Matt Zarb
Instrumentation
Matt Zarb: Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Harmonica, Stompbox/Foot Percussion, Didgeridoo.
Biography
Combining his hard edge of an Australian bushy, the timing of a high school marching band and the heart of Kentucky roots music, Matt has developed a style that can only be described as "Aussie-Bush-Grass". To see a live performance of a Matt Zarb show, is as eventful as the trip from Louisville to Sydney, as surreal as the Australian Outback, and as energetic as Popeye on his Spinach.
"GUITARIST EXTRAORDINAIRE!"
-The Reporter, Independence, Kansas
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Matt has been stationed permanently in Bardstown Kentucky U.S.A for five years now and has developed a huge following both in Kentucky and across the midwest as far out as Colorado .
Matt grew up in in a family of six musician boys in Cranebrook west of Sydney Australia.
After many years cutting his teeth in and around the Sydney pub scene his music took him all over Australia and finally landed him in Kentucky,U.S.A in the year 2002 where he has lived and toured since then.
Every year he comes back to Australia now to see his family. He is back now for the year sorting out immigration issues and working hard on his growing fan base in Australia. Which has brought him back to where he started in Sydney ..
His Audiences have been loving his unique self titled style of music “Aussie Bushgrass” ..Its been described as a train smash between a convict and hippy and bushbilly. His songs spell out his life on the road both here in Australia and over there touring the U.S.A with his guitar and stomp box. Matt alone and with brother Pauly has opened for WILLIE NELSON, KEITH URBAN, THE LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA, TOMMY EMMANUEL, LITTLE FEAT, Delbert McCLINTON, THE CHARLIE DANIELLES BAND and a long list of others. Matt has a swag of songs and is currently promoting his CD 'Hillbilly Bride”.
Matt’s last year or so in the United States have yielded yet another swag of interesting and exciting highlights….
In October of 2006 Matt was honored to kick off the noted Acoustic Guitar Master’s Series for 2006 now in its seventh season. This concert series features the best virtuoso acoustic guitar players from all over the world including Tommy Emmanuel CGP, Pete Huttlinger, Richard Smith, Steven Bennett, etc. www.acousticguitarmasters.com.
“ZARB TAKES STAGES AS A "MASTER” in his own right”.
It's Matt Zarb's love of music and his ability to combine guitar playing styles to get what Eddie Mattingly (founder and host of "Acoustic Guitar Masters Series") calls the "Zarbanizing" effect that makes him a unique but fitting addition to the collection of world-renowned guitar players he brings to Hardin County. To find guitarists at that level, Mattingly said he attends two major music festivals, the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention in Nashville and the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kan., where thousands of guitar players flock each year. "There are about 30 in the world that are this good," Mattingly said. "I've brought 19 here — the other 11 have called."
-The News Enterprise, Elizabethtown, Kentucky
After returning to Kentucky in March of 2006 from an extensive tour in Australia Matt began producing his second solo project, Wayno’s Garage, which featured many of his songs from previous cd’s as well as his own unique version of Mason William‘s, “Classical Gas“. The CD was released in June of 2006 and Matt has continued to tour and promote the CD throughout the United States. This CD will be featured and available for the first time to the Australian audience on this tour.
In July of this year “due to Matts absense” brother Pauly will host the annual “Zarb Brothers Street Concert” in historic downtown Bardstown,Kentucky. Now in its fourth year this concert has grown to attract thousands of fans as well as the support of the local government and business community. This years concert will feature Pauly Zarb and his band , Aussie special guest Tommy Emmanuel CGP,Pat Kirtley 1995 U.S.A thumb picking champion and poular California band “Soapbox Symphony”, and singer/songwriter Antsie McLain. It will be a monster gig no doubt as it always is.
For more press,photos visit Matt's website and read the press page. If you wish to hear a compilation of some of Matts music visit the myspace link at the bottom of the front page of his website at www.mattzarb.com
You can also from the front page click the sonic bids “ On line press kit ” link to view printable photo's for media
Matt is endorsed by Elixir Strings and Graham Bird Guitars...
Website
http://www.mattzarb.com