Matthew James Banks

Matthew James Banks is a singer-songwriter / covers artist from Cambridge currently living in Bristol. A firm believer in the power and joy of live performance, he puts puts 110% into every gig he does which has given him quite the reputation in Bristol's up and coming acoustic scene. With incredibly soulful vocals, tender guitar playing and an on stage confidence that is hard to find nowadays, Matt's talent truly speaks for itself. He spent his younger years cutting his teeth on the busking circuit in his hometown, learning how to handle a crowd through late night performances to partygoers stumbling out of nightclubs in Cambridge city centre. Since moving to the South West in 2015 to start a course in Commercial Music at Bath Spa University he has performed in most of Bath / Bristol’s top venues; Komedia, Thekla, The Louisiana, Rough Trade and Moles to name a few. He has also landed support slots for notable acts such as Brothers Moving and Carl Barat & The Jackals. Matt’s influences range from classic British rock bands like Oasis, The Stone Roses & The Beatles to contemporary folk in the realm of Bon Iver and Passenger. He also loves seminal soul and reggae singers such as Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley. His knowledge of popular covers is wide and varied from back the busking days and needing to always have another song up your sleeve to get the crowd going. He has released three solo EP’s, and most recently a 10 track album titled "Young Man" which includes spoken . word poetry alongside his original songs. His second album is currently in the process of being recorded and is due for release early 2023. From small pubs to big stages to large wedding venues, Matt has seen all there is to see in his ten year career and always has something to offer. Why not give him a try?