If you've made a station stop at our bar, kitchen and community hub Tracks, no doubt you've been served by our bearded Balearic pirate Matt. Since coming aboard a couple of years ago as we were navigating through the lockdown landscape, he has been a super support in our arch adaptation saga and as the chief of our Tracks tribe is now like family.

When not busy behind the bar or havin' a natter with our Forest Gate fam, as 'DJ Bog Cleaner' as well as cleaning toilets you can catch him on the Tracks wheels of steel serving up a mix of Italo, disco and house - check out his 'Ciao Italo' mix on the Tracks Soundcloud page here.

Also with the spring/summer season on the horizon, every first Sunday of the month starting from April he'll be hosting our new Sunday soul session 'SOS' (Soul On Sundays) with our station selector outta East Ham DJ Manish to wind the weekend down in style.

Here's a local love letter from Leytonstone's favourite son:

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"Even though i grew up just around the corner in Leytonstone it took me nearly 40 years to discover just how bloomin' brilliant Forest Gate is, my love affair with the area started by hearing about a record shop, in a bar underneath some railway arches... My two favourite things records and trains! I met Aiden then two years later and I'm still here, giving him a headache :-)

Working at Tracks has got to be without doubt the best job I've ever had; music, quality food & beverages plus a fantastic team and lovely patrons. The place has a great vibe which is evolving and growing all the time... That vibe is created by everyone that comes through the doors, the customers, my colleagues, the dogs, the various people that use the space for a multitude of activities... We are all in this together!

Honestly the community feel round here is amazing. I've met so many interesting, creative and lovely people and there are so many excellent independent business in such a small area. Our arch neighbours Ramble Cafe and Fiore Truck plus Pretty Decent Beer Co and Aromas are some of my favourites but there are many more.

Lastly big shout to Finbar who was here when i started and along with Aiden helped kick start and shape what we are doing at Tracks today."

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So come catch our local chatter behind the bar for a natter and the latest Forest Gate goss!


Matt will be DJing at Tracks this Friday 25th March 8pm-Midnight and every first Sunday of the month 3pm-8pm so stop by for a station social.