The Matthews Brothers
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The Matthews Brothers

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"The Brothers of Hastings County (MuchMorMagazine)"

"Whether they are jamming in the old farm house or in a tavern in downtown Toronto, the Matthews Brothers deliver music that has both depth and feeling. They pull you in - leaving you wanting more.”

- MuchMorMagazine - MuchMorMagazine


"The Matthews Brothers (New Music Canada, CBC Radio 3)"

"These classically trained brothers take inspiration from their past to write the diverse songs you hear today. These are tracks packed with orchestral layers of energy and honesty. Take a listen, you won't forget them."

- New Music Canada, CBC Radio 3 - New Music Canada, CBC Radio 3


"The Matthews Brothers (New Music Canada, CBC Radio 3)"

"These classically trained brothers take inspiration from their past to write the diverse songs you hear today. These are tracks packed with orchestral layers of energy and honesty. Take a listen, you won't forget them."

- New Music Canada, CBC Radio 3 - New Music Canada, CBC Radio 3


"The Matthews Brothers @ Rancho Relaxo (Two Way Monologues)"

The Matthews Brothers have a floor stomping, knee slapping huge sounding country/folk style of indie-rock that truly has unlimited potential.

- Two Way Monologues - Two Way Monologues


"The Matthews Brothers, “Hungry Heart” (MP3.com)"

Last month, we had the pleasure of introducing you to a country-rock duo out of “Canada’s backwoods” called the Matthews Brothers. They’re long overdue for an encore.

You’ll recall the Matthews Brothers have come full circle in their musical odyssey, from growing up on folk music to taking on formal musical educations to arriving back in the Canadian outback to work and record together.

You’ll also recall that Mike and Cole Matthews (with the assistaance of bassist David Rodrigues and drummer Max Smith) create ruddy, passionate narratives equal to the best of Mumford and Sons with the darkened patina of the legendary John Stewart.

We called their music “rambling, intense, woodsy and organic, like a walk down the dirt road that slices through the backwoods of the Matthews Brothers Canada.”

Here’s “Hungry Heart” from the Matthews Brothers’ album The Night We Left Home. It’s another gem from a pair that deserve a greater audience…and we’re doing our best to make that happen.

- MP3.com - MP3.com


"ArtsView: Shelter Valley’s Local Songwriters Showcase August 2nd in Downtown Cobourg"

The Matthews Brothers of Hastings County were one of three Showcase “Finalists” chosen to perform at SVFF’s 2011 Festival - Northumberlandview


"The Chase – The Matthews Brothers"

One thing comes to mind when you listen to music from The Matthews Brothers: passion. Through every energetic strum of the guitar and every word uttered, their love of music shines through. Coming from the rural land of Hastings County, east of Toronto. Cole and Mike Matthews are both classically trained musicians, but have returned to their homeland and converted an old farmhouse into a recording studio to create sounds that are meant to be enjoyed, taking influence from both the past and present.

Earlier this year in August, The Matthews Brothers released their second EP called The Night We Left Home. All four of its tracks are wonderful, but the final is a real standout, putting together every great thing that you could want in a powerful folk-rock song. Strong voices working together in harmony, meaningful lyrics, toe-tapping rhythms, and an incredible piano solo. I really couldn’t say enough about this song, and everything else the band has done. Do yourself a favour and have a listen. - Sound Vat


"The Chase – The Matthews Brothers"

One thing comes to mind when you listen to music from The Matthews Brothers: passion. Through every energetic strum of the guitar and every word uttered, their love of music shines through. Coming from the rural land of Hastings County, east of Toronto. Cole and Mike Matthews are both classically trained musicians, but have returned to their homeland and converted an old farmhouse into a recording studio to create sounds that are meant to be enjoyed, taking influence from both the past and present.

Earlier this year in August, The Matthews Brothers released their second EP called The Night We Left Home. All four of its tracks are wonderful, but the final is a real standout, putting together every great thing that you could want in a powerful folk-rock song. Strong voices working together in harmony, meaningful lyrics, toe-tapping rhythms, and an incredible piano solo. I really couldn’t say enough about this song, and everything else the band has done. Do yourself a favour and have a listen. - Sound Vat


"Three Finalists Chosen at SVFF 2011 Local Songwriters Showcase Night"

Last night’s Local Songwriters Showcase brought performers from across Northumberland and nearby communities to an open air stage at Cobourg’s DBIA Sidewalk Sale event on King Street. Over 200 people carried lawn chairs down to the main street stage and many more gathered around the edges of the area to enjoy live music from ten performers who had been chosen from over thirty showcase submissions.

