McPHERSON — Multi-award winning Canadian bluesman Matt Andersen is playing the McPherson Opera House on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m.
Although Canada isn’t known as a hotbed of the blues, Perth-Andover, New Brunswick, where Andersen grew up, is a hard-working blue-collar community of less than 2,000 people; no folk or coffee house scene there.
His numerous awards include, among others, the 2013 Euro Blues Award for Best Solo/Acoustic Act, three Maple Blues Awards in 2012, and in 2010, he won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
Despite this affirmation from the blues community, Andersen himself says, “The blues is a big part of what I do, and in my solo show some tunes are straight-up blues for sure. But I would never stand beside B.B. King and say, ‘I play blues, too.’”
What Andersen does play is a super high-energy mix of stunning guitar work, great vocals wrapped around lyrics that tell a story, all fused together with elements of the blues, rock and folk.
“I booked Matt on the basis of his YouTubes,” John Holecek, Opera House Executive Director said. Then I saw him live in Austin last September. What a performance! The weather may be cold, but Matt Andersen is truly hot. A big man with a whole lot of soul.”
Tickets are available at www.mcphersonoperahouse.org; by phone, (620) 241-1952; or at the box office. Prices are $22, $18, and $10.