Manchester-based musician Matthew C. Whitaker will return to the road this October, opening in Belgium and the Netherlands before taking his acclaimed solo material across the UK.
‘Songs for the Weary’, Whitaker’s latest album, offers a quiet counterpoint to his day job fronting cosmic prog-rave outfit HENGE: eight gentle pieces for classical guitar, lush string arrangements, and subtle electronics. The record has found a home on BBC Radio 6 Music, with singles “Lucid Dreamer” and “Chestnut Tree” championed by Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie, Craig Charles, and Deb Grant.
The run follows a widely praised set of UK and European dates earlier this year, when Whitaker was joined on stage by the album’s producer and multi-instrumentalist Alan Keary. This time, he takes to the stage completely solo.
The songs have drawn a warm response from press and radio alike:
“This is gorgeous” – Stuart Maconie, BBC Radio 6 Music
“Breathtaking” – Craig Charles, BBC Radio 6 Music
“Luscious stuff” – Deb Grant, BBC Radio 6 Music
“Beautiful, dreamy stuff” – Listen With Monger
UK TOUR DATES – OCTOBER 2026
Matthew C. Whitaker (HENGE) – solo
11/10/26 – Lancaster Music Festival, Lancaster
13/10/26 – Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow
14/10/26 – Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh
18/10/26 – Storyhouse, Chester
19/10/26 – The Bullingdon, Oxford
20/10/26 – Colchester Arts Centre, Colchester
21/10/26 – The Tree House, Frome
24/10/26 – The Grand, Clitheroe
26/10/26 – The Hare And Hounds, Birmingham
27/10/26 – Signature Brew, London
29/10/26 – Amped, Huddersfield
ABOUT MATTHEW C. WHITAKER
Matthew C. Whitaker is a Manchester-based musician and composer whose solo work unfolds in quiet contrast to his day job fronting cosmic prog-rave outfit HENGE, with whom he has released four acclaimed albums and toured extensively across the UK and Europe.
Where the band trades in high-energy, maximalist spectacle, Whitaker’s solo practice is something else entirely: hushed, patient, and built for close listening. His debut, Man With the Anvil Hat (2016), introduced his flair for intricate harmony and richly textured soundscapes. His latest release, Songs for the Weary (2026), continues this exploration with eight richly textured pieces built around fingerpicked guitar and warm, understated arrangement.
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