.

'Very often a tape won't even get listened to,' said Chris. 'But because we both have a reputation as songwriters we put our names on the back of envelopes and people do listen! You can spend years sending stuff off that no one hears.'

People have certainly been hearing and enthusing over their critically acclaimed second album 'Higher Potential' — relased towards the end of last year.

Here is a selection of songs from the soul that have the power to enchant — a delightful blend of Chris and Julie in fine voice with magical material.

The duo are currently in the middle of a Spring tour. That is followed by gigs in Europe before returning for festival engagements and a big tour in the autumn.

'Last week we were doing the backing vocals on Ralph McTell's new CD. He is so delightful to work with and we were very pleased with what we have done,' said Chris.

They owe a lot of their current success to their time with the ever-evolving Albion Band — which, in its 25 years, has had a turn-over of some 110 musicians.

'It is like a showcase. Performers come through the ranks and go off and do their own thing. Albion takes you all over the country so when you launch a career without them you have a much bigger fan base than before.'

Chris says as well as singers she and Julie are 'quite powerful musicians' in their own right — and women in the audience find that empowering.

'The writing comes from our lives. It is not feminist although it's from a woman's point of view. But we don't wave any flags.'