On Tuesday, February 7, the Prince Rupert Concert Society will be presenting “Canada’s greatest guitarist” Matt Andersen at the Lester Centre of the Arts to help promote his newest album Coal Mining Blues.
“This larger than life blues/rock/gospel powerhouse single handedly has the natural talent to reach right down to your core and warm your bones with his soulful honey dipped voice and guitar.” Said the Lester Center’s General Manager Crystal Lorette.
Andersen is originally from New Brunswick, and was born into a very musical family. At age fourteen, Andersen picked up a guitar and started playing. Only a mere few years later, he started performing classic rock and top 40 cover songs in local pub bands. Shortly after, the blues bug bit Andersen.
“Through Eric Clapton I got into B.B. King, which led me to the Chicago electric stuff and eventually back to the Mississippi Delta guys. What really hit me most about the blues was its total honesty.” Andersen is quoted saying on his official website.
The singer-song writer and guitarist released his debut album One Size Never Fits in 2002, releasing two more albums before the end of 2005.
Over the years, Andersen has played thousands of concerts, averaging about two hundred shows a year, touring and sharing the stage with successful groups and musicians such as April Wine, Randy Bachman, Bo Diddley, Loverboy and Little Feat.
In addition, Andersen was frequently featured on Stuart McLean’s CBC Radio Show “The Vinyl Café”, as well as appearing in the East Coast Music Awards in 2004.
In 2010, Andersen became the first Canadian to win the top prize for a duo/individual in the Memphis, Tennessee International Blues Challenge, a first in the event’s 26 year history, beating out artists from eleven other countries. The win lead to festival dates in France, Italy, and the United States, touring with Old Crow Medicine Show.
Additionally, Andersen won the Maple Blues Award for Entertainer of the Year and Acoustic Act of the Year in 2011.
People wishing to attend the Matt Andersen concert can purchase single tickets for $24 at the Lester Centre Box Office or Cook’s Jewelers, or at the door on the evening of the show for $26.