Matt Zarb

Artist Information

Biography

Matt Zarb
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.

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 a hillbilly. 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, Kieth Urban, The Louisville Orchestra, Tommy Emmanuel, Little Feat, Delbert McClinton, The Charlie Daniel's 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 stage 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..Maybe one or two of our other brothers Jed and Jose. California band “Soapbox Symphony”, and singer/songwriter Antsie McLain. It will be a monster gig no doubt as it always is.
Matt’s latest project has been performing with his wife Dani as part of the national television cooking show “The Campfire Café”. Matt has written and produced the music for the new series in which he will be featured performing live throughout the 2007 season.
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

http://cdbaby.com/cd/zarb

Instrumentation

Matt Zarb: Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Harmonica, Stompbox/Foot Percussion, Didgeridoo.

Discography

Wayno's Garage 2006 (Matt Zarb solo)
Hillbilly Bride 2004 (Matt Zarb solo)
Chameleon 2003 (Matt and Pauly Zarb)
Live 2002 (Matt and Pauly Zarb)
Vincent Road 2001 (Matt and Pauly Zarb)

CD's available on request

Audio

• Hillbilly Bride
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• Southern Cross
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• Rose Matilda
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• What Do You Think About That?
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Lyrics

• Hillbilly Bride
• Southern Cross
• Rose Matilda
• Vincent Road
• What Do You Think About That?

Video

Acoustic Guitar Master Series 6

Photo Gallery

Press

• Zarb takes stage as a ‘Master' in his own right [+ Show ]
  

  Singer and songwriter Matt Zarb doesn't consider himself a master guitarist. "Tommy Emmanuel is a m...Singer and songwriter Matt Zarb doesn't consider himself a master guitarist.
  "Tommy Emmanuel is a master. Chet Atkins was a master," he said. "God's gift to me is me music, but I never considered myself that."
  But, if Eddie Mattingly, owner of Trinity Music Productions and sponsor of the Acoustic Guitar Masters Concert Series, says he's good enough to play with the world's greatest pickers, then that's good enough for him.
  Saturday, a week after his return to Kentucky from touring in Australia, Zarb will take the stage at the Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center as the first act in the concert series, now in its sixth year.
  Days before the event, he was still a little stunned at the players joining him in series performances throughout the season. Among them are Emmanuel, Pat Kirtley, Stephen Bennett, Beppe Gambetta, Tony McManus and Michael Kelsey.
  "They're the ones you read about in Guitar Player magazine," Zarb said. "It's the biggest honor I've had as a guitar player."
  To that, Mattingly said, "We're honored to have Matt play with us."
  Originally from Penrith, Australia, Zarb has lived in Kentucky for three years, creating music that is a blend of Australian bush music and bluegrass he calls Aussie bush-grass.
  "He's got a lot of energy, a lot of excitement and great music," Mattingly said.
  He also sings.
  "I'm not that sort of bloke to play one instrumental after another," Zarb said. "But your level of guitar play has gotta be up there."
  It's Zarb's love of music and his ability to combine guitar playing styles to get what Mattingly 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."
  In its six years, the series has far exceeded Mattingly's expectations.
  "It's got a life of its own, the word is getting out and it's getting back to me that somebody like James Taylor has heard of the series," Mattingly said.
  It's a credit to Mattingly, Zarb said, that the series has garnered its reputation.
  "He's a local guy who just believes in guitar players and wants to bring them to Kentucky," he said.
  And, they come happily, Mattingly said. He's never had an invitation to play in the series turned down.
  "When Tommy Emmanuel told me ‘yes,' no one else has told me ‘no.'"
  Each Acoustic Guitar Master Concert Series show is the first Saturday of the month at the PAC, except in January. Tickets are $15 to all shows except Tommy Fest, a three-day event featuring Tommy Emmanuel. Tickets for Emmanuel's concerts are $20 with workshops costing $90.
  Zarb's performance, featuring Pauly Zarb as special guest, will be 7:30 p.m. Saturday. For Tickets, call Trinity Music Production at (270) 325-3958.
  Holly Tabor can be reached at 769-1200, Ext. 236, or by e-mail at htabor@thenewsenterprise.com.
  Holly Tabor - (Sep 29, 2005)
  © 2005 Matt Zarb
  

