“With a Little Help From My Friends" A Tribute to Matt Long album review: The Blues Community celebrates the songs of Matt Long.

"With a Little Help from My Friends" is more than a tribute album. It’s a celebration of the songs and spirit of Matt Long, brought to life by the musicians who knew him, played alongside him, and were inspired by his work.

Long, the guitarist, singer and songwriter behind Catfish, passed away in 2024 after an 18-month battle with bowel cancer. He was only 29, but in that short time, he built a formidable reputation on the UK blues circuit, winning Instrumentalist of the Year twice at the UK Blues Awards. His songwriting was honest, often vulnerable, and unafraid to tackle subjects, and it's these songs that form the backbone of this project.

Across the record, you hear both sides of Long’s musical world, from the blues-rooted sound of Catfish to the heavier edge he explored with The Revenant Ones. The result is a tribute album that feels alive, full of personality and genuine affection for the man behind the music.

The idea began simply enough when a friend suggested asking Long’s hero, Joe Bonamassa, to appear on a track. When Bonamassa said yes, the project quickly gathered momentum. Soon a community of artists who knew and admired Long, including Walter Trout, Elles Bailey, The Cinelli Brothers, Chantel McGregor and Brave Rival had signed on.

What makes the album particularly special is that Long himself is still very much present. His original vocals and guitar appear across several tracks, turning the record into something closer to a collaboration between him and many musician friends.

The opening track, “Broken Man,” wastes no time making its point. Featuring Bonamassa alongside Long’s original vocal, it hits hard with outlaw blues-rock swagger, growling vocals and distortion-soaked guitar runs that underline just how powerful a performer Long could be.

From there, the album moves confidently through different shades of blues rock and beyond. Zac Schulze Gang bring their trademark high-energy style to “Have My Say,” the blistering guitar work giving the song an extra jolt of attitude.

Then comes one of the album’s emotional centrepieces. “Archangel,” written by Long about the passing of his grandmother, is delivered by his close friend and former writing partner Alice Armstrong. Her vocal performance is devastating: raw, powerful and full of grief. It’s a beautiful and heartbreaking song: the kind of song that doesn’t just tug at the heartstrings but properly tears at them.

That emotional punch is balanced perfectly by the next shift in mood. Elles Bailey’s and The Cinelli Bros make things swing on “Better Days,” a song fans may recognise from Elles' album "Can't Take My Soul Away". The song brings a lift just when it’s needed, like a reassuring arm around the shoulder. As the lyric gently reminds us:

“Tell me darling, why you lookin’ so blue?

Won’t you dry those tears now honey?

You got your whole life ahead of you.”

Not long after, The Cinelli Brothers return with “Hit the Ground Running,” a cinematic, chaotic blast of blues rock that feels like the sound of a band really letting loose.

Elsewhere, the album reveals just how wide Long’s songwriting palette really was. Sean Webster’s take on “Exile” leans into dark, heavy territory with thick, almost Sabbath-like chords and a brooding atmosphere that mirrors the song’s mental-health themes. When Rivers Meet bring their swampy, gritty tone to “Soulbreaker,” while Dom Martin strips things back beautifully on “So,” his delicate acoustic guitar drawing the ear toward the lyrics.

The album even pushes into heavier ground. On “Root of All Evil,” Adrienne Cowan stretches the song toward metal territory with a stunningly versatile vocal performance, proof that a strong song can bend and reshape itself across genres.

All proceeds from "With a Little Help from My Friends" will support the cancer ward at Royal Surrey County Hospital, where Long received treatment, ensuring that even now, his music continues to make a difference.

https://www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/