It’s time to strip the paper mâché facing from the back of my little room and dismantle Lockdown Sieben. I’m not only cleaning forgotten areas, but re-discovering things anew walled off for a year! And setting to work on the next stage…

Before that though, a sacrificed must be given to the Gods of Online Concerts. After a heated meeting, myself, Kev, The Old One and The Upstairs Hoover have nominated Not So Big Kev for the honour of ‘the BBQ sacrifice’. Don’t judge us for slightly misleading NSBK on what (‘who’, more to the point) the BBQ entailed! Video to follow, when the deed is done. It’s for the greater good, Not So Big Kev!

Boxset smockset! They’re in PL, having mistakenly been to FR, coming originally from PL, where they are now loitering with intent. Hoping they’ll see a little UK sun soon, and I will send them straight out to you. Exactly 100 sold as I type, so no more key rings! Luckily my partner in crime Maciek Frett (Job Karma, 7JK) has managed to obtain the very first boxset sighting in the world and has sent us all some pictures:

Mmm, boxset! Officially released as soon as they stop holidaying on their Grand Tour of Europe 😉

I’ve booked a flight for a gig! That was odd. Off to Hradby Samoty Festival in Slovakia in July. Very much looking forward to that, and being back in the real world of concerts. Restrictions permitting, of course, that good old proviso we add on everything we plan, these days.

You’ll see me before that, I hope, with the first two gigs of SIEBEN ONLINE, an intermittent but regular concerts online ‘show’ replacing LS. My Deutchangle Friendschaft Nacht will happen when the boxsets arrive, and possibly at short notice. Of course I’ll let you know with some kind of warning ;). Got some nice things planned for that- and in fact already worked out better decor, camera angles and at least the sound you are used to, if not better still 😉 And keep Sunday 20th June free, for my Sieben Summer Solstice Show (9-11.30pm UK). I’m planning on doing a concert/live album with this show, and broadcasting for the very first time from Bandcamp. Giving it a try, as a dry run for live-streaming the Christmas show 😉

LOCKDOWN SIEBEN was amazing, such a pleasure and privilege for me to do, and something I shall always cherish. As always, I aim to up the ante and improve on whatever I did last, so excuse this slight respite period of slackness where I don’t record a sodding album, boxset, series of gigs or teach George to tap dance! 😉 Before all, the sacrifice of Not So Big Kev must appease the Online Gods. #LS90 THE BBQ OF NSBK

Thank you so much for the amazing support throughout, and particularly with the generous support for the boxset. Apologies again that they are taking the scenic route. rest assured NSBK’s demise will speed their journey to you –  Assuming I’m not ‘Brexited’ at the border (still braced for being so) it might even break even at some point 😉 More than that, I’m just desperate to get my hands on a copy and check it’s as nice as it looks!

Matt  – May 2021

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So 2020 Vision releases 1st May 2020 – With the current CV situation, I just couldn’t wait. An unfortunate knock-on of ‘no concerts to pay for physical product manufacture’ for this album, so currently its a digital release only. I’d like to do CDs, and possibly limited edition clear vinyl, but am unsure if this will be possible. If I do, and you’ve bought the digital I can work out some discount scheme if it’s the physical product you really wanted. Also, on release, 2020 VISION is free for anyone that can’t afford it. Would be great if you can, because then I may be able to do CDs etc, but if you can’t, just email me and I’ll send you a free download code for the album 🙂

I’d honestly rather you have the music than I have your money- things are tough currently, for so many of us, and if my music can spread a little upbeat apocalyptic joy, or at least distraction, then so be it 🙂

Here’s Enzosonbenzos, from 2020 VISION:

You can now PRE-ORDER 2020 VISION FROM MY BANDCAMP should you wish to.

Keep well, all – and see you on the other side 🙂

Matt – April 2020

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Having just finished the new Sieben album 2020 VISION, I’d planned to sit back for a bit, send it off to manufacture, get CD copies back, send them to press, all in time for European dates and tour with a September release. With things they way they are, I’ve decided to push the album release forward to May 1st. No point it being upstaged by an actual apocalypse, I guess.

I’m planning on adding it to my Bandcamp, and then Spotify, iTunes etc if I can make the deadline. Some videos are in commission already.