The three finalists from the 2011 Shelter Valley Folk Festival’s annual Local Songwriters Showcase evening are: Matt MacLeod of Peterborough, Alyson McNamara of Cobourg, and The Matthews Brothers, a duo based near Campbellford. They have earned the opportunity to perform at this year’s Labour Day weekend Festival (September 2 – 4) on both the mainstage and within workshops.

Organizers were relieved the weather cooperated over the two hour showcase which began at 6pm. Executive Director Jan Cody said “clearly this one is marked on many calendars…so many turned up in the last minutes ready to help score the performers and take in the live music – it was wonderful to see”.

The final three finalists represent a wide triangle of communities from across Northumberland and close by. Matt MacLeod of Peterborough was excited to be a part of the night, joking he “…moved closer to the region just to get a chance to participate in this showcase.” Alyson McNamara told the audience “she was thrilled to have been chosen”, and The Matthews Brothers told the crowd “it was a great looking town” adding “it’s the first time we’ve had a chance to perform in Cobourg”. A large number of volunteers were also behind the event’s success and were thanked from the stage several times. Those gathering and then tabulating the audience score sheets were heard to comment that the results for the ten performers were some of the closest scores they could recall over the event’s history.

Shelter Valley Folk Festival is a Registered Charity and a non profit arts organization with year round community activities including an Artists in the Schools program, Community Concert Series, and annual Labour Day weekend festival held on the Henkel Family Lavender Farm. The 2011 festival takes place September 2 to 4 with performers found at www.sheltervalley.com. Donors and volunteers are always welcome with more details found online at www.sheltervalley.com. - Northumberland View


"The Matthews Brothers release EP recorded in farmhouse"

The back roads of Hastings County, ON are not the first place that springs to mind when you consider the sources of independent music in Canada. It's here though, that The Matthews Brothers pulled together their new EP The Night We Left Home.

The 5-track EP was recorded in their farmhouse studio. You can hear the folk-with-stomp songs on their Facebook page.

You can also hear their 4-track self-titled EP that came out last year here.

It serves as a reminded that good music can come from unlikely places. - Snobs Music


"Band of Brothers Comes to Barrie"

Barrie's New Music Fest opens this weekend with one of the biggest lineups in its four-year history. Around 70 artists are expected to perform at nine venues during the four-day event. This year will see both a kick off party and a headliner concert.

"This year we stepped it up with a kickoff party (tonight) with The Reason. There's also local openers on that show," said festival director Paul Fairley. "What we've done now is separate the two events — the kick off party (at The Mansion Nightclub in Barrie) and the headliner concert at the Roxx July 15."

The festival showcases a mix of independent artists from well known names such as Thornley and Big Wreck, who will be playing the headliner concert, with up-and-coming acts such as The Matthews Brothers. Based out of the Belleville area, the duo is up for Best Song (What If I) and Best Folk act at this year's festival. It is the first time the duo has played Barrie — they expand to a four-piece band for road gigs such as Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern.

In addition to performing at Manhatten's, 147 Dunlop St., on Friday (10 p.m.), The Matthews Brothers will also be playing at the awards show which is slated for Sunday at the Mansion.

Something like 20 different awards will be handed out to independent musicians during the evening.

The Matthews Brothers may be emerging artists in some ways, but Mike and his younger brother, Cole, have all the ingredients to make it their career.

They began playing together formally four years ago but Mike was waiting for Cole to graduate from Queen's University in Kingston.

Both took the same music program, but with a slightly different emphasis.

Mike, who had classical piano training, added classical guitar and composition, whereas Cole was more into classical guitar than piano and majored in theory and composition.

"Most of my peers went on to teachers college and masters degrees. I went in knowing I have to do music and my brother was the same way," said Mike, who, towards the end of his studies, was changing the focus to more popular music.

"I still do really, really love the classical elements, even more so in the new music we will be performing at the gig."

Some of their new music also has elements that are similar to film score music. After Cole graduated last year, The Matthews Brothers recorded an EP last fall at an old farmhouse converted into a studio and are working toward releasing a five-song CD shortly. Songwriting is a shared endeavor.

Their single, What If I, is receiving regular airplay at two radio stations in their area, as well as CBC Radio 3 and Sirius Satellite 86.

Music was part of their family growing up. Their father was into writing songs and he taught Mike how to play the guitar. His two sisters are also musical. They all took music lessons and would play guitar and piano together as kids. Some elements of those days find their way

into The Matthews Brothers' current songs.

"We used to attend pot luck dinners the next road over when we were kids — almost like an old time thing, playing fiddle, spoons, stuff like that," said Matthews, who has incorporated some foot stomps and lyrics from those days. "Looking back, I wanted to bottle it up, capture the imagery to make the sound we wanted to make. A lot of it is image and feeling based."

