artist Matt Masters

Matt Masters - The Western Gentleman Born during a blackout in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, 31 year old Matt Masters is stepping out of the shadows and on to the national stage. Matt was raised and lives in Calgary where he has been a leading member of the local music scene for over a decade. Matt has sung onstage with Dale Watson at the Continental Club in Austin, performed alongside blues masters Jeff Healey and Madagascar Slim, sat in with members of Prairie Oyster and Blue Rodeo. Not bad for an unsigned self managed honky-tonk singer-songwriter. In the mid-90’s Matt began his music career by organizing a one-day rock music festival in Calgary. Matt then started solo acoustic shows in 1998 the Calgary area. By 2000 he had formed the first incarnation of his band, the gentlemen of the rodeo, and by 2001 he was opening for up and coming acts like Neko Case and Corb Lund as well as established honky-tonk veterans like The Reverend Horton Heat and Ray Condo. Established in the alt-county and indie scene at home, Matt moved to Toronto in 2002 where he was quickly adopted into the Toronto roots music community, again, performing alongside rising stars, such as Justin Rutledge and Ndidi Onukwulu and established performers like Wendell Ferguson and Chris Whiteley. During his time in Toronto Matt was also working as the General Manager of the Toronto Blues Society. In 2005 Matt returned to Calgary and undertook a 100 show tour of Alberta, (driving himself some 40,000 kms in 120 days), performing an Alberta Music History Revue in 100 communities throughout the province. Some highlights included opening for George Fox and receiving praise and recognition from the Premier’s office and the department of History at the University of Calgary. As a result of his work to promote Alberta culture Matt was awarded an Alberta Centennial grant from the Federal Department of Heritage. On November 17, 2006 Matt released his first recording “Centennial Swell” on the Winnipeg label Dollartone Records, (Festival Distribution) and followed that up with successful tours of Canada and Texas. 2007 has seen Matt headline the Alberta Songwriter Sessions at the EPCOR CENTRE in Calgary, play the main stage at the Dauphin Countryfest, Kick-off the Big Valley Jamboree, showcase at the WCMA’s and La Biennale de Montreal and embark on his newest project, the writing and staging of an original western musical being produced by the Illingworth Kerr Gallery at the Alberta College of Art and Design.