Indie Rocker Matt Hennessy Scores Five Festival Gigs This Summer!

Matt Hennessy, a 21-year-old indie rock musician from Portsmouth, Hampshire, has just achieved a major milestone in his music career. He won this year's Road to Victorious competition after an impressive performance at The Wedgewood Rooms, a well-known music venue in his hometown. This victory means Matt will be performing at five major summer festivals across England. His festival tour will include Truck Festival in Oxfordshire, Tramlines in Sheffield, Kendal Calling in Cumbria, Y Not Festival in Derbyshire, and will finish at Victorious Festival in Portsmouth. Matt described his win as 'incredible' and said it felt like the result of years of hard work and dedication.

Matt's journey in music began when he was very young. He started going to concerts at The Wedgewood Rooms as a child, and his first live show was seeing Johnny Marr, a famous guitarist. That experience left a big impression on him, and he even got the chance to meet Johnny Marr and play his guitar a few years later. Matt says Johnny Marr is one of his biggest influences, along with artists like Vintage Trouble and Stevie Wonder. He describes his own music style as a blend of 2000s indie rock and classic funk and soul. Matt picked up the guitar at age four and started taking lessons at eight. Now, he is studying for a music degree at WaterBear Music College in Brighton, where he continues to develop his skills.

Winning Road to Victorious was a huge moment for Matt. He said the final show was the biggest gig he had ever played, with around 400 to 450 people in the audience. He was thrilled that so many people knew the lyrics to his songs, which made the experience even more special. As part of his prize, Matt will travel to all the festivals with a full tour crew and receive one-on-one sessions with music industry experts. This will give him valuable advice and support as he continues his career. Other finalists, including Rosewater, Eloise Carter, and Rosie Hollins, will also perform at Victorious Festival. Matt said they are all close friends and he feels honored to be part of such a talented group. He is looking forward to a busy summer of performing, and in his spare time, he hopes to write and record new music, with plans to release more songs in the autumn. Matt's story is an inspiring example of how dedication and passion can lead to exciting opportunities in the music world.