I only occasionally do the reviews here, but I had to do this one. In July 2022 I had the pleasure of interviewing Matt Long for the magazine when we did a feature on his band Catfish.
The interview was in the months before his illness and I remember talking to an intelligent and enthusiastic young man who loved life and music. Alongside Catfish he also had Matt Long and the Revenant Ones – he told me about that project at the time, “It’s more on the heavy rock and metal side of things. I was doing Catfish and I love the blues, but I have always had that rock and metal side to me and I wanted to explore that as well. I decided to start a new thing and get that outlet going. It’s fun to do that headbanging, and it’s a different side of things. It is a different entity….”
I am going to share the whole press review with you on this occasion as it tells the story so much better than I could. If you are one of our regular readers you may notice that we have no end of review requests to support the magazine on our Ko-Fi page this time. If you were thinking of doing so on this occasion please follow the link below (https://www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/Royal) and donate to the Royal Surrey Hospital Cancer Ward. Thank You.
The Press Release:
A double album that brings together some of the most respected names in blues rock, including Joe Bonamassa and Walter Trout to reimagine Matt’s songs and carry his legacy forward.
London— Wednesday 5th November 2025 —When blues rock guitarist and songwriter Matt Long passed away in 2024 after an 18-month battle with bowel cancer, the outpouring of love from the music community was immediate and profound. Long, best known as the frontman and creative force behind the award-winning UK band Catfish, had been named “Instrumentalist of the Year” twice at the UK Blues Awards. Only 29 years old, he left behind not just a catalog of powerful songs but a lasting impact on everyone who crossed his path. For Matt’s parents, Paul and Fiona Long, grief soon gave rise to a mission to celebrate their son’s music and spirit in a way that could also help others. The result is “With a Little Help from My Friends.”
“The album started as an idea from a musician friend, Dudley Ross, initially just to ask Matt’s hero Joe Bonamassa if he would play on one of Matt’s songs,” said Matt’s mother, Fiona Long: When Bonamassa said “yes,” what began as a simple tribute quickly grew into something far greater. Matt and his family had met Joe several times over the years through Fiona’s husband, Paul, who produced the Paul Jones Blues Show on BBC Radio 2.
“On one occasion, when Joe heard that Matt was about to go to music college, he gave him a little practice amp from his dressing room,” Fiona recalled. “Matt was beside himself, and we still have the amp. It would have meant the world to him to be singing on the same track as Joe Bonamassa, albeit posthumously.
”Encouraged by Joe’s generosity, Fiona began to reach out to other musicians who had supported Matt during his illness and at the benefit gigs held in his honour. The response was overwhelming. Soon, a line-up featuring Elles Bailey, The Cinelli Brothers, When Rivers Meet, Brave Rival, Blue Nation, Sean Webster, Dom Martin, Chantel McGregor, Will Wilde, and Alice Armstrong, among others, came together to record Matt’s songs.
Two of Matt’s guitar tutors from the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, Nic Meier and Nat Martin, also contributed solos. And then, as if the project needed another emotional layer, Walter Trout, one of blues rock’s most beloved figures and a liver transplant survivor, joined in. Both Trout and Bonamassa recorded guitar solos on tracks that retain Matt’s original vocals.
That comfort is matched by the generosity of those who helped bring the project to life. Dan Lucas of Joplin House Studios in Kent opened his studio free of charge and mixed much of the album. Matt’s close friend and former writing partner, Alice Armstrong, created the album’s cover art, another deeply personal touch.The title, “With a Little Help from My Friends,” comes from the encore at last year’s benefit concert at The Stables in Wavendon, where many of the same artists performed together in Matt’s honor. The live recording of that moment closes the album, perfectly capturing the sense of community that defines the entire project.
All proceeds from the album will go to the cancer ward at Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, where Matt received treatment. “We need to make something good come from this horrendous situation of having lost our son,” Fiona says. “We’ve already sponsored a scholarship at his old music college and funded a hand-held ultrasound machine for the ward, but if this album does well, it could raise enough to help the hospital in a much more meaningful way. If we can make other patients’ cancer journeys a little easier, I hope Matt would have approved.” Through his music, Matt often spoke openly about his struggles with depression and anxiety, hoping to connect with listeners who might feel the same.
Fiona hopes that honesty will continue to resonate. “He always played with passion and wrote from personal experience so that he could connect with a song on a very direct level,” she says. “I also hope the fact that he bared his soul and spoke openly about his struggle with depression will inspire others not to be afraid to talk about it if they’re suffering themselves.”
The album features songs from both Catfish and Matt Long and his heavier project, the Revenant Ones, showcasing the full range of his talent, from soulful blues ballads to heavier, more experimental rock. “I hope they will appreciate him as a songwriter as well as a musician,”Fiona adds.Some of the songs have been completely reimagined by his friends, which makes each track unique and very special. “We hope it will be a lasting tribute to him,” says Fiona. For Fiona and Paul, the release is both heartbreaking and uplifting, a reminder that their son’s music continues to touch people even after he’s gone. “We were overwhelmed, although not entirely surprised, as the blues community have always been incredibly supportive of each other and of Matt,” said Fiona.
“We saw that last year with the benefit gigs all over the country for Matt where all the artists gave their time for free, and the massive support for the crowdfunder,which raised over £100k to give Matt access to additional drugs not currently available on the NHS. We will never forget that.”‘With a Little Help from My Friends’ will go on presale on November 7, which would have been Matt’s 31st birthday. The first single (Up In Smoke’ from Brave Rival) will arrive on the same day, with more to follow in the coming months before the full album release in Spring 2026.4
The album will be available in Vinyl, CD and digital formats. More information will be released in due course. All proceeds from the album will go to the cancer ward at Royal Surrey County Hospital inGuildford.
