Matthew Byrne was born into a family of music makers from Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, and his repertoire is heavily influenced by this unique singing tradition.
It is a tradition that thrives on the song – the weaving of a great story with a beautiful melody – and Matthew’s music reminds us how satisfying traditional songs can be when stripped down to these basic elements. His live performance offers tasteful and honest interpretations of folk music delivered with polished guitar work and powerful vocals. His repertoire transcends time and place and offers a collection of traditional songs from both sides of the Atlantic.
In Spring 2010, Matthew released his first studio album, “Ballads” (produced by Billy Sutton), and has since gained considerable attention from the traditional music community. “Ballads” resulted in three MusicNL award nominations in Fall 2010: Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, and Rising Star New Artist/Group of the Year, as well as multiple showcasing opportunities at the 2011 East Coast Music Awards.
Since bursting on to the trad scene in 2010 with his debut recording, Ballads, Matthew has swiftly earned his place as one of Canada’s most authentic and vital traditional voices. In that time, Matthew’s music has traveled well beyond the rugged shores of his homeland. His role as singer and song-finder in The Dardanelles has brought him to many major international festival stages including Winnipeg Folk Festival, Celtic Connections in Glasgow, UK, and The Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland, Australia.