Musing about music: Joe Matera will talk about all things music in his new fortnightly column. He grew up in Kyabram and spent 10 years at St Augustine’s College (inset), including time with friends at form one (Year 7) level.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Kyabram international music journalist Joe Matera has joined the McPherson Media Group team and will present a column focusing on entertainment news in the region.
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Born and bred in Kyabram, the singer/songwriter, recording artist, guitarist and music journalist will present a Musical Musings with Joe Matera column in the Shepparton News on a fortnightly basis.
Having written for music magazines across the globe through the past two decades, including Rolling Stone and Guitar World, as well his book Backstage Pass: The Grit and The Glamour, he is also co-host of the Music Maestros segment with Nicole Chvastek on ABC Radio Victoria.
Mr Matera said the aim of his column was to provide all the latest music news — information on the newest and most popular music releases, national and international acts touring the Goulburn Valley, interviews and much more.
“As the column evolves, readers can offer their feedback and suggestions as to what they'd like to see covered. The goal is to the make it the go-to section in the News for everything music-related in Greater Shepparton,” he said.
Mr Matera had support from Kyabram’s Steve Virtue in the early years, who booked some of his gigs for his first bands in the late 1980s.
His Goulburn Valley guitar hero was Calvin Godden, and his bands Doctor's Orders and Southern Comfort.
His own band, On The Prowl, played regularly at Kyabram Club during the 1990s. During that same period he offered guitar lessons at Dawes Rd Primary School, Kyabram High School and Stanhope Primary School.
Mr Matera said he fondly recalled his younger years and friends, David Baker and Graeme Doolan in primary school, along with Nick Savino, David Goggie and Elio Quattrocchi in secondary school.
His parents Emily and Michael (who died in 2013) both worked at Ky Cannery until their retirement, having arrived in Kyabram from Italy in 1964.
Well-known resident Nick Iannacone is his uncle and he fondly recalled his St Augustine's College years from 1970 to 1980
“During the 1980s I worked at Ky Cannery, then at Kyabram Knitting Mills, and for a short time at Belltower Pottery, before moving to Mooroopna/Shepparton in 1987,” he said.
Mr Matera will be staging a book event with a live music performance at Kyabram Library on Wednesday, September 28.
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