On a Tuesday night here in downtown Transcona in Winnipeg, I met up with a certain low key superstar, Matt Ward, age 21. We bumped into each other on the patio of the Royal George Hotel. I gave him a stern index finger and we went out back in the parking lot so we could hear ourselves think. We stopped at his car, a ballin’ Hyundai Accent. He began telling me he is comfortable picking up and playing a variety of instruments ranging from bass, didgeridoo to percussion. His main focus to be on guitar and song writing. His band combines the talents of Gary Gach on drums, Andrew Vailencourt on lead guitar and the newest addition to the band, Paul Maclean on bass. Paul and Gary also sing backup vocals.
However for the recording of his first EP entitled Thrift Shopping, he was accompanied by the vocals of Cara Luft of the Wailin’ Jennys. Matt and Cara had met earlier at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. From then on they met for coffee a couple times and decided they would put her folky, bluesy vocals on track. Matt seemed to really respect and admire Cara. Referring to her as “Winnipeg legend, Cara Luft.” She added a really nice sound to the album. Matt say’s about his new EP, ” I really like to focus on lyrics, I really do like playing the stuff and telling stories. Making people think and laugh and that stuff. “The EP came out with a folky, country, pop vibe to it, a little more rocky then he had planned. It was self described as “Lyrical Folk Rock.” And the crowd definitely seems to be liking it.
Matt’s been heard on CBC Radio One and can now be heard on Winnipeg’s Hot 103. So pick up your phones and start requesting!!The inspiration to write Thrift Shopping didn’t come from somewhere close by. It came all the way from Asia. Matt took off on a 7 and a half month backpacking trip and came back with a handful of written materiel and the determination to record . Which came out as a great success. Matt has played many venues including his C.D release show at The Park Theater, The Academy and The Gas Station Theater. He’s also played a variety of smaller venues in and around Winnipeg like Sam’s place and Monalisa’s. Right now Matt is working on getting a grant through Manitoba’s Film and Sound to record his first full length album, estimated to be completed in about a year or two. Their newest song The Rabbit and The Crow is said to have a more rocky bluesy feel with “a little walkin’ bass line”. However that song cannot be heard anywhere just yet. Keep on your toes for that release.
You can check out Matt and his band at www.Mattward.ca and his up coming show at The Dragon Boat Festival taking place in The Forks in Winnipeg on September 13th at 12:30. This will be a fun gig! See you there!
written by Jocelyne Le Léannec
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