*The 2nd studio album is finished and is currently being mastered

*The Junkyard Days (Live 2007) — Out 13th March 2026  - Pre Save 


* Featured Blog added: Sixties Arts, Music & Counterculture 

* The Good Old Days (A Rock 'n' Roll Story)  17 Track Concept Album  - Released 5th November 2025 
 

Matthew Douglas Whittenham (aka Douglas & The World) is a singer-songwriter rooted in chaos, creativity, and DIY culture—best known as the driving force behind Cool Banana, a festival-style band born from the Portsmouth Underground music scene. He launched a series of mini based festivals & club nights called The Junkyard, building a scene around constant gigs, parties, and a growing music community. That momentum led him into running a pub and live music venue—an era that was exciting, chaotic, fast-paced… pure rock ’n’ roll. Plenty of stories came from those days and Matt was on a roll creatively, however eventually the good times became too good. Music took a back seat, and what he calls “The Good Old Days”—a 17-track concept album which he originally wrote in 2006 faded into the background. However, a live recording captured in the middle of a chaotic weekend of gigging and partying preserved the spirit of those Junkyard parties. That recording is now available as “The Junkyard Days (Live 2007)”. After a ten-year break, everything changed. One ordinary day, Matt picked up his guitar again—and the spark was still there. That moment reignited a mission to finish what he started. The result is “The Good Old Days – A Rock ’n’ Roll Story”, a concept album blending late ’60s and ’70s influences with a modern perspective. Originally written in the noughties, recorded at Portsmouth’s award-winning Casemates Studio, and completed in 2025, the album feels both nostalgic and surprisingly relevant today. Momentum hasn’t slowed.

 

A second album has just been recorded, with four singles set for release over the coming months, leading into the full album. Returning to the studio with renewed confidence, Matt pushed his performances further—this time leaning into a rawer, more energetic sound with influences of indie, grunge, and punk.

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​This summer will see Matt back out gigging with a new band line-up, bringing that evolved sound to the stage. Looking ahead, a third album is already written and arranged, with recording planned for later in the year. For now, the focus is firmly on the music and the upcoming releases. This is just the beginning—watch this space.