HE is a virtuoso and composer who is considered by many as an adventurous, creative and dazzlingly skilled guitarist.
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Bruce Mathiske has been off the road since 2013. But he is now back with a new album Six String Anthology and will soon set off on an Australian tour.
Mathiske has been concentrating on composing on a larger scale for an array of instruments and orchestras.
On a personal front, he has faced the shock of his wife’s cancer diagnosis and has supported her throughout her treatment. Mathiske said his wife is now “doing just great”.
The new year finds Mathiske eagerly looking forward to playing in front of live audiences again to promote his new work.
The 12 track Six String Anthology is unmistakably Mathiske, with melodic and vibrant sounds that centre around original compositions - this time in the key of each string of the guitar.
The idea for the album came about via a chance meeting with the legendary conductor and music educator Richard Gill. Gill heard one of Mathiske’s solo guitar pieces and then suggested the concept for this album.
However, at first the idea didn’t resonate with the musician. Fast forward 12 months and Mathiske found himself with a collection of compositions which saw Gill’s suggestion come to fruition.
“When I play these pieces it is truly me and I have never felt so at one with myself, my guitar and my music,” Mathiske said.
Six String Anthology will be released on April 6.
VACATIONS
FRESH from their triumphant overseas debut at South By South West, the Newcastle indie band Vacations are preparing to expand their international fan base with the release their debut album Changes on Saturday.
The band has had an amazing ride over 18 months.
The independent band, led by No-Fi Collective boss Campbell Burns, have generated 1.4 million streams of their 2016 EP Vibes and Days on YouTube and the single Home has been played 906,000 times on Spotify.
Burns traveled to the US alone for South By South West earlier this month where he was joined by a Chicago-based backing band for Vacations’ five shows.
Vacations play the Cambridge Hotel on April 13 before embarking on their maiden European tour.