| May 16, 2020 (Sat) / 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm Buy Tickets here: https://matthewbyrne-sfs.brownpapertickets.com |
| Venue: Phinney Center Concert Hall, Brick Building, 6532 Phinney Ave N, Seattle |
We regret that this tour has been cancelled out of caution for the Coronavirus COVID19. We plan to reschedule Matthew Byrne’s concert for May 2021.
We encourage you to support our working musicians by buying their CDs and other merchandise! See Matthew Byrnes four solo CDs and one with his band The Dardanells at https://www.matthewbyrne.net/music
Matthew Byrne’s bio starts with: “Storytelling through song is a fundamental duty of traditional music and Matthew Byrne does this brilliantly with his latest recording, Horizon Lines.” Echoing that sentiment, Horizon Lines went on to win 2018 Traditional Recording of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.
A singer, storyteller, and guitarist, Matthew’s upbringing with parents who were both singers and song collectors steered him easily into the field he is in today, wherein he is reaping such deserved accolades, as much for his inherited unique repertoire as well as a fascination for unearthing and reinterpreting traditional songs. This has led folks such as Tony Montague of fRoots Magazine to state: “Byrne is the finest interpreter of traditional songs not only in his native province, but all of Canada.”
In Byrne’s words,” I see songs as sources of the past – windows into my own family history. Traditional music has always been the most important tool or me to understand where I come from and who I am. My live performances are meant to bring audiences on a journey through the lineage of my repertoire and share what these songs have revealed to me.”
And let’s not forget the voice – The voice that evokes strong emotional connections for those who hear it, such as his contemporary, Great Big Sea’s Alan Doyle: “Matt’s interpretation of traditional song is somehow fresh and ancient at the same time. And his voice is friggin’ perfect.” That heartfelt sentiment is echoed by many.
Even his band mate Tom Power in Newfoundland Canada’s the Dardanelles, admitted of their music, “Frankly, we have the best guy to sing it in the province.” This is echoed roundly by many knowledgeable critics, such as Tom Power of CBC Music: “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 viral type of folk performer.”
Matthew’s concert with the Seattle Folklore Society will be his first visit to Seattle. His vocals and traditional songs promise a beautiful and unforgettable evening!