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| Mat Gibson is a 25 year-old singer-songwriter from rural Herefordshire, England, where he grew up with his family and first became interested in music 'to the point of obsession' through his parents' 60s & 70s vinyl collection. As a child, Mat took piano lessons and sang in the church choir but as a teenager became more interested in playing drums and guitar thanks to the grunge/rock bands of the early nineties. After leaving school at 18, Mat spent the subsequent years rambling from town to town locked in a downward spiral of dead-end jobs and looking for answers to a lot of questions. Mat found some of his answers at the Glastonbury Festival in 2000, which provided the initial inspiration for what would soon become a fast growing passion for songwriting. With family scattered from England to New England, Mat became heavily influenced by his step-father's poetry and his step-mother's large musical family; both forces having a lasting impact on the direction Mat's music would take; becoming more involved in the lyrical side to his songs and soaking up the traditional Irish folk and Americana played with vigour at drunken family parties. Mat quickly emerged onto the Birmingham indie music scene in 2001 (where he was enrolled at a music college) and met Jonny Miller at one of his first gigs, who later produced Mat's self-released 'Waiting For Elvis EP'. After leaving music college and Birmingham in 2003, Mat became frustrated living back at his father's house and with his job as a waiter in a french restaurant so Mat left England for New York City where he spent most his time between Brooklyn and the Bronx playing at open mic nights in lounges, coffee shops and dive bars. At the end of his three month stay Mat had also played shows at the legendary Bitter End club on Bleecker Street and the CBGB's Gallery. Since a mini-tour of London and New York at the end of 2004, via a long summer in France spent writing new songs, Mat has now moved to London and will be performing at venues around the city. Mat's new songs are rooted in Americana with a British tinge. His songwriting has moved from the melodic, alternative pop/rock on 'Waiting For Elvis' to a much darker, deeper, traditional feel typical of Billy Bragg & Wilco's 'Mermaid Avenue', Bob Dylan, The Band, Hank Williams and more recent influences such as Ryan Adams and Ray Lamontagne. Catch one of Mat's shows around London from November 2005. |
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I caught Mat's performance at the Borderline on November 2, 2005. I found the honesty of Mat's songs to be refreshing and the maturity of his performance astounding.
Mr. Gibson performed two songs from his rapidly expanding canon, but these two songs have, in my opinion; set Mat apart as one of the finer acts on the stage that evening.
Mat was ready, the songs came straight from the heart, and he left the audience dumbfounded with his searing, yet quiet, intensity.
Word on the street has it that a band is coming together rather rapidly. With Mat's talent backed by able hands, the modern Americana scene could very well be set ablaze. Watch this space.
Rich - Fan Review (3 Nov 2005)
I have attended many of Mat's gigs over the past few years and his determination and passion is astounding. The thing that really strikes me is how much he believes in his songs, he really writes from the heart and soul and demonstrates true honesty in each and every one of his performances. It will pay off big time one day...I know it!
Elanor - Fan Review (3 Nov 2005)
Great music! I saw you in concert tonight and was again impressed. Even when you are performing covers, the music is full of soul. I can't wait to hear you perform your originals again. Fabulous job, man.
Lisa Beiswenger - Fan Review (27 Oct 2005) |
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| Date |
Venue/Club |
Location |
| September 27, 2004 |
CBGB's 313 Gallery |
New York NY, USA |
| September 14, 2004 |
Subtone |
Cheltenham, UK |
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Location:
Cheltenham, United Kingdom
Mat Gibson Website
matgibson@matgibson.com
Regular Tour Area:
London |
