Mat McHugh is about to take his music around Australia, performing a solo tour for the first time in a few years.
The latter part of 2015 was a tumultuous time for Mat. Having written, recorded and released a new FREE album – WAVES (www.matmchugh.bandcamp.com/album/waves) – Mat had to cancel his Australian tour last September after only a few shows due to extensive neck and back injuries.
Rather than go through potentially voice-damaging or mobility threatening surgery, Mat sought out specialists who have been stretching, manipulating and poking him with acupuncture needles five days a week for the past 5 months to get him back to the point where he could again pick up and play his guitar.
Says Mat: “I’m still on the road to recovery but I’m feeling a lot better than I was 5 months ago. I’ve been working hard every single day and changed my lifestyle a lot so the whole experience has turned into a positive”.
Mat has just completed the sold-out Summer Sound System tour with The Beautiful Girls around Australia. Performing, for the first time, solely as the band’s singer due to the health risks posed by playing an instrument.
Buoyed by the enjoyment and success of those shows, Mat has today announced a run of special intimate performances across Australia throughout May/June 2016 as part of the MAT McHUGH SOLO 2016 Tour.
For this run of performances, Mat will be in stripped back mode, giving fans an ‘up-close and personal’ show featuring songs from his albums WAVES, LOVE COME SAVE ME and SEPERATISTA! as well as one or two musical surprises from his back catalog.
Mat adds: “I’m super excited to have the chance to go out on the road and play all these songs. Particularly the songs from WAVES. I feel like it’s my favourite album that I’ve made and I really can’t wait for people to hear what it sounds like live. I plan to keep things pretty simple and raw. I’ll just be playing and singing some songs and making some noise. I predict that it will be full power”.
Showcasing Mat’s commitment to supporting independent music in all parts of the country, up and coming and unsigned artists will be chosen in conjunction with each venue as opening and guest performers for these dates.
MAT McHUGH SOLO 2016 TOUR DATES
FRI 13 MAY – KATOOMBA, NSW – BAROQUE ROOM
SAT 14 MAY – MONA VALE, NSW – MONA VALE HOTEL
SUN 15 MAY – BULLI, NSW – HERITAGE HOTEL
THU 27 MAY – NEWCASTLE, NSW – LIZOTTE’S
FRI 28 MAY – BELLINGEN, NSW – 5 CHURCH STREET
SAT 29 MAY – BYRON BAY, NSW – THE NORTHERN
THU 02 JUNE – BRISBANE, QLD – BLACK BEAR LODGE
FRI 03 JUNE – MOOLOOABAR, QLD – THE WHARF TAVERN
SAT 04 JUNE – GOLD COAST, QLD – THE SOUND LOUNGE
THU 09 JUNE – HENLEY BEACH, SA – RAMSGATE HOTEL
FRI 10 JUNE – ADELAIDE, SA – JIVE
THU 16 JUNE – PERTH, WA – JIMMY’S DEN
FRI 17 JUNE – FREMANTLE, WA – MOJO’S BAR
SAT 18 JUNE – SCARBOROUGH, WA – INDI BAR
SUN 19 JUNE – DUNSBOROUGH, WA – CLANCY’S
FRI 24 JUNE – CRONULLA, NSW – BRASS MONKEY
SAT 25 JUNE – SYDNEY, NSW – NEWTOWN SOCIAL CLUB
THU 30 JUNE – BELGRAVE, VIC – SOOKI LOUNGE
FRI 01 JULY – GEELONG, VIC – THE WORKERS CLUB
SAT 02 JULY – MELBOURNE, VIC – THE TOFF
SUN 03 JULY – FRANKSTON, VIC – PELLY BAR
THU 07 JULY – AIRLIE BEACH, QLD – MAGNUMS
FRI 08 JULY – TOWNSVILLE, QLD – FLINDERS SOCIAL
SAT 09 JULY – CAIRNS, QLD – TANK ART CENTRE