MATT MASTERS BIOGRAPHY

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.

(click here for longer biography)