Matt Corby Announces Winter Tour

Matt Corby will usher in the cold weather ahead with The Winter Tour.

The Winter Tour sees Matt heading out of the clubs and into some of the country’s best theatres. It’ll be something of a homecoming for the singer-songwriter, who’s spending the next few months working on his debut album and playing shows in the United Kingdom and United States. He’ll take the wintery-sounding Melbourne six-piece Alpine along for the ride.

Last time Matt circled the country his shows sold out a month before he took the stage. Make sure you don’t miss out this time by getting your tickets from the usual outlets now.

1 June 2012 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
6 June 2012 – The Forum, Melbourne
7 June 2012 – HQ, Adelaide
9 June 2012 – The Astor, Perth
14 June 2012 – The Metro, Sydney

Image used with permission from Pod Artist Services

Matt Corby Tours Into the Flame EP

If you missed out on tickets to Matt Corby’s recent groovy garden gigs, don’t worry. The local singer-songwriter has announced a full-scale national tour to celebrate the recent release of his Into the Flame EP.

While the venues aren’t nearly as cool as the last tour, they are small and intimate enough for appreciating Matt’s unique brand of folk music. Tickets are on sale now from the venues and Matt Corby’s website.

22 February 2011 – The Corner, Melbourne
24 February 2011 – Amplifier, Perth
25 February 2011 – Jive Bar, Adelaide
1 March 2011 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
2 March 2011 – Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane
9 March 2011 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (supporting Feist)

Image used with permission from Pod Artist Services

Matt Corby Plays Gardens

A brand new Matt Corby song “Brother” will hit radio next week. It’s the first track from the Australian Idol graduate’s new EP, Into the Flame. Or if you don’t want to sit patiently by your radio, you could just listen to it here!

I haven’t always enjoyed Matt’s music, but this track feels like his most mature work to date. While many of his tunes have seemed to meander without purpose, this one’s really compelling. If this is a sign of what’s to come this time around perhaps I’d better give him another listen.

To celebrate the EP’s November 11 launch, Matt headed out on the road this week for one of his most extensive tours to date. Called the Secret Garden tour, the shows see Matt playing in some of the country’s most beautiful gardens. These tranquil settings sound a lot more inviting than sweaty pubs with sticky floors!

Tickets are allocated on a first come, first served basis; fans just need to e-mail mattcorbysg@gmail.com with details of the shows they want to go and the friends they want to take (there’s a maximum of four names per e-mail to keep things fair). Tickets cost $20 per person and will be collected upon entry to the event. That money will help Matt continue to do what he does, and help the hosts cover their costs.

It all sounds like such a great concept, the sort of thing we don’t often see in the modern music world. The remaining dates are below if you want to get to one of the gardens, or Matt’s EP launch shows.

15 October 2011 – Salisbury, QLD (18+ BYO)
16 October 2011 – Forest Lake, QLD (All Ages)
18 October 2011 – Palm Beach, NSW (All Ages)
19 October 2011 – Ingleside, NSW (All Ages)
20 October 2011 – Pennant Hills, NSW (All Ages)
21 October 2011 – Kings Langley, NSW (18+ BYO)
22 October 2011 – Ashfield, NSW (18+ BYO)
23 October 2011 – Leumeah, NSW (15+)
26 October 2011 – Hopetoun, VIC (All Ages)
27 October 2011 – Kyabram, VIC (All Ages)
28 October 2011 – Niddrie, VIC (18+ BYO)
29 October 2011 – Donvale, VIC (All Ages)
30 October 2011 – Ringwood North, VIC (All Ages)
3 November 2011 – Crawley, WA (All Ages)
4 November 2011 – Como, WA (18+ BYO)
5 November 2011 – North Perth, WA (All Ages)
6 November 2011 – Carramar, WA (All Ages Morning Show)
6 November 2011 – Carabooda, WA (18+ BYO Night Show)
11 November 2011 – Campbelltown, NSW (All Ages)
24 November 2011 – Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney
30 November 2011 – The Toff In Town, Melbourne
2 December 2011 – Blakeview, SA (18+ BYO)
3 December 2011 – Stirling, SA (All Ages)
4 December 2011 – Evanston Park, SA (18+ BYO)

Image used with permission from Pod Artist Services

Matt Corby Tours New EP “Transition to Colour”

Matt Corby is heading out on the road to support the release of his brand new EP, Transition to Colour.

Transition to Colour hits stores on October 22, which should give fans just enough time to learn all the lyrics before the shows in November and December. The EP is the first Aussie release for Communion, the indie label helmed by Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons and Kev Jones of Cherbourg. It is a haunting and ethereal collection of songs which show a musical maturity beyond Matt’s 19 years. He recorded it in London with Ian Grimble (The Libertines, Seasick Steve), a process which has been described as a “magical time” for all involved.

