Famed Co. Down singer-songwriter Matt McGinn returns to Belfast on 20 October to preview a selection of tracks from his forthcoming album Behind Every Door , alongside other favourites.
Released on 27 October, the album features upbeat, foot-stomping, melody-drenched songs with swirling fiddles, heart-wrenching ballads and uilleann pipes. While McGinn’s blend of folk, alt-country and soul and his personal, character-laden songwriting are in evidence, it’s his warm, husky voice and emotional storytelling that makes his live performance so compelling.
Pushed entirely from his comfort zone, it took an unnerving and potentially intimidating musical collaboration to jolt Matt from a period of musical depression to create his sixth and arguably finest album to date, released 27 October. His previous release had enjoyed Album of the Week status across national radio and a plethora of glowing reviews, and yet, he says, “the songs had dried up. I just couldn’t write.”
A Community Engagement programme in East Belfast then invited McGinn to take part in a project that would see him work with a Loyalist flute band from the area. McGinn is from a Catholic background so admits to having found the idea terrifying.
However, as the collaborators connected, they realised they were all affected by the trauma of growing up against a backdrop of conflict and had far more in common than differences, both in music and life. The creative floodgates opened kick-starting a session of outstanding songwriting delivering a set of beautiful songs, some of which will be performed in this special show.
But without doubt, the live performance of the album’s closing track, the staggeringly beautiful The Turning of The Tide is the most powerful. In 2022 Matt was commissioned by Northern Ireland Screen to compose a Suite to celebrate their Digital Archives, and it’s there he uncovered old footage of a disabled man, Willie Campbell, busking the streets of Belfast playing the musical saw. The song is inspired by Campbell who busked for 40 years until he died in 1969. His favourite spot was outside Belfast City Hall where he would play through all weathers with a fine tone and a welcoming smile.
Tickets available here: strandartscentre.com/events/stranded-matt-mcginn/