Matt Norris & the Moon

First up on the three band bill are Matt Norris & The Moon, an Edinburgh based folk quintet who up until recently have failed to make any significant waves in the Glasgow live scene. Although they’re down a keyboard player due to car trouble (something to do with a new fangled key card system gone wrong, singer Matt tells me), the band still soar, pitting mariachi trumpet swells against folksy fiddle runs and infectious raspy melodies. The Mumford & Sons comparisons are obvious, but herein also lies a band with a truly talented songwriter at its core; and the note perfect vocal harmonies don’t do much harm either! Mid-set tracks that Matt claims are untitled stand out as something a little bit different, showcasing glimpses of future potential for these young rapscallions. - Glasgow Podcart

att Norris & the Moon are a cracking Edinburgh based folk band whose dynamic performances, driving melodies and great four part harmonies will entice lovers of Mumford and Sons, Laura Marling and Johnny Flynn. The band features guitar, trumpet, fiddle and double bass as well as mandolin, piano and accordion. Their repertoire is far from being a rubber stamp of the bands I mention above, they have a unique style and there are definate scottish traditional influences in their music as well as the more contemporary. A band to watch out for in 2012!

Matt Norris & the Moon are: Matt Norris, Tom MacColl, Dave Law, Helen Cookson and Dale Birrell. - Folk Radio UK

Organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2011/12 are delighted to announce Matt Norris and the Moon has won the final of Hog The Street after a closely contested ‘street busking’ competition on Princes
Street in Edinburgh this weekend. Matt Norris and the Moon will now open Concert in the Gardens – the
music and fireworks spectacular – and join the bill alongside headliners Primal Scream and special guests Bombay Bicycle Club and Sons & Daughters on Saturday 31 st December.

Ten lucky bands were chosen by Leith Records and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay from over 80 entries to compete in a live busking final, hosted by DJ, broadcaster and champion of new music, Jim Gellatly.

The line-up included an eclectic mix of indie, hip hop, folk and soul and each band had to perform to raise
funds for Shelter Scotland from the weekend shoppers on Princes Street. Matt Norris and the Moon won the competition by raising the most money, and contributed to a total of £2,743 raised for Shelter
Scotland.

Matt Norris and the Moon are a five piece band from Edinburgh who describe themselves as a foot stomping, five part harmonising quintet pitting trumpet swells against folksy fiddle runs to create infectious
melodies. Matt Norris said “We are over the moon! But seriously, we are thrilled to be playing Concert in the Gardens, and a huge thank you to everybody who donated money to Shelter Scotland today to see us
through the final.”

Pete Irvine, Creative Director, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, said:“We enjoyed a fantastic weekend with some great fresh, new Scottish talent which has resulted in a worthy winner to open Concert in the Gardens. We are delighted to have raised so much money to support Shelter Scotland as our thoughts turn to those in need of a home at this time of year.”Jim Wolff, Co-Founder, Leith Records, said: ‘"Hog The Street brought a lively festival atmosphere to Princes Street this weekend. We gave some new Scottish bands a good bit of exposure, shoppers got a great weekend of live music, and Shelter Scotland got a healthy Christmas bonus."
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay

After I got chatting with Squirrel from This Silent Forest finding out that Matt Norris and The Moon were on the bill it was a pleasant surprise. Matt and co arrived on stage and straight away I had noticed something different about this lot, it was the accent. As this was a small venue in Glasgow I don’t normally expect to hear an Englishman take to the stage. Matt Norris & The Moon met at Edinburgh Uni coming from all corners of the earth to make some highly enjoyable contemporary folk tunes. Matt led proceedings from the front with his acoustic guitar and vocals. He made things funny with his little anecdotes between songs. Matt Norris and the Moon are multi-talented band where the band members can be seen to be playing double bass and acoustic guitar which Helen picking up the violin and switching to the flute with a relative ease, Tom or Dave I’m not quite sure which one can be found switching between trumpets and what I believe was an electric ukulele. The band finished the set with two songs that ran smoothly into each other even throwing in a surprising 4 piece harmony with just a double bass being flicked in the background. - The IndieBendent