Come-back gig is Matt's first Chichester headline show

Chichester-based singer-songwriter Matt Cooper offers a come-back gig which is also his first-ever headline gig in his home city.

Matt was in previous bands, such as Leader, who toured Japan in 2007 to accompany the album Lucky, and Coin-Op, who were on the UK indie label Fierce Panda and played SXSW and across the UK, as well as Spain and Sweden.

But now, after a few years away from music, he is back with a vengeance and performing as a solo artist.

You can see Matt headline a show in his home town for the first time on Saturday, September 26 at Upstairs At Raps, Southgate, Chichester. The evening will feature four songwriters in all, showcasing their original songs. Matt will be joined by Bruce Samuel (El Capitan), Roger Mason & Jon Wheeler (Westingway). The show starts at 7pm. Tickets are £5.50 (plus booking fee) on https://wegottickets.com/f/23256/ or £10 on the door. Matt will be on at about 9.10pm.

“It's a come-back gig,” Matt says. “I was born in Chichester but grew up in Brighton, and a lot of my bands that I had a little bit of a bite of the cherry with were Brighton based. I lived in Australia but after that I have been living in Chichester now for about 13 years and this is my first headline show in Chichester.

“Basically I had family time away from music. I've always been in music, and in Australia I managed a band and a small record label. But I came back and took a bit of a break. But then it was during Covid that I started writing again. I needed something to do. It was an opportunity to get creative again. It was so nice just having the time and that's when I really started songwriting again. I would say that I had had nine years of not writing though I was still involved in music, and then after Covid Stanmore became the vessel. We recorded some songs. And then I had a little bit of a break and then I got back into it and the songs are now solo songs.

“I appreciate it a lot more now. I enjoy it more. With the bands I was with, we went to some great places but there was always that pressure. For now, I just love performing without that pressure and I just love creating a show. I don't want to just go on stage and play a gig. I really want people to feel that they are part of it as well.

“I would say that I am a very honest songwriter, sometimes too honest. It's very much heart on sleeve type stuff. That's the kind of music you can enjoy. I like a good melody. The Beatles were the ultimate pop band, and that's what I love but I've always loved heartfelt songwriting as well. I would say that I'm a pop songwriter with an indie rocky folky edge.”

The gig is at Rapscallions Chichester, 30 Southgate, Chichester, PO19 1DP.