Matt Hopper & The Roman Candles

Growing up in the woods near Hatcher Pass, AK, Matt Hopper first laid his hands on an acoustic guitar at a friend’s house, where Bob Dylan was a god. On his 16th birthday, his parents presented him with an off-brand electric guitar with a homemade amplifier, and he immediately began diving into a world of songwriting, using his instrument to carve out his own take on the world at large and as relational therapy. His first time on stage was around 17 when he performed the Stone Temple Pilots classic “Creep” at a talent show with his friend Toby Beal. As he entered college in Anchorage, AK, he started jamming with friends and eventually formed the still standing band The Roman Candles. Named after a beloved passage from Kerouc’s “On The Road” Hopper turned to the troubadour lifestyle in 2003 upon his graduation from the University of Alaska Anchorage and has never looked back. He has carved out a 20-year career as a completely independent DIY touring artist and keeps bands in Alaska, Idaho, and Oregon. In addition to extensive US touring, he has performed in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Italy. His catalog of recorded songs is approaching the 100+ mark and recently was covered in the studio by Warner Bros / Subpop recording artists The Head & The Heart. Hopper has shared stages with thousands of artists, most notably his hero Evan Dando & The Lemonheads, Gin Blossoms, Everclear, Portugal. The Man, Todd Snider, Tim Easton, Richard Swift, Cold War Kids, Young Dubliners, Starflyer 59 as well as fellow Breedlove artists Eric Tollefson, Amanda Price, Jeff Crosby, and Michelle Malone. Hopper lives in a constant state of traveling and performing, so keep your eye on his tour dates at www.matthopper.com.