Acoustic Guitar Magazine - USA
"This Australian steel-string guitarist demonstrates formidable fingerstyle technique and writing skills as he cuts a wide swath through such musical styles as swing, boogie blues, samba and nuevo flamenco. Mathiske’s playing is characterized by a powerful, crisp attack; attention to tone; and an ability to maintain his lyrical phrasing on up-tempo dazzlers (like his remarkable, raggy, jazzy version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow") as well as slower material such as the beautiful and moody original "Soft Day In Athlone." This is an addictive CD from a player with a broad, quirky musical imagination and the chops to express it." (Ron Forbes-Roberts January 2002, No 109)

Bruce Mathiske LIVE - LINENHALL ARTS CENTRE CASTLEBAR IRELAND
"There isn’t a seat to spare as the crowd pours in, then the virtuosic Australian solo guitarist, Bruce Mathiske, strides onstage and he not such much oozes charisma but pulses it in the rhythm of his playing as he plugs in his guitar. Tall, striking and funny, he immediately provokes an enthusiasm not usually seen in an icily modern Arts Centre with his solo guitar version of Eleanor Rigby. There was a man who was having fun.
He launched right into the show, following the Beatles classic with his own rendition of the theme from Black Orpheus and then straight into Bach’s Toccata, all played with gusto and a style rarely encountered. Listeners were treated to songs combining elements of swing, Spanish, rock, Cuban, blues, gypsy, pop, jazz, easy listening, folk and more with style, he is in his own words "uninhibited by direction" and surpasses expectations at every turn.
With newly-turned-Cuban-style Caravan Bruce gave us a demonstration of how he writes for solo guitar - combining the work of three. The Australian takes on the role of bass, rhythm and lead on his one acoustic guitar, with unnatural-looking hand contortions and fingers than move faster than a hummingbird on speed. Every guitarist in the place turned green with envy.....
Unfortunately the show is now coming to an end, and let me tell you, a man who can play the guitar and the didgeridoo at the same time can only command the greatest respect.
Catch him live if he’s within 100 miles of your town. Whatever your type of music there’s something for you in this show. Genres? Bah,who needs’em? It’s all Mathiske in the end." (Anna Murray – Claus-Irish Music Scene 19 August 2004)

CD Review - Minor 7th Magazine March/April 2005
Australian fingerstylist Bruce Mathiske plays nylon and steel string guitars (both 6- and 12-string), composes and interprets others' works - all masterfully. Lennon and McCartney's "Eleanor Rigby" opens the CD. Beginning a musical program with any tune in a minor key is risky enough and, for such an iconic song, inevitably invites comparisons with the original recording. Yet Mathiske pulls it off. In this solo performance he employs techniques used throughout his repertoire, including alternating and walking bass lines, double stops, arpeggiated sweeps, artificial harmonics and robust strumming. The arrangement owes very little to the Beatles' recording, but it succeeds on Mathiske's own terms. He doubletracks guitars on several originals, including "Arrival" and "The Top", playing supporting parts on 6- or 12-string. Other tracks include bass, percussion and didgeridoo in various combinations. He offers an emotional solo interpretation of "What a Wonderful World" and upbeat versions of "They Can't Take That Away From Me", Ellington and Tizol's "Caravan", Paul Simon's "Gumboots" and Sonny Rollins' "St. Thomas". He plays "Caravan" noticeably faster than its original tempo, but it's bound to be a highlight of his live shows. He closes the disc with his own wistful "Soft Day in Athlone." While Mathiske shows some similarities to other players (e.g. Jerry Reed and Marcel Dadi on "The Top"), he mainly impresses me as a well-rounded musician rather than a guitar stylist. As such, "Guitar Genius" is quite varied for an instrumental guitar recording. I've gone back to it repeatedly and shared it with both guitarists and non musicians. I can't praise Bruce Mathiske too highly. (Patrick Ragains)

"Instinctive and impressive Guitar Work. This Aussie really is a guitar sensation. Simultaneously playing bass, rhythm and melody, his fingers span as wide as the Golden Gate Bridge. His harmonics drip like dew spangled fairies and he imitates rock'n'roll bass or a harp, occasionally at the same time. His numbers include a tenderly vicious Eleanor Rigby, an ironically melancholic What a Wonderful World and his original compositions combine major and minor spine tingling effect." (Edinburgh 2000 - Gabe Stewart, The List, Festival Select.)

"This Virtuoso, who picked up the guitar at the age of seven, is one of Australia's musical superstars. That early ten hour a day practice regime on the family wheat farm in rural Victoria has given Bruce Mathiske a rock solid technique that is simply quite dazzling. Black suited and tall as a hop pole, the 37 year old Leo Kottke, BB King and Chet Atkins inspired soloist can make his six strings do tricks that leave you wondering if there is another Mathiske in the wings. By the time he added the didgeeridoo and wowed us with outrageous harmonics from far flung corners of his guitar, we were all his. Catch him while you can. " (Edinburgh 2000 - Adrian Morgan, The Scotsman.)

"2000 was a record breaking year with our headliner and undoubted crowd favourite- Bruce Mathiske, delivering an absolutely stunning performance to close the festival " (Ards Guitar Festival - Nigel Martin, Director Belfast Guitar Festival)