• Matt Zarb Hillbilly Bride [+ Show ]
  

  Matt Zarb Hillbilly Bride (Independant) 4/5 "We all want to know what's in front...we all want...Matt Zarb
  Hillbilly Bride
  (Independant)
  4/5
  
  "We all want to know what's in front...we all want to fix what we broke...we all spend so much time thinking of these two, we forget what we're doing. Play the bar you're in..." Matt Zarb wrote this quote on his guitar to remind himself of the way he wished to live this life. In an industry where you rarely connect with the actual artist or get an insight into them as people, Zarb offers a refreshing change. The CD opens with an acapella track sung by Matt's 90-something year old croaky grandpa Pop O'keefe; a fitting beginning for an album of heartfelt anecdotes and insightful life stories. Combined with soft ballads, Matt Zarb has captured on this recording a contemporary, pub rock style incorporating Aussie roots music and Kentucky Bluegrass. Self-coined Aussie Bush Grass, it's a genre not often heard in these parts but one that should be given the time of day. Bring back open channels of communication, DIY and authenticity. (Alana Hall)

• The Senate of the Commonwealth of Kentucky [+ Show ]
  

  Matt Zarb is recognized and honored upon releasing his solo album entitled "Hillbilly Bride," at the...Matt Zarb is recognized and honored upon releasing his solo album entitled "Hillbilly Bride," at the Plum Alley Theater in the Historic State Theater Complex in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. A native of Australia who relocated to the United States to pursue a career in the music industry, this esteemed honoree previously produced four CD's as a member of a band that has played as the opening act for such popular performers as Willie Nelson, Keith Urban, Little Feat and the Louisville Orchestra and which won the Folk Album of the Year Award for "Vincent Road," as part of the 2001 Australian Sunni Music Awards program. His first solo effort, "Hillbilly Bride" is a collection of Mr. Zarb's originalwork written in a style of folk music he calls "Aussie Bush Grass," a combination of Kentucky Bluegrass and Australian bush music, and features the touching tributes to his late grandmother and grandfather and his beloved wife and most ardent suppoter, Danielle. In as much Matt Zarb has garnered the admiration and respect of his peers, listeners and fellow members of the music industry by virtue of his immense talent, his unrelenting drive to succeed and his dedication to maintaining both his personal integrity and cultural heritage through his music, he is afforded sincere congratulations upon the fruition of his most recent efforts is extended best wishes for success and good fortune in all future endeavors and, on the motion of Senator Elizabeth Tori is hereby deemed by this honorable body most worthy of its recognition.
  
  *see photo gallery for actual document

Setlist

Set List: 90% original
From Hillbilly Bride CD: Southern Cross, Rose Matilda, Miss Butterfly, Second Time Around, Hillbilly Bride, Cause I Want To, Where Do You Go, Dr. Dollar, Martha, Widow Walk, Red and Gold. From Wayno's Garage: What Do You Think About That, Laura's Tune, Jimmy's Gone to Africa, All These Things, Southern Girl...
10% Covers: Classical Gas(Mason Williams), Old Joe Clark(Traditional), Short Memory(Midnight Oil), Waltzing Matilda (Australian Traditional), Copperhead Road (Steve Earl), Red Headed Boy (Traditional Bluegrass), Call Me Al (Paul Simon), Roxanne (Police)
Typically Matt Does (2) 50 minute sets or (1) 90 minute set per performance which does not include encore. Matt's set lists vary according to the type of venue/audence/festival/etc...

Basic Requirements

Calendar