Matthew C. Whitaker + Shunya
Headfirst Editor's Pick
"An evening of orchestral pop from Matthew C. Whitaker, briefly hanging up the Henge wizard cape in favour of enigmatic mini-symphonies. As a humanoid, he’s crafted an accomplished singer-songwriter soundworld of noir-ish jazz folk, troubadour charm and Morricone twang in a delicate balance of intimacy and spectacle FFO: Nick Drake, Tim Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Alabaster DePlume."
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A gig held at The Jam Jar on Thursday 5th March. The event starts at 20:00.
Join Matthew C. Whitaker (HENGE) and Shunya for an evening of music celebrating the release of Whitaker’s second solo album, Songs for the Weary - a collection of graceful compositions incorporating classical guitar, rich string arrangements, and subtle electronics.
Offering a serene listening experience, the album unfolds across eight gentle pieces woven with intricate harmonies and warm instrumentation. Co-produced and arranged in collaboration with Alan Keary (Shunya), the performance will also feature songs from Whitaker’s 2016 debut, The Man with the Anvil Hat, alongside a solo set by Shunya and special reworkings of select songs from the HENGE back catalogue.
Thursday 5th March
The Jam Jar Presents:
Matthew C. Whitaker (HENGE)
+ Shunya
Doors Open 7.30pm
The Jam Jar, Bristol
Matthew C. Whitaker
Matthew C. Whitaker is a Manchester-based musician and composer best known for his work with cosmic prog-rave outfit HENGE, with whom he has released four acclaimed albums and toured extensively across the UK and Europe.
Alongside his high-energy work with the band, Whitaker pursues a more introspective solo practice. His debut, Man With the Anvil Hat (2016), introduced his flair for intricate harmony and richly textured soundscapes. His forthcoming release, Songs for the Weary (2026), continues this exploration with eight gentle pieces for classical guitar, lush string arrangements, and subtle electronics.
Shunya
Alan Keary is a multi-instrumentalist and producer, with a strong musical heritage, writing and producing music from the age of fourteen. Performing under the alias Shunya, his sound is a contortion of influences, stemming from his background in classical violin and jazz bass, and growing with the sounds of Manchester's electronic music scene.
Entry requirements: 14+, any under 18s accompanied by 21+ adult 1:1 ratio
Offering a serene listening experience, the album unfolds across eight gentle pieces woven with intricate harmonies and warm instrumentation. Co-produced and arranged in collaboration with Alan Keary (Shunya), the performance will also feature songs from Whitaker’s 2016 debut, The Man with the Anvil Hat, alongside a solo set by Shunya and special reworkings of select songs from the HENGE back catalogue.
Thursday 5th March
The Jam Jar Presents:
Matthew C. Whitaker (HENGE)
+ Shunya
Doors Open 7.30pm
The Jam Jar, Bristol
Matthew C. Whitaker
Matthew C. Whitaker is a Manchester-based musician and composer best known for his work with cosmic prog-rave outfit HENGE, with whom he has released four acclaimed albums and toured extensively across the UK and Europe.
Alongside his high-energy work with the band, Whitaker pursues a more introspective solo practice. His debut, Man With the Anvil Hat (2016), introduced his flair for intricate harmony and richly textured soundscapes. His forthcoming release, Songs for the Weary (2026), continues this exploration with eight gentle pieces for classical guitar, lush string arrangements, and subtle electronics.
Shunya
Alan Keary is a multi-instrumentalist and producer, with a strong musical heritage, writing and producing music from the age of fourteen. Performing under the alias Shunya, his sound is a contortion of influences, stemming from his background in classical violin and jazz bass, and growing with the sounds of Manchester's electronic music scene.
Entry requirements: 14+, any under 18s accompanied by 21+ adult 1:1 ratio
Other singer-songwriter gigs
— Bristol Folk House
folk
folk-pop
indie pop
singer-songwriter
pop
