Hailing from Western Australia, Matt's first musical influences stemmed from his father's passion with the bluegrass banjo and collection of Matt Taylor (Chain) records. After experimenting with the banjo, harmonica, and ukulele, Matt was introduced (at the tender age of nine) to the awesome sounds of the "Lowery" organ. The rest is history.

At age 10, he got his first horn, and alto saxophone, and the passionate love affair continued. After several years classical and jazz training with local sax guru, Roger Garrood, Matt entered the illustrious world of LIVE MUSIC, playing sax and keyboards with various bands

Early 1993, Matt's life changed. His flat mate left an acoustic guitar lying around tuned to open slide tuning. Feeling a little bored; he picked it up and gave it a twang! 10 months later he came runner up in the 1994 KOSMIC MUSIC GUITAR SOLO CHAMPIONSHIPS (WA), walking away with $2000 in prize money. No one could quite believe that Matt had only been playing for 10 months and that he scored a place in a major guitar competition.

IN 1997 HE WENT ON TO WIN THE MARSHALL AMPS GUITAR SOLO COMPETITION.

Everything about Matt Corcoran's slide playing is exceptionally unique. He plays lap steel slide sitting down, strums the guitar like Jeff Healy, and plays over the neck (not under the neck like most slide players) This produces a distinctly original sound which is filled with tones and harmonics not usually associated with slide guitar.

Matt's first album "240km/h" was an outstanding and innovative tribute to the slide guitar. Not just a blues album but also a progressive solo album, it showcased Matt Corcoran not only as a slide player, but also an accomplished harmonica player, sax player, and song writer.

Matt’s second album, "Angry Young Man" also showed Matt to be an accomplished vocalist and demonstrated a maturing of his guitar talents. He has also spent time working on his songwriting, refining it and producing a distinctive and emphatic style.

Matt's third album "So Low Blues" . This was released in March 2002. It features Matt totally solo, and showcased the "Freaky Little One Man Blues Band". There is where Matt plays several instruments at once as well as drums and percussion with his feet.

Matt's fourth album "LIVE" . This is Matt's new long awaited LIVE album featuring "The Freaky Lil One Man Blues Band" and contains a hand-picked selection of live tracks from Matt's own personal archive of LIVE recordings. All the tracks were recorded LIVE in the crowd at the Australian Blues Music Festival 2004 (Sat night. Goulburn Workers Club. 1500 people) and Narooma Blues Festival 2003 (the Big Tent. 2500-3000 people). With special guests Chris Wilson, Benny Owen and Phil King.

Realizing that in Australia, the only real way to develop a following is to tour, Matt hit the road-full-time, flat-out, and NO FIXED ADDRESS. Matt plays slide guitar on his lap, and drums with his feet. His guitar is set up to produce an acoustic, electric, and bass guitar sound, and is linked to a device that allows Matt to record and loop grooves (live on stage) and play along as if it were a backing band. Matt's act is often referred to as the "freaky Little One Man Blues Band!".

"....there are no backing tapes, sequencers, or midi discs players, just parts of my playing sampled or recorded and repeated in loops behind my foot drums and lead playing. The effect is quite raw and hypnotic. You can actually see me recording certain things live. I do that with my feet also!....."

Matt sounds like a cross between John Lee Hooker and Ben Harper, with a lot of RL Burnside, a bit of George Thorogood, a piece of Bukka White, and snippets of Fred McDowell. All this blended together forms a Delta Groove Blues sound that makes you want to dance and tap your feet.

Matt is the last remaining element of the touring rural blues-man, playing almost 230 shows a year, a fact that is reflected in his songwriting and attitude to life. All his material is original and Matt delights his fans with humorous stories and jokes throughout the night to make it a complete and entertaining show. 

In a very short time Matt has built up an impressive Australia wide audience collecting new fans in their droves, delighting the old one's with his new material, and gathering a nice collection of awards as well. Most recently Matt won the 1998 Australian Blues Music Award for BEST NEW MALE ARTIST.

States Matt “My music integrates the history of the blues, especially its Australian variants, into a progressive, modern sound that is fresh, innovative and above all entertaining”.

CRITIQUES

He has huge skills, great potential and is one of the best gigs you’ll see”
Andrew Tucker 
The Weekly CD Buyer’s Guide

… expect to be bombarded with searing blues licks that make those renowned ‘Spinal Tap’ scenes of burning guitars come to mind. Matt Corcoran is about rock ‘n’ roll attitude. 
Mixdown, Melbourne

… hard word and serious slide guitar, a sound Corcoran works with ease, both clean and distorted. 

The Age, Melbourne

…. will drop any hard core blues critic with an intensity of natural talent most blues fans are itching to see and hear. Matt has the ability with his instrument to get inside you. 
Darrel Bair, Internet Reviewer

… Matt Corcoran is a gifted songwriter with a surprising, sometimes alarming, turn of phrase…Play this loud in your car at your own risk. You have been warned!…go and see this angry young man! 

Rhythms Magazine, Australia

… You can hear all Corcoran’s emotion embodied in his latest album … Passion flows through his guitar and his vocals. 
Forte Magazine, Geelong

… Matt plays lap slide guitar “harder than your husband” (to Zappa a phrase). So hang on and enjoy the ride! 
The Ghost, 3TR FM, Melbourne

… The overall impression is power and energy to burn and Corcoran’s searing screeching slide guitar dominates throughout. 
BNG, Melbourne 

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Email: Click Here. Mattsbits.com. - Matt Corcoran. PO Box 30. Merimbula. NSW. 2548. Australia.