The Blackcoats are an original, acoustic-based trio dedicated to bringing back meaningful, quality music back to the masses. In an age fed to morbid obesity on computer generated, three-note familiarities and clichés, they strive to bring thoughtful, interesting and more cerebral music back into the fray for any and all to hear.
The Blackcoats started as a duo back in September 2016 in a guitar shop, founded from two young individuals brought together by a mutual love and respect for soulful music. Founded on mutual love and respect for a variety of bands and players from all across the musical spectrum, the band started writing songs, taking influence particularly from blues legends such as Robert Johnson and B.B. King, folk artists such as Bob Dylan and Roy Harper, and rock groups such as Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull and Radiohead, to name just a few.
The duo persisted for several years performing original material alongside acoustic versions of classic rock, folk- and blues numbers before deciding in 2022 to focus more on developing their original material, allowing them to expand their live sound using several other instruments such as flute, mandolin and electric guitars. The duo first became a trio in 2023 when bassist Joe Ingram joined the band, and again when Matthew Scott took up the mantle of bass player in 2024.
Luke Whitteron is not an ordinary musician.
He was born on the 13th of May 1994 and raised in the city of Hull. His first love was not music, but reading. A taste for anything to do with space, history, machines and intriguing storylines occupied much of his early life, arming him with a knowledge of words that would serve him well in his future endeavours in song writing. In the years that followed, he continued without much awareness or enthusiasm for music until he picked up a beaten-up purple acoustic guitar at high school, strumming its five remaining strings and becoming enthralled by its boxy, out-of-tune majesty.
Acquiring his very own acoustic guitar aged 19, and with only an entry-level musical knowledge consisting of frustrated thrashings and a handful of chords on an electric guitar, he hit the folk clubs around and about to see what he could learn from the veterans of the music scene. For the next two years, he focused solely on learning everything he could on musical structures, keys and chords not just from the musician’s around him, but from playing the records of Bert Jansch, The Beatles, Roy Harper, Robert Johnson and many others over and over, until he discovered how to write the songs he wanted to write. After spending some time as a rudimentary flute player in a band or two, a chance meeting in a guitar shop led to the creation of The Blackcoats, finally giving him the outlet he had so desired to write, create, collaborate on and play the songs that they believed in. A slightly reclusive character, Luke prefers to be in the company of books, guitars, real ale and good walks in his spare time from the hustle, bustle and occasional tussle of everyday life.
Luke Bushby was born in Scarborough on the 1st May 1996, spending his formative years in the quiet seaside town before moving to Hull in 2015. Picking up the recorder as his first instrument during his tenure at the local primary school, he went on to master the instrument, and subsequently demonstrated his proficiency in the proving grounds of the school orchestra.
Inspired by the likes of musical leviathans such as Jimmy Page, Johnny Greenwood and Jack White, Luke later turned his attention to the guitar. Gaining experience from playing in a number of local bands and opens mic sessions over several years, he has become a fiercely capable and distinctive guitar player as well as one of East Yorkshire’s top-tier up and coming musicians.
In his personal life, Luke is a luthier by trade and has completed a full honours degree in music composition at East Riding College. He is a passionate supporter of Newcastle United F.C. even when they occasionally win and has a vast knowledge of films and media, particularly in relation to the Marvel and DC comics universes.
Matthew Scott was born in North Hull on the eighteenth of September 1983. After moving several times across the Hull area in his early childhood before finally settling in the area of Longhill estate. He was schooled at Andrew Marvell School, taking an instant shine to sports and physical education, and though music lessons were taught, his enthusiasm and talent for the subject remained largely dormant.
It would be on his 16th birthday he would ask for his first bass guitar from his parents, inspired by his favourite bands such as Linkin Park, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Metallica, as well as the influences of his parents favourite bands: AC/DC, 70’s era Fleetwood Mac and Dire Straits. He did not receive the gift he craved however, and was given a regular old electric guitar that he taught himself to play ‘Enter Sandman’ to a rudimentary level. After snapping the strings for the last time, he bought his dream instrument with the money he got from his first job while in college: an ESP bass guitar. He spent several few years just jamming with friends he joined Shadow’s Creek, a classic rock covers band performing around the Hull circuit. After several years playing in various covers bands in various styles, before the COVID-19 pandemic brought an abrupt stop to the arts and entertainment world. Matt’s resolve remained unperturbed however, and continued playing privately throughout the lockdowns until joining The Blackcoats in 2023.
Outside of the band, Matt enjoys reading on various topics and musical autobiographies, cooking exotic recipes, playing sports and keeping up to date with the footy, and going for walks spending time with his wife Alison, his two children and their dog, Reggie.
“For me, it’s the small things in life that give the greatest pleasure”.