Friday, May 25 2018
IN THE THIRD INSTALLMENT OF OUR ARTIST DISCOVERY SERIES, WE’RE SHINING THE SPOTLIGHT ON POWERHOUSE PERFORMER MATT ANDERSEN!
LISTEN // The Gift by Matt Andersen.
LOOK // Check out Andersen’s spectacular cover of Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show!
LEARN // The globe-trotting guitarist/vocalist talks Ninja Turtles, Fred Penner and his Johnny Cash-like moment in this exclusive #saskjazz interview!
SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival: What did 10-year old you want to be when you grew up? Do you remember why?
MA: Pretty sure I wanted to be a superhero. I always liked to imagine myself saving the day. I was big into the Ninja Turtles then. At that age, I wasn’t hung up on the logistics of being a turtle. I think I just liked the idea of kickin’ ass and eating pizza.
SSJF: One person you were surprised to find out is a fan?
MA: Fred Penner. We were both playing the Winnipeg Folk Festival. I had left a box of my CDs with my agent while I had to do an errand. Came back to find out that Fred had taken one of my CDs and left me one of his.
SSJF: Why do you live where you do?
MA: I live in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia. It’s the perfect combination of country with convenience. We’re not far from anything we need, but far enough from the things we don’t.
SSJF: What has been your most memorable or inspirational gig and why?
MA: I was asked to play at a prison on one of my tours in the States. It was amazing to talk with the guys in there. A lot of them had never heard live music before. They’d been in and out of prison their whole lives. Easily one of the most inspirational gigs I have done. All of the men I played for were trying to better themselves and move on from what they’d done. It was an amazingly positive experience.
LIVE // Sunday, June 24th, at the TD Mainstage in the Bessborough Gardens.