Matt Kelly is a familiar name on the Manx live scene.

Having come through the ranks of the likes of King Chiaullee, Strengyn, Hoodoo Nation and The Ballaghs, he keeps his name on the lips of many with regular gigs and support slots around the island.

Matt started writing and performing his own songs in 2015, which brings us to tonight (Saturday) and to the launch of his new CD entitled Time For Matt Kelly.

Recorded at the Small Bear Records Studios in Douglas with label boss Phil Reynolds at the helm, the 13 track offering showcases exactly what Matt is all about.

I caught up with Matt ahead of the launch to find out how it all came about.

Matt said: ’I’m always on the case, writing more songs and soon after we’d finished recording the last CD there was a whole set of songs ready to be recorded and a lot of these have been in my live set for a long time and have become favourites with the audience, so it will be great to finally have a polished studio version of all the songs to let people hear.

Acoustic

’The style of the songs is much the same as before, I’ve kinda found my feet writing short, bright acoustic songs, a lot of the time forming stories with characters involved.

’This kind of writing I have loved since the early days of The Stereophonics.

’Bands like Blur as well, there are a lot of characters in their songs and it’s good to have a story to follow.

’I’ve played a couple of mandolin solos on different songs and a tiny bit of glockenspiel along the way, also I’ve got some brilliant guest stars joining me too.’

He added: ’On a song called Safe As Houses, Alice Dudley sings joint vocals with me and David Kilgallon is playing Hammond organ and on a song called The Fair’s In Town with my friend Will Revill playing cornet.

’Overall, it’s myself and Phil having fun with pushing the boat out a little bit further than before.’

Matt will be launching the CD with a live show at Laxey Working Men’s Institute on Saturday night.

The event starts at 7pm and is also open to children accompanied by parents.

Tickets can be purchased for £5 from Mother T’s in Laxey.

They are also available directly from Matt via his Facebook page www.facebook.com/matt.kelly.311

Elsewhere, if a little bit of synth op, rock and generally all things 80’s music related does it for you, then you may want to head to Jaks in Douglas tomorrow night (Friday) to catch Totally 80’s.

Featuring Dave Holland on keys and vocals; Jonny Peacock on drums; John Barlow on guitar, and Johnny Galbraith on bass, the band pulls out a setlist from the likes of Duran Duran, Human League and UB40.

Setlist

Also out and about this Friday night is the Ian Thompson Band.

Featuring a setlist full of classics from the likes of the Kinks, David Bowie, the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, R.E.M, and the like, the band heads to The Railway in Douglas.

If this sounds like the soundtrack to your type of night out then you can’t go far wrong.

For more information visit Ian’s website www.ianthompsonuk.com