Matt Minglewood is a powerful performer who hails from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Canada. He never gives less than everything he has each time he takes the stage.
After ten albums and twenty years of touring he has earned the respect and loyalty of thousands of devoted fans who love more than just his music --they love his heart. Over the years, Minglewood has sold more than 350,000 records in Canada alone and earned three gold awards and two Juno nominations two Canadian Country Music nominations, Lifetime Achievement Award from the East Coast Music Association and Canadian Country Music Songwriter of the Year award for Me and The Boys.
Whether he singing blues or rock, Matt remains one of Canada's great legends. Through his voice, he opens his heart to the world with each new song he writes. His music has always reflected his life around him and what he is feeling at the time. Nowhere is this more evident than on his new CD Drivin Wheel, which also is a return to his blues rock musical roots. His current band is laying down the bottom-end and giving the band its driving force, veteran bass player Grant Leslie, drummer Neil Robertson, one of Canada's premier drummers and the newest member Jim Ralph.
Over the years, from coast to coast, Minglewood brings both passion and hard-won perspective to their new CD, Drivin Wheel. It is a CD charged with the earnest energy of musicians who rocked night after night throughout the clubs of the North and have developed through their endless touring a loyal and dedicated fan base. Moreover, those years have given Minglewood a story to tell which like the best rock and blues songwriting is both personal and universal. In a cycle of 11 songs, with an impressive range of styles, Minglewood tells a tale of dreams, frustrations, acceptance and growth.
What you can expect from the Matt Minglewood and the boys today is a high-energy show that blends all the hits from the past with the new material from Drivin Wheel. Don't expect to go home early from one of Matt's shows!! He's at home on stage and closing time always comes too soon.
Minglewood's career momentum continues to grow, fueled out by sold-out shows across Canada. Matt recently performed with the Halifax Symphony for the internationally acclaimed Halifax Explosion concert was featured in the Tribute to Stan Rogers concert and CD and is featured in a duet with Rita MacNeil on her latest album A Thousand Nights. Matt is highly respected within the musical community as a performer and songwriter and has been busy appearing on many albums, producing other musician's work most notably Wayne Nicholson and The Cape Breton Summertime Revue. His song, Me & The Boys was recorded by southern-rock legend Charlie Daniels on his CD of the same name. Many major artists (such as Jeff Healy, Jimmie Rankin, Duck Dunn, (bass player for Eric Clapton, Neil Young and the Blues Brothers), Colin James, ZZ Top, Downchild Blues Band and Grammy award winning Blues harp player Charlie Musselwhite) just to name a few, have joined Matt on stage and CD. You never know who may show up to "sit in" on any given night!!
Matt Minglewood is a living legend in the Canadian music scene and his popularity across the country are a testimony to his timeless appeal that transcends all ages and musical boundaries. Ask any Minglewood fan why they keep going back to his shows time and time again -- it's because the band is always cookin' and you can count on a rockin' good time!!!
In 1998, Matt Minglewood participated in the Guitar Mania event in Calgary with such guitar greats as Amos Garrett, Jerry Donahue(Helecastors), Gaye Delorme Russ Broom, Ray Montana, Jack Semple and many other renowned guitarists. Look for his first release of all new material that is guaranteed to please new and old Minglewood fans alike.
