Australian singer/songwriter Matt Gresham is supporting James Arthur on his sold out Back From The Edge UK tour. The 16-date March tour is an incredible opportunity for Gresham to bring his signature vocals and unique blend of folk- and electro-peppered pop to the masses.
2017 has been non-stop so far for Perth-born Gresham as he arrived in the UK fresh from his Australian Survive On Love tour. This tour followed the release of recent single Survive On Love which is a bubbly, energetic piece of perfect pop. Gresham owns an understated vocal which bounces between gentle and gravelly and harmonises beautifully. Keys, an unobtrusive baseline and a nod of electronic influences combine in brilliant synergy. The meaning behind the track, focussing on what’s important in life rather than on material possessions, further adds to its charm. Gresham’s “spiritually conscious” upbringing led to a way of thinking where emphasis is placed on looking within for solutions rather than outwardly. It’s a track which has undoubted mass appeal and the potential to sound incredible in a live setting.
Beginning in Norwich and ending in Manchester, the Back From The Edge tour stops off in every corner of the UK and is a chance for Gresham to really showcase his talent to a whole new audience on the other side of the globe from his homeland. The tour includes major venues such as the Manchester Apollo and London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire which many new artists can only dream of playing at such an early stage in their career. And this is an opportunity which isn’t lost on Gresham. Before the tour kicked off he noted: “I’m so pumped to join the super rad James Arthur for his sold out UK tour. I can’t wait to be back in the UK and playing in front of such big audiences!”
Possessing an ability to provoke thought through his music whilst still retaining that crucial mass appeal, there’s no surprise that Gresham’s been likened to pop heavyweight Ed Sheeran as well as fellow Aussie Jarryd James. Following the success of his debut single Small Voices and signing a record deal with Warner Germany, Gresham relocated to Berlin where he could focus on his forthcoming album and tour. Small Voices was the track which kick-started his career and set him on his way to becoming a household name in Australia. It’s a haunting track with its stripped back percussion being at times the only accompaniment to Gresham’s reverberating vocals. Electronic elements come to the fore as the track progresses, peaking at a flourish on the chorus and with a multi-layered crescendo outro.
Matt’s other single Ghost is a pounding track which makes the listener break out in shivers as the chorus kicks in. Its subtle intro of gentle vocals layered over sparse keys is so calm and soothing. But the track takes on a whole new dimension as the strings are brought to life and Gresham’s vocals reach peak intensity.
It’s clear that Gresham possesses raw talent and it’s brilliant that he will be able to showcase this on such an incredible stage night after night. All the forthcoming shows on James Arthur’s tour are sold out but I’m in no doubt that it won’t be long before Gresham returns to these shores, this time as the headline act.
Find out a bit more about Gresham here and have a listen to his most recent single Survive On Love below.