Matt Kirk is a lifelong Texan whose musical roots run deep in the Hill Country soil. Raised in the San Antonio/New Braunfels area by a talented musical family, he’s been singing and playing since early childhood . His mother, Sylvia Kirk, was a fixture of the 1970s Texas songwriter scene and remains a revered regional singer  – the two even recorded a mother-son album together in 2022. By age five, young Matt was already sharing the stage with Texas icon Kinky Friedman, a sign of the rich tradition he was born into.

As a teenager, Kirk worked behind the scenes at Texas’s oldest dance hall, Gruene Hall – much like country legend Hal Ketchum did – before finding the courage to step into the spotlight himself. In the decades that followed, he became known as a “musician’s musician,” a versatile sideman and go-to lead guitarist in Central Texas circles . He cut his teeth under the wing of Austin guitar hero Monte Montgomery  and jammed with countless artists, all while absorbing the full panorama of Texas music history. From the cosmic cowboy troubadours of the ’70s to the blues resurgence of the ’80s and Austin’s ’90s roots-rock renaissance, Kirk studied it all. That deep reverence echoes in his own style, which draws on folk, country, blues, Tejano conjunto, and gritty rock’n’roll .

It took until 2020 for Matt Kirk to finally form his own band – The Güeyfarers (pronounced “Wayfarers”) – bringing together some of the area’s top players . The group quickly earned a monthly residency on the legendary Gruene Hall stage , honing a sound Kirk affectionately calls “Texicana,” his personal spin on Americana. Their self-titled debut album arrived in fall 2022 , and its long-anticipated release did not disappoint. The record is a vibrant tapestry of Texas styles, and it features an all-star roster of guest collaborators: Shinyribs frontman Kevin Russell on washboard, the Grooveline Horns blasting soul into the mix, virtuoso Monte Montgomery on guitar, Tex-Mex accordion prodigy Josh Baca, renowned fiddler Gene Elders, and many others  . (It’s no wonder Kirk has lent his own talents to friends like Charley Crockett – even contributing backing vocals on one of Crockett’s recent albums .) Matt’s lifelong influences shine through every track, yet the voice is unmistakably his own – heartfelt, unassuming, and steeped in the lore of his home state.

Now in 2025, after years in the shadows, Matt Kirk is stepping forward as a torchbearer for Texas music. The Güeyfarers’ debut album is being re-released on vinyl (with bonus tracks) for a new audience, even as the band readies a second full-length of original material. This July, Kirk will record a live album during a special hometown show at Gruene Hall, capturing the energy of the venue that helped shape him. It’s the culmination of a journey decades in the making. In his forties, Matt Kirk arrives not as a newcomer but as a seasoned storyteller and bridge between generations. He carries forward the legacy of Texas songwriters and roadhouse bluesmen, connecting past and present in a way that feels both timeless and urgently now. Factual yet full of heart, Kirk’s music and narrative underscore why he matters: he’s living, playing proof that the Texas music tradition is alive and well – and in very good hands.

Matt Kirk & The Güeyfarers exemplify Texicana at its finest, blending heritage and originality into a resonant, inspiring sound. Kirk’s late-blooming emergence as a frontman is more than just a personal milestone; it’s a celebration of Texas music’s enduring spirit, with a new voice leading the way.