And there’s more where this came from. Matt’s just returned home from his most recent trip to the United Kingdom, which saw him record his debut album. We should see that in stores here and in the UK next year. Until then, we’ve got the following gigs to look forward to! And don’t worry Queensland, you haven’t been forgotten. Look out for your shows next year!
13 October 2010 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (with Passenger UK)
14 October 2010 – Melt Bar, Sydney (with Daniel Lee Kendall)
11 November 2010 – Fly By Nightclub, Freemantle
12 November 2010 – Ellington Jazz Club, Perth
3 December 2010 – Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide
4 December 2010 – Thornbury Hotel, Melbourne
5 December 2010 – National Hotel, Geelong
7 December 2010 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
8 December 2010 – Otis Bar, Wollongong
9 December 2010 – The Independent Theatre, North Sydney
10 December 2010 – View Factory, Newcastle

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Matt Corby Announces Intimate EP Shows

Matt Corby is refusing to sit still in the months leading up to the release of his EP Transition to Colour. He will head to London to record his debut album in September before returning home for two shows.

Following the EP’s release on October 8, Matt will play the Northcote Social Club in Melbourne on October 13, followed by Melt Bar in Kings Cross on October 14. Matt plans to invite several  guests to share the stage with him, so the nights are promising to be something special. These gigs are somewhat of a teaser before Matt embarks on a full length EP tour.

Tickets are available from the venues and by clicking the links above for these intimate shows.

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment

Mumford & Sons @ The Enmore, Sydney – 3 August 2010

I’m dragging my feet a bit today. That’s the problem with a midweek gig when you don’t live in the big smoke. Last night I was lured to the city by Mumford & Sons; I’m paying for my lack of sleep today, but goodness it was worth it.

Before I get on to the good bits, I just want to say a few words about the flaws of this mid-week concert experience. Two support acts playing relatively lengthy sets at a mid week gig really seems a bit excessive. While the ticket told us that the show started at 7:30 pm, the main act didn’t grace the stage until 9:45 pm. Sure we were entertained in the meantime, but the crowd was clearly restless before Mumford and Sons arrived. Perhaps they were thinking about being up early for work the next morning. Promoters need to realise that when a band is playing just two headline shows in the country, punters will travel. My sister and a friend came from Newcastle to attend, my husband and I from the Central Coast. I’m sure there were also fans from Wollongong, Canberra, and other far flung corners of the state. Like us, I’ll bet they sympathise with our arrival home at 2 am, my sister’s at 3. I’ll bet we’re all a bit weary today for the experience.

If I were planning the night, I’d have cut Matt Corby. I was really looking forward to his set, having been impressed by his originality on Australian Idol, but I struggled with his performance last night. He showed himself to be an excellent guitar player, with a beautiful voice. But his music also seemed quite aimless at times; filled with wailing and devoid of melodic hooks. His use of looping technology also left me a bit cold; I’ve seen artists like Howie Day use this equipment to dazzling effect and compared to that he was a rank amateur. He might be a good songwriter, but the amount of reverb in the mics left every word unintelligible. To top it all off, he gave the crowd nothing. A few mumbled words at the end of the penultimate song just don’t cut it.

I was more enthusiastic about London based indie posters Fanfarlo. I’d never heard of the band before, but I’ll definitely be exploring more of their stuff after this gig. They reenergized my spirit with their stirring, Celtic influenced modern folk songs and eclectic instruments. Any band featuring a mandolin, glockenspiel, trumpet, and clarinet already has me on side. They didn’t let the hard task of being the second support faze them. They performed with such gusto, and I applaud them for it.

I must admit, my enthusiasm waned a bit as the minutes looking at a bare stage ticked by. But I became revved up again as Mumford & Sons greeted us with the pitch perfect harmonies of “Sigh No More.” The sublime performance brought tears to my sister’s eyes, a sign of the emotion they’d stir in the next hour or so.

I might have been ready for bed once they arrived, but Mumford & Sons were definitely worth that wait. There’s was a rare show; with perfect sound, superb harmonies, spot-on instrumentation, good humor, and one of the most passionate audiences I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of. All of the right elements were there. The album tracks went down a treat, but the new material was received just as enthusiastically. That might be a sign of how good these unknown songs were, but it’s also a credit to the receptive crowd. “Roll Away Your Stone” was rollicking good fun, with a melee of musical friends joining the band on stage for a dance. “Little Lion Man,” which appeared much earlier than I expected, saw the crowd erupt. “The Cave” was bittersweet for me; I knew this was the final song, and while I was having such a good time I wasn’t quite ready for it to be all over.

I left The Enmore in a rush of adrenalin that helped make that long train ride back to the Central Coast a little more bearable. What a wonderful show Mumford & Sons treated us with, but boy am I paying for it now.

Image source: own photos

Matt Corby Inks International Deals Ahead of Aussie Single Tour

Australian Idol graduate Matt Corby seems to be travelling just fine without winning the talent show title, thank you very much.

He’s just returned home after spending the past two months making industry connections and recording his sophomore EP. That disc will receive an international release through the Communion label run by Mumford and Sons’ Ben Lovett. It seems the pair has really hit it off as Matt will also support Mumford and Sons on their upcoming Sydney shows.

