Originally trained as a classical guitarist, Matthew's long term love affair with songwriting lead him to spend six years as singer/guitarist/songwriter with cult Manchester party band, Whiskycats. After the group disbanded in early 2010 he started work on a new solo project. Returning to his classical guitar roots whist taking influences from early 70's British folk and the use of altered chords in jazz he developed a crop of new songs that refected the inevitable comedown from the riotous Whiskycats era with a new, more serious musical direction. Infuenced by the intimate singing style of Chet Baker and the pastoral Englishness of Nick Drake, his understated delivery married very well with the classical guitar accompaniment of some of this new material.
In late 2010 Matthew recorded a limited edition acoustic album of these songs called The Man With the Anvil Hat, which was regarded by the MEN as "standout manc music debut of 2010".
In 2011 he added a full band to his set-up that included ex-Whiskycats drummer Sam Draper; long-time colaborator and guitar virtuoso Jim Wallace; and double bass mystic and legened of the Manchester jazz scene, Frank Grime. Armed with these new arrangements and under the expert guidence of producer Jim Spencer (Charlatans, New Order, Whiskycats), Matthew and his band have started working on their first full stuidio album together due to be completed at some vague time near the middle of 2012."
