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Foto: © Laurence Harvey (catfishband.com)
Modern
Catfish
This artist is no longer with us.
• United Kingdom• Active: 2014–2025
Blues RockElectric Blues
A multi-award-winning South of England blues-rock band fronted by the late Matt Long, whose 2025 album "Time To Fly" was completed as a tribute by his surviving bandmates.
Instruments
Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards, Bass, Drums
from
South of England
Musical Influence
Catfish's story ended with an unusually direct act of collective care: rather than shelve an unfinished record after their frontman's death, his father and bandmates completed it from his own demos, turning "Time To Fly" into both a fourth album and a closing statement. The subsequent tribute record, drawing contributions from Joe Bonamassa and Walter Trout, reflects the standing Matt Long had built within the wider blues-rock community by 29.
Family and personal life
Formative experiences
- •2014: Band formed in the South of England (Source: thesoundcafe.com).
- •2020: Named Blues Band of the Year at the UK Blues Awards; Matt Long won Blues Instrumentalist of the Year.
- •April 2023: Matt Long diagnosed with bowel cancer.
- •6 October 2024: Matt Long died, aged 29 (Source: rockposer.com; Classicalite).
- •2025: "Time To Fly" released, completed by surviving band members.
- •March 2026: Tribute album "With a Little Help from My Friends: A Tribute to Matt Long" released (Source: bluesrockreview.com).
Instruments & Equipment
Collaborators
Guitar contribution on the tribute album "With a Little Help from My Friends."
Guitar contribution on the tribute album "With a Little Help from My Friends."
Watch & Listen
Featured
The new music video for Time To Fly, the title track from the new, and final, Catfish album
Catfish (official)
Burning Bridges Official Music Video
Catfish 'Time To Fly' — live at Yarmageddon Legends of Rock Festival, 1.3.24
![Ben Poole & Matt Long (Catfish) - Going Down [Live at The Stables, Milton Keynes] 23/11/23](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WCQ2cvVniQE/hqdefault.jpg)
Ben Poole & Matt Long (Catfish) - Going Down [Live at The Stables, Milton Keynes] 23/11/23
Catfish - Broken Man - live for Bluesmoose Radio, recorded 21 Feb 2018
Catfish 'Broken Man' @ HRH Blues
Watch & Listen
Henter videoer fra YouTube…
Press & quotes
"Catfish are one of the finest live bands in Britain today. The quality of musicianship is outstanding and in Matt Long, they have one of the greatest young guitarists on the scene today…"
"A true lockdown masterpiece full of anger frustration, defiance, and hope"
"Exile is an incredible statement in the darkest of times…a band at their peak"
"Quality, high-octane blues-rock, full of emotion"
Discography
| Year | Title | Producer | Studio | Label | Chart | Sales | Musicians | YouTube | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Broken Man | — | — | — | — | — | — | Debut studio album, released 30 January 2017; named Album of the Year by the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association (Source: Discogs; Blues Blast Magazine). | |
| 2019 | Burning Bridges | — | — | — | — | — | — | Second studio album, released May 2019 (Source: catfishband.com). | |
| 2020 | Exile: Live in Lockdown | — | — | — | — | — | — | Live album/DVD recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, released 1 December 2020 (Source: jazznblues.club; catfishband.com). | |
| 2022 | Bound for Better Days | — | — | — | — | — | — | Five-track acoustic EP, released 10 June 2022, featuring acoustic versions of original songs plus a cover of Elton John's "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (Source: rockposer.com; Music-News.com). | |
| 2024 | London | — | — | — | — | — | — | Five-track mini album released 16 August 2024 to mark the band's tenth anniversary; written mostly by Paul Long (Source: catfishband.com; Music-News.com). | |
| 2025 | Time To Fly | — | — | — | — | — | — | Fourth and final studio album, completed posthumously (Source: bluesrockreview.com). | |
| 2026 | With a Little Help from My Friends: A Tribute to Matt Long | — | — | — | — | — | — | Double tribute album featuring guest guitarists including Joe Bonamassa and Walter Trout reinterpreting Matt Long's songs over his original vocals; proceeds to Royal Surrey County Hospital (Source: bluesrockreview.com; Blues Magazine NL). |
Awards & Recognition
2020
UK Blues Awards Band of the Year
2020
UK Blues Awards Blues Instrumentalist of the Year
Matt Long
2016
UK Blues Awards Keyboard Player of the Year
Paul Long
2018
UK Blues Awards Blues Act of the Year
2017
Independent Blues Broadcasters Association Album of the Year
"Broken Man"