Fairley has been attracting interest in the festival from across Ontario.

Of the bands, around 15 to 20 are local.

"We've been getting calls at our office from way up north — it is definitely attracting people from different regions of Ontario," said Fairley. "We received tons of submissions and we picked the best."

For a full festival schedule and tickets to the kick off party or headlining concert, visit www.newmusicfest.ca. - The Barrie Examiner


"Band of Brothers Comes to Barrie"

Barrie's New Music Fest opens this weekend with one of the biggest lineups in its four-year history. Around 70 artists are expected to perform at nine venues during the four-day event. This year will see both a kick off party and a headliner concert.

"This year we stepped it up with a kickoff party (tonight) with The Reason. There's also local openers on that show," said festival director Paul Fairley. "What we've done now is separate the two events — the kick off party (at The Mansion Nightclub in Barrie) and the headliner concert at the Roxx July 15."

The festival showcases a mix of independent artists from well known names such as Thornley and Big Wreck, who will be playing the headliner concert, with up-and-coming acts such as The Matthews Brothers. Based out of the Belleville area, the duo is up for Best Song (What If I) and Best Folk act at this year's festival. It is the first time the duo has played Barrie — they expand to a four-piece band for road gigs such as Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern.

In addition to performing at Manhatten's, 147 Dunlop St., on Friday (10 p.m.), The Matthews Brothers will also be playing at the awards show which is slated for Sunday at the Mansion.

Something like 20 different awards will be handed out to independent musicians during the evening.

The Matthews Brothers may be emerging artists in some ways, but Mike and his younger brother, Cole, have all the ingredients to make it their career.

They began playing together formally four years ago but Mike was waiting for Cole to graduate from Queen's University in Kingston.

Both took the same music program, but with a slightly different emphasis.

Mike, who had classical piano training, added classical guitar and composition, whereas Cole was more into classical guitar than piano and majored in theory and composition.

"Most of my peers went on to teachers college and masters degrees. I went in knowing I have to do music and my brother was the same way," said Mike, who, towards the end of his studies, was changing the focus to more popular music.

"I still do really, really love the classical elements, even more so in the new music we will be performing at the gig."

Some of their new music also has elements that are similar to film score music. After Cole graduated last year, The Matthews Brothers recorded an EP last fall at an old farmhouse converted into a studio and are working toward releasing a five-song CD shortly. Songwriting is a shared endeavor.

Their single, What If I, is receiving regular airplay at two radio stations in their area, as well as CBC Radio 3 and Sirius Satellite 86.

Music was part of their family growing up. Their father was into writing songs and he taught Mike how to play the guitar. His two sisters are also musical. They all took music lessons and would play guitar and piano together as kids. Some elements of those days find their way

into The Matthews Brothers' current songs.

"We used to attend pot luck dinners the next road over when we were kids — almost like an old time thing, playing fiddle, spoons, stuff like that," said Matthews, who has incorporated some foot stomps and lyrics from those days. "Looking back, I wanted to bottle it up, capture the imagery to make the sound we wanted to make. A lot of it is image and feeling based."

Fairley has been attracting interest in the festival from across Ontario.

Of the bands, around 15 to 20 are local.

"We've been getting calls at our office from way up north — it is definitely attracting people from different regions of Ontario," said Fairley. "We received tons of submissions and we picked the best."

For a full festival schedule and tickets to the kick off party or headlining concert, visit www.newmusicfest.ca. - The Barrie Examiner


"The Matthews Brothers Interview"

I was lucky enough to interview Cole Matthews of the Matthews Brothers. Cole was nice enough to answer some questions and give some advice to those who are in a band or are thinking of making a band. It really gave me a good insight and was hoping that the SYR Blog Army would think about releasing a demo. - Virgin Mobile Canada Says Screw You Recession

http://www.screwyourecession.ca/2009/09/the-matthews-brothers-interview/ - Virgin Mobile Canada says Screw You Recession


"The Matthews Brothers @ The Horseshoe Tavern, April 22, 2011"

"Toronto band The Matthews Brothers opened up for The Submarines, and showed the crowd what Toronto music is all about."

- Kayley Luftig, Turn Up My Photo


"A Couple To Keep Your Eye On..."

Their background in classical music training has made them very adept at crafting music that is emotional and steeped in atmosphere. The three songs that they have up on their myspace page display an incredible amount of maturity and contradict the whole idea of an adjustment period. I suppose if you need to place a label on something, then I would put them in the folk / rock area of the musical world, but overall, I would simply label them as a good little band that is very easy to consume and digest. They spend a lot of time at the quiet farmhouse and, apparently, this is where they gain a lot of their inspiration, which gives their music an incomparable warmth that feels especially good on those blustery winter snow days. I'm looking forward to warming up with their CD and a hot chocolate, but it looks like the recording of their full-length is going to take some time as they strive to gain perfection but in a financially feasible way. However, if their demos are any indication, it'll be worth waiting for. - Toronto Music Blog: It's Not The Band I Hate, It's Their Fans


"A Couple To Keep Your Eye On..."