I know this is of little consequence with what’s going on in the world currently, but to me its my livelihood and sanity! So, I will carry on. With us all possibly in self-isolation for the foreseeable future, I thought I’d add the album as “pay what you like” – so if you have no money you can still have the full album. (*NOTE: I tried this, but it wouldn’t let me do this with pre-orders, so will be offering free download codes to those with no money – simply email me if that’s any of you 🙂 ) And I have you as a captive audience! Had planned to do CDs, but for now this will have to suffice. Without the gigs I have no money to make the CDs

Keep well out (in) there, and see you on the other side. My ray of hope is that many people may question the nature of the modern way of living our lives, the rat race, the pace, the “endless more” of the society we inhabit. Or they may talk about loo roll. Either way, I’m going to try and add some content online when I can, in an effort to keep people’s spirits up. 2020 VISION may be my most apocalyptic work, but its upbeat and chirpy, irreverent and bouncy – we’re not counting the lyrics, here, right? 😉

Keep well and be nice,
Matt – March 2020

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The Brothers Arms, Wells Rd, Heeley, Sheffield. 10am-12 midday Sat 23rd Feb 2019

For this video shoot I’m after a mob –  an angry mob, a bemused mob, a passive mob, a confused mob. No acting skills required, but in your minds you should each ‘channel’ the following:

• A no-rules bun-fight with sharp chunks of old rye
• Piles of oiled walruses pouring through an impossibly narrow gap
• Grasping chancers making a grab for land and power
• a laughing industrialist
• Two bald men fighting over a comb
• a 52/48 split in your bum crack

Feel free to bring along your own prop that best describes Brexit to you.

Here are the song lyrics:

You Want Some?
Want some? You want some? Everything must go! Despite a Boaty Mc vote race, the overlords still sit in place. The Great British cake-off , the ‘fuck your own face off’. Everything must go. The new rules are a cinch, ignore the small print, do not flinch. They really just want zero contact, here’s a brand new zero contract. Everything must go. Welcome to the Great British bring and buy sale! I hear Europe wants to ban trumpets, Matt. I hear they’re straightening the good old British banana. You can’t even keep a lion these days. Political correctness gone mad, I call it. Ah, zee famous English sense of humour. Under EU directive 777, there shall no more trumpets on British records. Crumbs from a rich man’s table, a little bit of Britain, while you’re able. Not much left, its dirt and fluff, come on down, get the good stuff. Everything must go.

The event page for this on Facebook is here

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I’ve now added a video page, including the OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEOS for tracks from Crumbs. The video page is here.

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Sell Your Future Official Music Video is now live:

Loving this video and its vibe. Made lovingly by Chris Ogden at Long Chalk Media, and a brilliant job he has done for sure. My heart-felt thanks to those who came along and danced in an underpass on a warm Saturday morning.

I’ll be giving the Sieben band another outing this weekend in Sheffield, on the Tramlines fringe. After that its Rebellion punk Festival in Blackpool, and the official launch of CRUMBS!

Roll up, roll! Enjoy it – and please like, share and recommend where you see fit. It all helps for a cottage-industry such as myself with Sieben, to get to the nirvana that is breaking-even 😉

Matt Howden – July 2018

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We’re shooting a video for the song Sell Your Future, for my new CRUMBS album. It’ll be in the underpass, between Decathlon and St Mary’s church, near the United ground, in sunny Sheffield.

• Dancing/ hanging about looking beautiful/dim required. Come dressed how you like, but here’s a suggested scale of greatness:
• 1 as you are
• 2 dressed a bit businessy
• 3 a bit hipster
• 4 a bit ravey (just come straight from where you’ve been)
• 5 punk
• 6 John Bull with plastic Union Jack Bowler /kiss me quick hat
• 7 business-punk
• 8 woman/man of the cloth (no nuns, please – oh, go on, then, some nuns)
• 9 punk-business-man of the cloth
• 10 as you were or are

Would be so lovely to have you on the video for this, so invite whomsoever you like along 🙂 Brexiters very welcome too, despite my strong views and heavy lyrics on this one – you can dance along ironically. And no-one’s being signed up to my political party. As yet. Just two hours of crumbs and silliness with the Sieben band. I may even get cakes for you all. Well, crumbs…

Matt Howden – 18th June 2018

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You want some?!
 

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Possibly a slight departure from what you might expect of Sieben, perhaps? #The world is currently truly absurd, I’m just following suit. Only the second time I’ve ever played mouth trumpet on a record, and a first for a Sieben album. This is ‘You Want Some?’ featuring the vibrant and lovely Zowie Lumsdale for a second time singing on this album. She’s the one with the lady voice.

