By JOYANNA LOVE
From playing at local events and camps to AtlantaFest, the Matt Littlejohn Band members enjoys sharing their music and their faith with audiences throughout the Southeast.
Matt Littlejohn Band grew out of the worship band at Lomax Assembly of God.
“We all stated out leading worship at church together,” Littlejohn said.
Playing music together at the church created other opportunities for the group. Matt Littlejohn said they started getting invited to play at other local places and summer camps.
Matt Littlejohn, lead singer, guitar player and the band’s namesake, is the worship pastor at Lomax Assembly of God.
“I come from a music family,” Matt Littlejohn said. “My grandparents (William and Patricia Cleckley) were musicians, and they actually traveled and played as well in this area, singing gospel music, so I think just growing up around that definitely gave me a love for it.”
The band includes his brother Larry “Ditt” Littlejohn on the bass, Wes Blair on the drums and Jason Scarbrough on guitar.
“I’ve just always loved music, probably started when I was 15, writing music and competing in a lot of song writing competitions and things like that,” Matt Littlejohn said.
As the opportunities grew, Littlejohn began incorporating some of his original songs into the band’s repertoire.
“I’ve always written original music,” he said.
Matt Littlejohn said his inspiration comes from his “personal relationship” with God, “and wanting to express that in a way through music and through lyrics.”
“There is just so much inspiration in the Bible, just as you read daily,” Matt Littlejohn said.
In 2011, the band released its first EP (small group of recorded songs).
The band has traveled and played throughout the Southeast, including Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and, of course, Alabama.
“Best thing about playing music with these guys is leading worship,” Blair said. “The other best part is there’s never a dull moment. Like forgetting your cymbals on a road trip.”
He said he became interested in music through church. As a youth, he convinced his pastor to allow him to take a spare drum set home, so he could practice.
Ditt Littlejohn, like Matt, said it was their grandparents that got him interested in music.
“I started playing guitar first, then I just started playing around with the bass and I wound up liking it better than I do the guitar,” Ditt Littlejohn.
He said leading worship is his favorite aspect of being a part of the group.
Matt Littlejohn said he enjoys meeting new people when they travel and being able to “connect with different people through worship and through music. It’s always a fun exciting thing.”
Where they go is largely based on invitation, but Mike Graham has also booked events for the band.
They have played at En Fuego and AtlantaFest, a large Christian music festival in Atlanta.
“That’s always exciting to be a part of,” Matt Littlejohn said.
Matt Littlejohn said playing such events allows the band to connect with other musicians and led to playing at churches that have requested them after seeing them at the festival.
“It’s fun, it’s different,” Matt Littlejohn said. “We all enjoy traveling and enjoy being in different places.”
While traveling has slowed down a little for the band recently, it typically has one out-of-town show a month or every two months.
Matt Littlejohn said traveling was easier when fewer of the band members had children.
In March 2017, Matt Littlejohn Band released a second group of songs as an EP available for download called “You are Strong.”
The band recorded the EP at Black Cat Studios in Griffin, Georgia. Jason Hoard produced the project.
This was the first time the band had an outside producer for a project.
“That was a fun experience because a lot of times, when you come in you think a song is ready,” Matt Littlejohn said.
During the recording session, Hoard recommended changes to the songs, such as adding a verse, etc.
Blair as well as Matt and Ditt Littlejohn said “You Are Strong” was their favorite song from this project is.
Ditt said the song is a great encouragement that “no matter what you are going through, He (God) is stronger than that.”
“To me the song really brings Psalms 46 to life, where it says ‘God is our refuge and our strength a Very present help in time of need,'” Blair said.
He said the song emphasizes that God is in control and can be trusted.
Most of the members of Matt Littlejohn Band are still a part of the worship band at Lomax, continuing to lead worship, just as they did when their talents were only known closer to home.