matt slit

The Forecast with Alyson Samson

I last caught up with Matthew during his residency at Cameron House in Toronto, where he played every Thursday for the month of May, and will be likewise returning for the month of October. Playing with The Unseen Strangers bluegrassed up his songs (yes, we’re verbing that now), and he played a few traditional ones for good measure.

Mr. Hornell has some studio time booked in September for a new album of similar concept, featuring him and Andrew Sneddon of The Modern Grass (his dobro wielding counterpart). They’re hoping to hammer out a handful of original tracks with a few traditional ones mixed in (have you caught him covering Ron Hynes’ “No Change in Me” live? I’m putting in my requests now).

He’s also currently planning a western tour in the fall, through Alberta and Saskatchewan; Matthew loves to get displaced Newfoundlanders and mainlanders alike, from all across the country, to share his sensitive and salty tunes.

You’ll get a chance to hear Matthew in the coming weeks, as he’s touring Newfoundland with dates all across the island. He tells me he’s doing it a little different this time though, because he wants you to take a seat. “I’m a songwriter, I want them to listen,” he says.

Tickets for his show at The Ship on July 17th are on sale now. Matthew’s style is certainly maturing with age. With the release of his sophomore album, Have It All (2013), he took a much more serious approach to his songs, which were laced with darker musings than his Diamond Minds’ days. On Have It All, we hear him experiment with more traditional stylings, from the instrumental “Saint Andrews” to a play on pop in tunes such as “Midnight.”

He might have thought he gave it all with his last record, but I have no doubt that Matthew’s cultured and cultivated more to give us for records to come. Here’s hoping for a little live preview during his island tour. See you at The Ship.

Stay tuned to The Forecast. My predictions are more accurate than your horoscope.

July 12: Saturday @ Swirsky’s // Corner Brook, NL
July 13: Sunday @ Galliott Studio // Woody Point, NL
July 14: Monday @ Java Jack’s // Rocky Harbour, NL
July 15: Tuesday @ The Daily Grind // Grand Falls-Windsor, NL
July 16: Wednesday @ The Captain’s Pub // Twillingate, NL
July 17: Thursday @ The Ship // St. John’s, NL
July 19: Saturday @ The Three Sister’s // Placentia, NL
July 20: Sunday @ Two Whales Cafe // Port Rexton, NL
July 21: Monday @ – The Inn // Happy Adventure, NL
July 22: Tuesday @ Legends // Gander, NL
July 23: Wednesday @ Oasis // Pasedena, NL