I’m presently finishing the 17th of 17 tracks for Crumbs From The Rich Man’s Table. The release is actually 15 tracks, with the CD having two bonus tracks- full band versions of two of the tracks. Possibly it’ll come out August time. Here’s a rough track list, though contents may settle in transit to mastering and manufacture:
01 Is It Dark Enough?
02 Here Is The News
03 Coldbloods
04 I Will Ignore The Apocalypse
05 Just Be A Lot Nicer
06 Sing Loud
07 Crumbs
08 Sleep Our Dream
09 Liberal Snowflake
10 Forge A Better World
11 Post-Brexit Dreams Of Albion
12 Sell Your Future
13 You Want Some?
14 We Will Be Alright
15 Can You Hear The Wind Coming?

BONUS CD TRACKS:
16 BAND VERSION: Here Is The News
17 BAND VERSION: Coldbloods

I’m currently researching printing on small plastic baggies, so I can give away actual ‘crumbs from a rich man’s table’ with each CD bought. The first 200 copies will get this. After that, its baggies with a little bit of dirt or fluff in for the rest of you – your own little bit of Britain from the Great British bring-and-buy-sale 😉

Matt Howden

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Had brilliant gigs in 2017, and hoping for more of the same this year. Not much in the way of gigs, to start this year – I’m trying to get my next album finished. I shall be in Colchester and Hannover at some point. And back to London, Croydon and Freiburg, possibly, too. Such is the beautifully odd nature of my varied gig list.

Crumbs From The Richman’s Table, my next Sieben album, is coming along nicely. I have ten tracks so far:
Crumbs / Sell Your Future / Just Be A Lot Nicer  / Forge A Better World / Sleep Our Dream / Post-Brexit Dreams Of Albion / Here Is The News / We Will Be Alright / I Will Ignore The Apocalypse / Coldbloods

Here’s a snippet of Coldbloods for you:

Coldbloods
Who let the hawks hang the higher ground? Who led the crows to circle round?
Starting to feel a little nervous now. (Don’t-let-them-near-the-switch-hey)
Who let the vipers take a hold? A slither of lies that became a road.
Can’t just be me that’s starting to feel a little nervous now.
Who let the primal shape control? Who let instinct steer the wheel?
Can’t just be me that’s starting to feel a little nervous now.
(Don’t-let-the-coldbloods-take-the-stage)
Who let the reptiles free their cage? Who let them loose on the modern age?
Who let the reptiles free their cage? Can’t just be me that’s starting to feel a little nervous now.

Still no plans for a release date. I want to write some more songs for this before its done. And properly make sure its exactly as I want it. And sit on it for a few months and try and do some proper promotion for it, for once. Though, I always say that and then when I get the copies made they start ‘burning a hole in my pocket’ and I itch to get them out there and heard.

Wishing you all the best 2018 🙂

Matt – Jan 2018

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Determined to take it nice and steady, and reach some new ground with this one. Drummer extraordinaire Tom (Didi) Didlock has been adding his own magnificence to the tracks Sell Your Future and Coldbloods. Love his drumming, and immensely happy with what he’s done for me. Check him out with either of his bands, Loam, and Blind Saints. I’m feeling like there will be lots of drums on this album. Here’s a snippet from Sell Your Future:

Hope to see you at a concert somewhere in 2018 –  hope you like this snippet, too. More to follow as I do them. 8 of the 15 or so tracks are now written for Crumbs. Happy festivities, all x
Matt Howden – 14th Dec 2017

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Crumbs indeed. Been a while since I posted. Lots of lovely gigs so far this year, and a first time gig in Hungary, which was damn fine.

I’ve been busy working on a new Sieben album, which will be Redroom 020. Not to be released for a while yet, though, I still need to write it. Taking my time with this, whilst working my ears off endlessly. The attached snippet is from the title track of this album, which will be called Crumbs From The Rich Man’s Table. It features beautiful and sassy vocals from Sheffield’s own Zowie Lumsdale, singer with The Vain Dolls. She did it all, amazingly, in ten minutes too, leaving us loads more time to eat chicken. Playing a cave tonight, but you can see me guesting with The Cuckoo Clocks, a truly fabulous band and a pleasure to join their ‘gang’ online, tomorrow (Sat 30 Sept) at 10pm BST, here.

Off to my cave. Hope you enjoy the teaser for the new album 🙂

Matt Howden – September 2017

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