Matt Wake has written for The Daily Journal/Daily Messenger since July 2005. In March 2008, he received a South Carolina Press Association award for feature writing.

In addition to being the Journal/Messenger's life section editor, Matt is also managing editor of Bootleg Essential Culture, an arts and entertainment monthly. He also pens articles for Upstate Lake Living Magazine.

After spending a decade playing music professionally in New Orleans, Birmingham, Ala. and Tuscaloosa, Ala., Wake began his writing career with The Valley Planet, an alternative newspaper in Huntsville, Ala. He has also written extensively for The Hunstville Times. Wake cites David Fricke, Stanley Booth and Hunter S. Thompson as primary journalistic influences. A resident of Central, Wake received his communications degree from the University of Alabama.

Recent Stories

• End of the line
  Wednesday, June 4, 2008
  The June 2008 issue of Bootleg will be our last. Advertising dollars have fallen off dramatically, and money makes the world go around. | Read more

• Band on the run
  PictureMeFree ink record deal, hit the road
  Wednesday, May 7, 2008
  The track begins with a florid burst of hippie guitars. | Read more

• Lost highwaymen
  Bucktown Kickback mine alt-country gold
  Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008
  Somebody forgot to tell Adam Brooks Dudding backwards tracks don’t belong on bluegrass albums. | Read more

• So you want to be a rock n’ roll star?
  Tips for touring musicians
  Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008
  For a musician, the road is a demanding mistress. | Read more

• Lonely hearts club band
  Timber turns breakups into Nashville skyline
  Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007
  Half the songs on Timber’s sophomore disc, “Never & Always,� were written in about five minutes. | Read more

• Whiskey soaked backbeat
  The Dixie-fried sound of Blackberry Smoke
  Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007
  When Blackberry Smoke finished their set at New York’s Beacon Theatre, singer/guitarist Charlie Starr bumped into his absolute inspiration. | Read more

• Refined rogue
  New Will Hoge record balances grit and song craft
  Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007
  Will Hoge is dancing with the devil again. | Read more

• Today songs and a yesterday singer
  Denison Witmer crafts sepia-hued folk
  Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007
  There’s nothing freaky about Denison Witmer’s music. | Read more

• Quiet storm
  Amos Lee’s soul-folk sound blossoms on ‘Supply and Demand.’
  Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007
  Most young singer/songwriters would spontaneously combust if given the chance to tour with Bob Dylan. | Read more

• Is the Clemson music scene dead or alive?
  Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007
  The last thing sold at Black Dog Music was the Crosby, Stills and Nash box set. | Read more