Matthew C. Whitaker

Matthew C. Whitaker plays Nice N Sleazy on Tuesday 13 October, with doors at 6:00pm and the set running from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. It's a solo night, and the music is a far cry from what he does for his day job.

Whitaker is a Manchester-based musician and classically trained guitarist who fronts the cosmic prog-rave outfit HENGE. With them, he's released four albums and toured the UK and Europe, and that band trades in high-energy, maximalist spectacle. His solo work stands in quiet contrast: hushed, patient, and built for close listening, drawing on jazz, folk and classical influences. He describes it as a practice of its own, and the two sides of his career rarely overlap.

His debut, Man With the Anvil Hat, came out in 2016 and showed his knack for intricate harmony and richly textured soundscapes. His latest release, Songs for the Weary (2026), continues that exploration with eight gentle pieces for classical guitar, lush string arrangements and subtle electronics. Two of the singles have already found their way onto BBC Radio 6 Music: 'Lucid Dreamer' was championed by Radcliffe and Maconie, and 'Chestnut Tree' by Craig Charles. That's the record he'll be drawing from here.

The night is presented by Gotobeat and is for over-18s. Tickets start from £14.50, all fees included, and the venue is Nice N Sleazy, 421 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow City Centre G2 3LG.