Matted at Waterbear Venue

It's the gig you've been waiting for... Matted take over Waterbear venue in Brighton.

This brand-new band is the sonic equivalent of lightning in a bottle — electric, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore. With impressive credentials, lead guitarist Jake Slack and bassist Jacob Swann literally came of age on stage at the tender age of 11 and 12 in London’s West End production of School of Rock, The Musical. Their sophomore roles in the teenage band Chapter 13 scored them a golden buzzer on Britain’s Got Talent. Headline tours, and supporting slots at the O2 Arena followed. However, as the pandemic reshaped the group’s perspective, Chapter 13 came to an end. From the ashes of their debut band, the duo emerged with a new-found determination to carve their own artistic path. Empowered by creative autonomy, Jake and Jacob embarked on a mission to redefine the boundaries of their craft, unshackling themselves to create music that resonates deep within their souls. Their quest for a ‘rockstar’ led them to Max Walker, a captivating vocal prodigy whose eclectic influences ranging from Mike Patton to 90s grunge injected a fresh energy into the group’s dynamic. Joined by the inventive guitar stylings of Max’s confidant, Oscar Paulley, Matted found themselves enriched with yet another dimension of sonic exploration. They completed their line-up in early 2024 with the addition of the heavy-hitting drummer Tom Walker (no relation), whose early immersion in drumming education and passion for industrial sounds brings a distinctive rhythmic intensity to the band. Matted is the sound of kids brought up on the classics, creating their own evolution for the 2020s. The raw energy of AC/DC, industrial tones of Nine Inch Nails, and the avant-garde of Mr Bungle, all twisted and turned into something totally unprecedented. This concoction of influences, rarely cited by ones so young, has resulted in a familiar yet unique sound: a blend of emotion, fury, experimentation and authenticity. The band performed their first live shows in May 2024 and are currently crafting their debut recordings with Harry Judd and Danny Jones (McFly).

Matted are ready to take on the world, one riff at a time. Catch their first Brighton gig in this tiny venue and say 'I was there' when they're massive!

Support comes from Archy & The Astronauts and Hot Juice Archy & The Astronauts An explosive trio whose gritty, hard-hitting riffs and driving walls of sound propel listeners on a journey through the stars. With influences gathered from across the musical galaxy, their songs are packed with witty lyricism and celestial hooks. They echo the sonic orbits of heavyweights like ‘Royal Blood’, ‘Muse’ and ‘Nova Twins’ whilst inhabiting a space of their own. Onstage, they command far beyond their years with the force of a supernova, igniting their performances with boundless energy and precision. aged 21-23, the electric trio have been championed by national and local radio from the likes of Dean Jackson (bbc radio) and Johhny doom (kerrang radio). Forming in late 2021, rejecting university and deciding to follow the music, the band has traversed various sonic identities and lineups. Now, in their definitive incarnation, they have created a torrent of tracks scattered across a spectrum of concepts and stories. The band have sold out multiple UK shows, as well as debuting in New York City in summer 2022, returning annually to bigger and bigger crowds. After just a year with a new drummer at the helm, they reached the final ten in Kerrang and Marshall Records ‘The deal’ out of thousands of applications.

Hot Juice Brighton based Indie-Punk 4 piece Hot Juice have been making waves during their first year in the UK with Headline Shows, a UK Tour and the Great Escape Festival. Releasing new music, with blog, magazine and interview features, glistening reviews and BBC Intro CI tracks of the week.

This is going to be a killer night to remember!