Matt Corby, Bear's Den and Lucy Mason: Live

(Clockwise: Lucy Mason, Bear's Den and Matt Corby)

On Friday night I went to see Matt Corby live at HMV Institute Birmingham. It might have been a cold, cruel night outside but inside The Temple, the top-floor room in the venue, it was a night filled with awe-inspiring, goose-bump-inducing music.

Lucy Mason was a lovely start to the evening, with a sweet voice and pretty dress (I want it!), and Bear's Den then followed. After spending most of their set wondering why I recognised the lead singer's voice, they played one of their older songs - Don't Let the Sun Steal You Away - and I had an epiphany; realising they're a more mature, more talented form of Cherbourg, with a new name to match. I'm putting their EP on my Christmas wish-list as we speak!

Last up was the headliner himself, Matt Corby. I now realise in my first post on Matt, I may have only revealed the tip of the iceberg; Matt's music is a lot more than simply another Bon Iver/James Vincent McMorrow-alike, demonstrated professionally through his style variations: from the soft, sweet intro onto the stage to the face-melting, stadium-worthy songs, he's a man of many talents. That, plus his band, and his swapping of guitar to piano to vocals and the use of looper pedals means he's one to definitely see live if you can. However, as a jet-setting Australian, you might have to wait a little longer than usual!