That’s not the only exciting news though. Matt also recently inked a worldwide publishing deal with the UK division of major record label BMG.

While all that’s very thrilling it seems his focus is on the home front for now. Ahead of the Mumford and Sons shows, Matt will take his original songs all around the country on a headlining national tour to promote his new single “My False.”

If you want to catch Matt live, these are the places to do it.

30 June 2010 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
1 July 2010 – Raval, Sydney (SOLD OUT)
2 July 2010 – Heritage Hotel, Wollongong
3 July 2010 – Northern Star Hotel, Newcastle
4 July 2010 – Raval, Sydney
8 July 2010 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
9 July 2010 – National Hotel, Geelong
10 July 2010 – Baby Black Café, Bacchus Marsh
15 July 2010 – The Troubadour, Brisbane
16 July 2010 – Bon Amici Cafe, Toowoomba
17 July 2010 – Hard Rock Café, Surfers Paradise
22 July 2010 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
23 July 2010 – Ellington Jazz Club, Perth
24 July 2010 – Norfolk Basement, Fremantle
3 August 2010 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (supporting Mumford and Sons) (SOLD OUT)
4 August 2010 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (supporting Mumford and Sons) (SOLD OUT)

Image used with permission from Shiny Entertainment

Matt Corby Announces First Aussie Tour

You might remember Matt Corby as the reluctant sex symbol of Australia Idol Season 5. Losing out on the main prize seemed to be a blessing for Matt, who’s spent time away from the spotlight to hone his craft and create some incredible songs.

One such track is “Lighthome,” a live version of which is currently available as a free download at Matt’s website. If you like what you hear make sure you check out Matt on his first national tour this June and July.

Following those shows, Matt will join Mumford and Sons as support on their sold out Sydney shows. I’ve got myself some tickets to the Tuesday night gig, and am thrilled at Matt’s inclusion on the bill.

Here are all the places you can catch Mr Matt Corby in the coming months.

30 June 2010 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
1 July 2010 – Raval, Sydney
2 July 2010 – Heritage Hotel, Wollongong
3 July 2010 – Northern Star Hotel, Newcastle
8 July 2010 – The Toff in Town, Melbourne
9 July 2010 – National Hotel, Geelong
10 July 2010 – Baby Black Café, Bacchus Marsh
15 July 2010 – The Troubadour, Brisbane
16 July 2010 – Bon Amici Cafe, Toowoomba
17 July 2010 – Hard Rock Café, Surfers Paradise
22 July 2010 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River
23 July 2010 – Ellington Jazz Club, Perth
24 July 2010 – Norfolk Basement, Fremantle
3 August 2010 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (supporting Mumford and Sons)
4 August 2010 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (supporting Mumford and Sons)

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Matt Corby Releases Debut EP

Matt Corby sent hearts a-fluttering when he stepped onto the Australian Idol stage in 2007. Now two years on he’s ready to release his debut EP.The disc will be released in May through Scorpio Music, the same label which manages Evermore, Operator Please, and Lisa Mitchell.

“I think people will be kind of surprised by what they hear,” Matt told The Sunday Telegraph.”I’m still developing as an artist, and I want to keep doing this. I guess my music is a reflection of the music I love to listen to: blues and folk.”

It’s thrilling to see this talented teen, who was clearly uncomfortable with the attention he attracted on Idol, coming into his own. He’s done it by stepping away from the spotlight and just being a regular 16-year-old.

“Playing to that many people on a weekly basis is kind of overwhelming. It was really important for me to take the time out to be a regular teenager, hang out with my friends, and keep working on my music,” he explained.

In that downtime he preferred to play intimate gigs at small Sydney venues, and enjoyed travelling to London and New York to write songs.

Matt will return to London in May to work on a full-length album, but for now he’s happy to focus on the EP.

“I just hope a few people buy it and enjoy what they hear,” he said. If his work on Idol was any indication, I’m sure it’s going to be brilliant.

Image source: Timothy Neilen/Wikimedia

Matt Corby Rejects Sony Deal

Remember how Matt Corby was poised to sign a big recording contract with Sony BMG? The recording giant assured the young star he’d have the creative freedom he craves, but Matt still refused their generous offer.

“I’m still a young guy and I don’t want to be packaged. I’m just cruising along and playing music, if it all fails I’ll go back to doing my HSC or become a garbage man,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

The newspaper reported that Matt’s dropped out of school to focus on his musical career with band Fatis Valour.

I know stars can succeed without the support of a major label, but I have to wonder whether Matt’s made right the decision here. Sony BMG may be a major commercial label, but they’ve nurtured some fantastic indie artists like Augie March, Something for Kate, and You Am I.

We’ve seen plenty of musicians succeed without the backing of a major label, but at the age of 16 I’m not sure whether Matt has what it takes to go it alone. It’d be a real shame to see this talented teen emptying garbage cans in a few years time.

Image source: Toby Forage @ Flickr