For more information about the hospital and their work visit:https://www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/Royal Surrey Charity is registered as charity 1049776.
Pre-Order/Pre-Save the new album: https://mattlongtributealbum.bigcartel.com/ ‘
With a Little Help from My Friends’ Album Vinyl Tracklist
The Review:
The album is released on Friday 20th March 2026 and the purchase link is below:
https://mattlongtributealbum.bigcartel.com
Side 1
“Broken Man” – Matt Long ft. Joe Bonamassa – opens the album with dark Southern blues, a slight touch of Bon Jovi somewhere in there as well! It is a great opener, confident and punching hard…Matt’s vocals deliver a solid chorus and I liked the track a lot.
‘I’m going back to the land of the water, I’m gonna find me the broken man, Tread my way through the streams and the rivers Bring that broken man home…’
It has an interesting direction change around the 4 minute mark too.
“Have My Say” – Zac Schulze Gang – The Zac Schulze Gang deliver their brand of blues infused rock on a track that they hit fast and hard with a great drum sound and stylish rock n’roll. These guys have fun with “Have My Say” and deliver the track in a way that begs to be played live.
“Archangel” – Alice Armstrong. Alice is one of the current leading lights in the UK Blues scene, she won Contemporary Artist of the Year for the second consecutive time at the 2025 UK Blues Awards, she also has a voice well suited to contemporary jazz. In fact this track is delivered in an atmospheric jazz style with that touch of the early 20s in the vocal delivery. Written by Matthew and Paul Long it plays with strong harmonies and a Gospel influence.
“Better Days” – Elles Bailey with the Cinelli Brothers – this closes side-one of the vinyl. Elles Bailey is in her distinctive stride in a song that has a smile infused all the way through it. The track is elevated by a great brass section complete with trombone, tenor sax and trumpet.
Side 2
“Up In Smoke” – Brave Rival. This was the album’s single from a band we have covered a few times in our magazine, Brave Rival. It delivers the rocking side of Matt with one of those heavy bluesy rockers that he would have loved playing live. Brave Rival, as expected, does a fine job and opens side 2 in style.
“So” – Dom Martin. This album is like a who’s who of blues rock….Irish guitarist Dom Martin brings us this soulful ballad. It changes direction on the album and takes us into an intimate and stripped back number full of vocal passion.
“Root of All Evil” – Adrienne Cowan (Vocalist of Avantasia) – from stripped back ballad to this out-and-out rocker, Adrienne Cowan leads on this heads-down rock track. The guitar riff from Nicolas Meier and the backing vocals from Lisa Mann both help this song along.
“All I Ask Of You” – Matt Long feat. Walter Trout
Matt delivers a passionate blues styled vocal with all the emotion of the classic blues men of old. Matt told us you should always wear your influences on your sleeve, and he does so proudly here.
“You should know by now that these wounds run deep. So deep now baby, oh it makes me, oh it makes me weep…”
Side 3
“Exile” – Sean Webster. Sean is another leading name in the UK blues scene. This track runs to 10 minutes and is a track that moves through light and shade with a heavy drum and bass sound driving the sound. “Time Will Take It all Away” sings Sean in a full-on vocal performance.
“Take It All” – Blue Nation. Birmingham based blues band Blue Nation take on “Take it All” and deliver a live rocking sound with a solid chorus, the drums delivered a solid heartbeat on this one too.
“Soulbreaker” – When Rivers Meet, – When Rivers Meet are another band we have covered a few times in the magazine and for those familiar with their edgy blues rock sound, they take this track by Matt and Paul Long and turn it into their slow and heavy style. It’s another that I’m sure would storm live.
“Change My Ways” – Katie Bradley & Dudley Ross. Katie Bradley delivers a bit of harmonica and a vocal that pleases! The song blends a blues style with just a touch of dance and a rock in the beat! I liked the track, and the interpretation of it worked just fine.
Side 4
“Break Me Down” – Will Wilde. We have a slot of blues rock harmonica here with Will Wilde. He has the song nailed nicely as he sings about the girl who tried to pass the blame and break him down. But this energetic performance takes no prisoners.
“Hit The Ground Running” – The Cinelli Brothers. This is another band I happen to like a lot, but I don’t think we have covered them at all (until now!). They deliver, as I expected, an energetic take on this track. Musically it’s as sharp as a knife and cuts the mustard just fine.
“Forever more and Again” – Chantel McGregor. Chantel delivers a wistful ballad that drifts like smoke in the wind. It is a dreamy love song that she sings with emotion and you can dream along with.
“With A Little Help from My Friend” – The Beatles classic closes down this album. We do get by with a little help from our friends and this whole album is the friends of Matt saying goodbye. Do I believe in a love at first sight? Yes, I’m certain that it happens all the time! God Bless Matt,
This whole album shows what can be achieved when the best in the British Blues scene get together, but (of course) the quality of the songwriting from Matt and his father Paul (his long time collaborator) shines through throughout. Ultimately, With A Little Help from My Friends is far more than just a tribute album. It is a celebration of Matt Long’s songwriting, his spirit, and the deep respect he earned within the blues community. Every track carries a sense of friendship, gratitude, and remembrance. If you enjoy blues rock, it is well worth owning — and if it helps support the incredible work of the Royal Surrey Hospital Cancer Ward at the same time, then all the better. Music cannot replace what has been lost, but it can ensure that Matt’s voice and passion continue to be heard.
By Mark C. Chambers