Their background in classical music training has made them very adept at crafting music that is emotional and steeped in atmosphere. The three songs that they have up on their myspace page display an incredible amount of maturity and contradict the whole idea of an adjustment period. I suppose if you need to place a label on something, then I would put them in the folk / rock area of the musical world, but overall, I would simply label them as a good little band that is very easy to consume and digest. They spend a lot of time at the quiet farmhouse and, apparently, this is where they gain a lot of their inspiration, which gives their music an incomparable warmth that feels especially good on those blustery winter snow days. I'm looking forward to warming up with their CD and a hot chocolate, but it looks like the recording of their full-length is going to take some time as they strive to gain perfection but in a financially feasible way. However, if their demos are any indication, it'll be worth waiting for. - Toronto Music Blog: It's Not The Band I Hate, It's Their Fans


"Mix 97.1 FM Interview (post interview writeup & audio link)"

"This morning we had two fresh faces in the Mix Studios. Queen’s grads The Matthew Brothers re-introduce us to the kind of music that makes you stomp your feet and feel good!"

Audio of the live in-studio interview: http://www.mix97.com/morningcrew/?s=the+matthews+brothers - Mix 97.1 FM


"The Matthews Brothers - The Horseshoe"

"Rock meshed with folk-beauty, rich vocals, passionate energy, and a soaring spirit that takes this journey sky-high into the atmosphere... this is music that’s both joyous and introspective, a powerful statement from these rootsy-troubadours from Ontario. This is a sound that's irresistible in it's vibrancy, harmonies, and atmospheric ode to classic Americana. Wonderful.

Showcasing their roots heart and rural spirit, this is a sound that's irresistible in it's vibrancy, harmonies, and atmospheric ode to classic Americana. Wonderful."

- The Lonely Vagabond, Exclaim! - Lonely Vagabond, Exclaim!


"The Matthews Brothers @ Alfie's Underground"

"The Matthews Brothers sound is raw and fresh, with emphasis given to composition, flow and balance... A captivating and intimate live show..."
- Diatribe Magazine, Queen's University


Discography

Releases (Available on iTunes, Sam the Record Man):

The Night We Left Home (Aug. 22, 2011)

The Matthews Brothers (Self-Titled EP, Oct. 2010)

--

Airplay:
Song placement on television show, Degrassi. Song, 'Gem' featured on episode, April 2012.

Song, 'What If I' currently on regular rotation on very popular Mix 97.1 FM & CJBQ 800AM

Regular play on CBC Radio 3, Sirus Satellite 86

Live in-studio radio interview: http://www.mix97.com/morningcrew/?s=the+matthews+brothers

Receive airplay across Canada throughout colleges & universities.

Radio feature on Rouge Radio, Canadian Football Radio: http://rougeradio.com/broadcasts.html

Photos

Bio

From Canada's backwoods of rural decay & beaten barroom pianos, The Matthews Brothers are a six-piece folk / alt-country band from Hastings County, Ontario.

The band recently had their song "Hungry Heart" open Canada's iconic television show, Hockey Night In Canada.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k57Z6RX0zZk

This past summer they played the North by Northeast (NXNE) 2012 Festival, The Toronto Festival of Beer 2012, and, in the fall, The 100th Grey Cup Festival 2012.

The band plays and records their music in their run down farm house, out of which two recordings have been released (avail. on iTunes & Sam The Record Man). These recordings feature some of the most lively, countryside-inspired music that has live performances described as "a floor stomping, knee slapping, huge sounding country/folk style of indie-rock that truly has unlimited potential." - Two Way Monologues

Taken to the road, the six-piece band fills the stage & air with a folk/rock show of slamming intensity where the odd barroom piano solo, some desperately strummed guitars, and hollering harmonies culminate to an atmosphere of a simpler time of fun-filled barn & tavern parties.

The band can often be seen at The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern (opening for NQ Arbuckle, Warped 45's, The Submarines) where they play many of their favourite shows in Toronto. This venue has also seen them featured at Indie Week Festival 2009 - which soon after led to the invitation to return once again (2010).

Playing at the 2011 Barrie New Music Festival, the band won awards for Best Song (What If I) and Best Folk act. They also played The Shelter Valley Folk Festival 2011.

Song placement on television show, Degrassi. Song, 'Gem' featured on episode, "Need You Now

The Matthews Brothers are currently recording some more.