A musician is a musician from birth. Much like that age-old argument as to whether a leader is born or made – but with no question. Musicians are born musicians.

They live and breathe it from day one. Everything they do relates to their sound. They have no operable choice but to pursue their music.

This is evidently so for Matt Katsis and his band, The India Black. Seasoned professionals – their experience on the stage, songwriting and producing – infectious as it is demanding.

Unafraid to mix genres and musical stylings, their unity of Roots/Progressive Rock/Reggae has seen the Melbourne based trio grace numerous Australian stages, festival line-ups and iconic venues. Sharing platforms with formidable acts such as The Beautiful Girls, Jebediah, Ash Grunwald, Blue King Brown, Diesel, Jeff Lang, Mark Seymour, Lloyd Spiegel, Phil Emmanuel, Tim Rogers and the late great Dutch Tilders – at Queensland’s Blues on Broadbeach, Victoria’s Blueprint Festival and many more.

Mid 2012 had seen Katsis join Blues troubadour Shaun Kirk on the East Coast leg of his National tour. With that came a run of New South Wales gigs in Byron Bay, Sydney, Maitland and Wollongong. An 80-show-plus-rate in 2012 alone cementing their influence and commitment. Now well into 2013,  Katsis isn’t showing any sign of slowing down. With a new solo album ‘Bare Bones’ due for release in May alongside a run of coastal and regional Victorian shows. The album; recorded live at Bakehouse Studios, Fitzroy captures Katsis’ integrity and a rawness heard throughout a collection of songs penned over the past few years – the stripped back, heart on sleeve ‘Bare Bones’ will be released through Katsis’ independent label Groundsel Records. 

Their debut EP, ‘Rise’ borrowed from a rich musical history, embraced the future and promotes the present. A testament to their growth was ‘Recoil’ – the bands maturity and instrumental development apparent in every track, chorus and line. Evidently so through song introductions and part two’s; a forte in any band description.

Recoil takes you on a journey of unrelenting heights. A pleasant disposition with a dark undertone. The lyrics sink deep inside the minds-eye and bring to the surface feelings of the heart and ultimately stepping forward. 

Anticipate no longer. This is Matt Katsis and The India Black.

FESTIVALS PLAYED:

• Globe to Globe World Music Festival (2004)
• Frankston Sea Festival (2006)
• The Basin Music Festival (2006, 2007, 2008)
• Queenscliff Music Festival (2007)
• Mordialloc fine food, wine and music festival (2009)
• Blues on Broadbeach (2009)
• Blueprint Festival (2009)
• Moomba Festival (2010)
• Kingston Harvest Festival (2010)
• Frankston Waterfront Festival (2012)
• Mordialloc by the bay fine food, wine and music festival (2012)
• The Basin Music Festival (2012)
• Blues on Broadbeach (2012)
• Globe to Globe World Music Festival (2013)
• Boolarra Folk Festival (2013)
• World Easter Music Festival (2013)

Matt Katsis & The India Black is - 

Matt Katsis – Vocals & Guitar (featured middle)
Lenny Boyd – Bass (featured right)
Jeff Crocker – Drums (featured left)  

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