OFFICIAL BIO . . .
Matthew recently recorded his 4th studio album in Sheffield, UK, and is set to release it in Fall 2024. Folk legend Martin Simpson produced this latest project, which features instrumentation from some of the finest musicians on the English folk scene, including Nancy Kerr, Andy Cutting, Liz Hanks, James Fagan, Louis Campbell, and Ben Nicholls. Matthew Byrne’s previous two recordings each won Traditional Album of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, and his highly anticipated 4th recording will grab further attention from traditional audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.
Storytelling through song is a fundamental duty of traditional music, and Matthew Byrne does this brilliantly. His musical upbringing has shaped his repertoire, and Byrne supports this tradition with powerful vocals, polished guitar work, and a presence that fills the room.
With parents who were both singers and song collectors and a strong family focus on sharing songs, Byrne has inherited a unique repertoire and a fascination with unearthing and reimagining traditional songs.
“I’m not a folklorist or ethnomusicologist, at least not officially. And I’m not a purist. I’ve poured over the nuances of the pub standards as much as the obscure murder balladry. What attracts me to a traditional song is the right combination of melody and language, which have always fascinated me.”
But Byrne is also a student of history whose love of traditional music goes well beyond the words and music. For him, songs are ways of understanding people before him...their lives, work, language, and worldview.
“I see songs as sources of the past—windows into my own family history. Traditional music has always been the most important tool for me to understand where I come from and who I am. My live performance is meant to take audiences on a journey through the lineage of my repertoire and share what these songs have revealed to me.”
IN THEIR WORDS . . .
“Byrne is the finest interpreter of traditional songs not only in his native province but all of Canada.”
“Possibly the finest interpreter of traditional songs in the country, Hearts & Heroes certainly provides ample evidence.”
“It’s increasingly rare to find male traditional singers who are not just good, but GREAT! Matthew is certainly in that truly great category.”
“Matt’s interpretation of traditional songs is somehow fresh and ancient at the same time. And his voice is friggin’ perfect.”
“His reverence and respect for his material, along with his unabashed exploration of new songs and his staggeringly beautiful voice, makes for the rarest and most vital type of folk performer.”
“Matthew Byrne sings with a voice as true as a compass needle and is a dab hand on his instruments as well. His “Ballads” is one of the finest english language traditional albums to come out in many a year.”