The Bellhops
Bathtub Gin Orchestra
Matt Ross
The Bellhops are an award winning 6 piece Blues, Jump’n’Jive and Swing band from Sydney and the 2003 Australian Blues Awards Band of Year. Their album No Reservations was voted 2003 Australian Blues Album of the Year while their debut release Room Service was 1999 Runner Up for Blues Album of Year. In 2010 they released their first live recording, The Great Con Job, recorded at the Goulburn Conservatorium of Music as part of the Australian Blues Music Festival. The Bellhops can be compared to Canada’s Powder Blues Band or the USA’s Roomful Of Blues with their main musical influences being the Swing and Jive era of the late 40’s, the Rock’n’Roll of the 50’s, the Soul and R&B of the 60’s and the Blues music legacy of so many great blues artists. The Bellhops pay tribute to these influences in their recorded work and also in their live performances, recordings and original songs, with material drawn from, and inspired by, artists such as Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner, BB King, Chuck Berry, Albert King, Ray Charles, Howling Wolf and Wilson Pickett The Bellhops can be found regularly playing around the Greater Sydney Region, Wollongong and the Illawarra Region, Newcastle and the Central Coast Lakes Region, Goulburn and the Southern Highlands Region. They have even been spotted as far south as Victoria, (especially those Ski Field gigs) and as far north as Byron Bay (especially those resort gigs), as far west as Wagga Wagga or Mudgee (especially those Winery gigs).
The Bathtub Gin Orchestra is two parts 1920s stomp, one-part early 1930s swing, and just a dash of Gypsy Jazz. Pour contents into an iron bathtub and stir with a broom handle until drunk on the good vibes of the party music of the early 20th Century. This swinging sextet comprises Phoebe Haselden violin/vocals, Dorian Mode piano/vocals, Morgan Haselden guitar/vocals, Brendan Berlach clarinet, Fiona Lugg double Bass and Toby Hall on drums.
Matt Ross is a professional Australian artist based in the inner west of Sydney. His trio recently made the semi finals in the International blues competition Memphis TN January 2025 and he is currently nominated for best male vocal in the Sydney Blues Society awards.
Matt started his musical career playing guitar in the Balmain Blues scene in the late 80’s, early 90’s with the band ‘Beachhead’ with musicians including Harry Brus from the Renee Geyer Band and Matt Dwyer from the Bondi Cigars. Matthew’s expertise on guitar led him to forge a career in Blues, Soul and Country music.
Matt was been the Musical Director for Country Music Starmaker 2011 Winner, Luke Dickens, for 2 years, travelling to Nashville US, launching a successful duo performance and band on their return for Luke Dickens’ music.
Matt performance style ranges from low-down traditional delta blues to sweet country and Rhythm & Blues. He launched his E.P ‘Early Morning Rain’ at the Cat & Fiddle in 2009 and released his self-titled Album in 2015.
Matt has a comprehensive repertoire of popular covers and original music. The latter has been inspired and influenced by the American music he has played over the last 20 years.