“If you pulled up to a drive-thru to buy a burger, you could expect to be asked, “Want fries with that?” If you pull in to a concert to hear a favourite fiddler or band, expect to be asked, “Want Jon Matthews with that?” – The Buzz, September 2009

Few people on the Prince Edward Island music scene could claim to be any busier than Jon Matthews. A native Cape Bretoner who moved to P.E.I. in 2002, Matthews has carved out a full time career in music by wearing a number of different hats: singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer and broadcaster. He wears each of them very comfortably.

With two solo albums to his credit, Matthews’ songs have won him accolades both globally (honourable mention, 2007 Singer Songwriter Awards) and in his chosen home province (four nominations, including Songwriter of the Year, 2007 Music PEI Awards). He has appeared at prestigious venues such as The Stan Rogers Folk Festival and the PEI International Shellfish Festival, and opened for, or performed with, such Canadian music luminaries as George Canyon, J.P. Cormier, The Barra MacNeils, Dave Gunning, Rose Cousins, Nathan Wiley and James Keelaghan.

Onstage, you just never know what role he’ll be playing: frontman, guitarist, bassist, drummer/percussionist, or background vocalist. That versatility has kept Matthews constantly in demand and on the move. As a multi-instrumentalist, he has worked with a long list of collaborators, most notably Cynthia MacLeod, The Celtic Ladies, and Colette Cheverie, performing in concert halls and festivals in Canada and the U.S. and at major events like the East Coast Music Awards and Ontario Council of Folk Festivals conference.

Then there’s his work in the recording studio. Jon is owner/operator of Big Grey Sound Studio, winner of the prestigious Music PEI Studio of the Year award for the past three years, and a 2009 and 2010 East Coast Music Award nominee for Studio of the Year. Jon himself was nominated for 2009 and 2010 ECMA Engineer of the Year for his efforts in the studio, and has produced, engineered, or performed on albums by top-notch artists like Joey Kitson (Rawlins Cross), Meaghan Blanchard, and Grass Mountain Hobos. In his “spare time”, he is an on-air personality for local radio station Magic 93.

For almost fifteen years, Jon Matthews has been cultivating his fan base onstage in pubs, theatres and festivals all over the country, including national and regional television appearances on CTV's Canada AM and Breakfast Television. He is an emotionally real performer and songwriter whose musicality and dedication to his craft will leave you spellbound and smiling.

“Please…don’t leave.”

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