Award-winning blues performer is touring with the same musicians who performed on his newly released album

New Brusnwick native Matt Anderson has been singing and performing his own blues-influenced songs for twenty years; criss-crossing North America and more recently Europe. “I recently did a mini-tour in Europe with Allan Doyle, and that was a lot of fun. Allan is a master showman and he opened some new doors for me.”

He recently spoke with The Montrealer from London, Ontario; where he has three consecutive sold-out shows.

When Matt Andersen steps on stage, he brings a lifetime of music to every note he plays. His latest album, The Big Bottle of Joy, is all about hard-won celebration; a dozen songs infused with raw blues-rock, rollicking Americana, thoughtful folk, and ecstatic gospel. Andersen’s stage presence, buoyed by his spectacular live band. also called The Big Bottle of Joy (released March 10th), is informed by decades of cutting his teeth in dusty clubs, dim-lit bars, and grand theatres all over the world, delivering soulful performances that run the gamut from intimate to wall-shaking.

In the studio, he’s always brought the same attention to detail and commitment to craft as he has to his live show, and the result – a multi-faceted and poignant body of work – has led him to amass over 22 million streams on Spotify and 26 million views on YouTube. (Three songs from the new album: https://youtu.be/9UvxBUXLN4M )

During a recent interview with The Montrealer, Matt said; “After working solo for two years during the pandemic, this was a treat to get back to recording and performing with a band and singers. All the musicians and singers are people that I’ve known for a long time and that I’ve always wanted to work with. We’re all good friends.” Continuing, Matt told me; “When I was writing the songs for this album, I knew the strengths of each musician and singer – so I was able to keep that in mind as I wrote.”  

“The sound we’re performing with this band

is everything I’ve ever wanted and more!” – Matt Andersen

In addition to headlining major festivals, clubs and theatres throughout North America, Europe and Australia, he has shared the stage and toured with Marcus King, Beth Hart, Marty Stuart, Greg Allman, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Randy Bachman, Jonny Lang, Serena Ryder, and many others. Andersen nabbed the 2013 and 2016 European Blues Awards for Best Solo-Acoustic Act, was the first-ever Canadian to take home top honours in the solo category at the 2010 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, won the CIMA Road Gold award in 2015, and has won multiple Maple Blues awards.

Matt is touring with The Hello Darlins as an opening act. Again – the band personnel are longtime friends. “Just like the players in Big Bottle Of Joy, the people in The Hello Darlin’s have been friends for a long time friends. The band is an award-winning collective of artists and special guests. Led by Mike Little, Murray Pulver, Candace Lacina and a powerhouse cast, the band combines all of their skills and influences to forge a distinct hybrid of country, gospel and blues like no other. Their collaborations include Shania Twain, Crash Test Dummies, Matt Kelly (City & Colour), Matt Andersen, the late B.B. King and many more. “We have a great vibe backstage and carries into our respective shows on stage.”

Matt Andersen and Big Bottle Of Joy will be performing at Club Soda on Saturday, April 15 at 8pm. Tickets are $37.50 plus service fees. Please call 514-286-1010 or online at: www.clubsoda.ca 

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