Paul Stowe (USA) Acoustic & Steel-bodied Guitars, Mouth Harp, Vocals

Paul grew up in a classical music family in Hartford, Connecticut USA and began playing the guitar at the age of 12. After moving to Salt Lake City, Utah (USA) at the age of 16 he began to play street music, festivals and clubs in the Rocky Mountain area. After two years of touring throughout Europe with folk and blues bands, he toured Italy living in Florence for 1 year before moving to the Munich, Germany area to join the country and bluegrass band "Kentucky Bluefield" and founding Matching Ties in 1986. Paul also teaches guitar and plays as a solo artist, and lives southeast of Munich near Rosenheim, Germany.

Paul also tours and performs as a solo act. Click here for more information.

Trevor Morriss (GB) Mandolin, Mandola, Irish Bouzouki and Guitar, Vocals

Trevor grew up in southeast London and in Cornwall, England. As one of the first Englishmen to play bluegrass and American folk in a string band with his brothers he was influential in bringing American music to the English folk circuit. He lived for 2 years in the U.S.A. and Canada, playing in bluegrass and folk bands, sitting in with many name acts, before returning to Europe and eventually settling in 1980 in the Munich area. Trevor also played with Paul in "Kentucky Bluefield”. Trevor fills in on occasion with various country and Irish folk bands, works as a studio musician and teaches mandolin and guitar. Trevor lives south of Munich near Starnberg, Germany.

Thomas Kärner (D)  Upright Bass  (Trio, Quartet, Quintet)

Thomas was born and raised in the northern Bavaria area. Following lessons on piano and music theory he discovered his love for bluegrass and folk at the age of 14, and began to learn guitar and mandolin, later electric and upright bass which he developed as a member of bands in different acoustic music directions. Since 2000 Thomas has toured with various name folk and bluegrass acts such as “The Fox Tower Bluegrass Band”, "The Mickeys", John Moore and Slavek Hanzlik gaining international experience. Thomas lives near Bayreuth, Germany.

Georg Bähr (D)  Violin (Fiddle), Mandolin, 5-string Banjo, Vocals   (Trio, Quartet und Quintet)

Georg began to play classical violin at the age of 5. He grew up in former East Germany and Russia touring till he was 19 in the “Youth Radio Orchestra”, also becoming interested in folk and bluegrass at 13. He graduated from the Franz Liszt Music School where he reached the final round of the “Youth Makes Music” competition. With the band "Old  Number Seven" he won German Country Music Federations “best bluegrass band” award, and toured with East Germany’s “Fox Tower Bluegrass Band” throughout Europe and the U.S.A. Joining Matching Ties in 2005 Georg plays an exciting blend of folk, bluegrass, swing and blues dazzling his audiences with “hot licks”. He continues to tour with American and international performers such as "The Mickeys", John Moore and Slavek Hanzlik as well as play in a rock and a bluegrass band. Georg lives near Frankfurt, Germany.