MATT BEVITT

Beginner, Rock, Rudiments

TEACHING DAYS: TUESDAY

Matt, is a born and bred Taree local, all 37 years of it! He started playing drums at the age of 12 after being exposed to some of the greats like AC/DC, Led Zepplin and Deep Purple, every weekend while his dad worked around the house.

Initially Matt taught himself how to play by listening to as much as he could and replicating what he heard on his mum’s pots and pans (no Youtube in those days!). His mum and dad weren’t convinced that he would stick at it, so he used anything he possibly could to make a drum set. But things changed once he hit high school - they had a drumkit, so he spent every spare moment on it.

Eventually Matt's parents realised that he wasn't going to give up, so they took the money they had been saving for an air conditioner and bought Matt's first drum kit from Bass'n'Blues.  Whilst Matt's neighbours at the time didn't think that was a very good idea at all, we definitely do because now Matt's a gun drummer - thanks mum and dad!!

From there, Matt's relationship with drums and music bloomed. In order to be able to have his drumkit set up 24/7 in his bedroom, Matt got rid of his bed and slept on a small mattress in the corner - he was that obsessed!! Matt played and played and played as much as he could at home. At school he joined a band and he was hooked for life - the rest is history!!

At age 17 Matt realised he needed lessons to continue to improve, so he commenced lessons with legendary local drummer and tutor Phil Ridley at Bass n Blues. Very rapidly, Matt's playing went next level, resulting in an invitation to join hot local band Mum Says Rock, just four months before his 18th birthday. Matt became firm comrades with the other members of the band and they have remained friends and bandmates to this day - yes, Mum Says Rock STILL smash it up on the local scene!

The local music scene has become a massive part of Matt's life, being an active and popular drummer who has played in numerous covers and original bands over his time. As the powerhouse drummer for Mum Says Rock Matt has shared the stage with such amazing bands as The Angels, The Black Sorrows, The Radiators and Mental as Anything, to name but a few. Matt became part of James Johnston's touring band after his Australian Idol appearance, and he has filled in for pretty much anyone who needed his services.

Starting lessons with Phil started Matt on the path to teaching drums. After witnessing his incredibly strong timing, tasty chops and energetic performing, Tanya and Trevor at Bass'n'Blues offered him a teaching position at their music school. In May 2023, when the Bass'n'Blues Music School closed and EMG Music Hub opened, we were proud to have Matt come across as one of the Hub's incredibly talented and experienced drumming tutors. As at January 2024 Matt has been tutoring keen young drummers for 16 years.

Matt's taste in music is wide and varied. If you hit shuffle on his Spotify faves list, you'll hear everything from AC/DC to Luke Combs, and Taylor Swift to Parkway Drive, and everything in-between. Matt's mantra is, 'It doesn't matter what style it is - if it has a good beat, it's awesome!!'.

Call or text him on 0438 287 754