Mathias is one of the four bands performing September 23, 2023, for Blues in the Bottoms festival. On January 28, 2023, in Memphis, TN, Mathias Lattin won it all, taking 1st place at the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in the band category and won the “Albert King” Best Guitarist award, too!
Mathias is a 20-year-old guitarist and vocalist from Houston, Texas, a 2020 graduate of the acclaimed Kinder High School for Performing and Visual Arts, and a product of the Houston Independent School District (HISD) Fine Arts magnet program. “Trained as a jazz guitarist, he incorporates that knowledge in his playing and songwriting. He’s heavily influenced by music legends B.B. King, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Albert Collins, and Wes Montgomery.”
Mathias is the grandson of NBA Hall Of Fame legend David ‘Big Daddy’ Lattin. Mathias chose the stage and not the basketball court—which is wonderful for us Blues fans! So far, Mathias has shared billing with Keeshea Pratt, Annika Chambers De-Lauries and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. As a newcomer, Mathias is already well on his way in crafting his own Blues legacy.
By the way, Keeshea Pratt will also be performing at the festival, but more on her in an upcoming newsletter!
As stated by Living Blues Magazine’s review of his debut EP “Let’s Start Here,” “…there’s enough promise here to mark him as an artist to watch.” And indeed that is exactly what I did while attending this year’s IBC. I followed Mathias’s performances from Rum Boogie Café to Wet Willie’s and finally the IBC Finals at the Orpheum Theatre. “His showmanship and love for music is reflected in the soulful blues, jazz-inflected chords, and funky bass lines.” Mathias’ EP “Let’s Start Here” is available to stream on your favorite music platform.
Mathias recently released a 3-track EP, “Live at the Orpheum” (his IBC performance). We can expect new music in July.
See Mathias in person at the Blues in the Bottoms Festival on Sept. 23, 2023. This event is presented by Knuckleheads Saloon and the Kansas City Blues Society.
Sources:
https://www.click2houston.com/houston-life/2023/03/03/20-year-old-houston-guitarist-mathias-lattin-wins-2023-international-blues-challenge/
https://www.houstonisd.org/hisd
https://www.tellurideblues.com/mathias-lattin
https://www.mathiaslattin.com/