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The great U.S. songsmith…touching , beautifully crafted songs…an epic study of sand and celluloid.

UNCUT, October 2011 (Four Stars)

A fierce, sharply drawn portrait…surgical songwriting skills…pick of the week…New Yorker, 9/8/11

Impressive…Russell teams with Lucinda Williams and Calexico on an emotionally potent cover of a Bob Dylan classic…USA Today , Pick of the Week, Aug. 30, 2011

#2 on Mojo’s Top 10 playlist, November 2011. “Brilliantly delivered….”

Tom Russell is the last wandering Beat…a prolific and venerable artist writing the best songs of his career….impeccably written.

San Francisco Chronicle 10/23/11

Essential! The Globe and The Mail (CANADA) Aug. 30.,2011

…the best songwriter of my generation….a conviction reinforced by Mesabi…raises and sets the bar for contemporary singer-songwriters. #1 Folk Album for 2011 - Mike Regenstreif, Montreal Gazette, Sing Out

A crafted treasure of engaging nobility. The Boston Globe

A master storyteller triumphs. Chicago Sun Times, 9/29/11

The album consistently confirms Russell’s status as one of the best singer-songwriter’s of our time. The Washington Post 9/23/11

On his last three albums—Love and Fear, Blood and Candle Smoke, and now Mesabi—Russell has come up with a late-career flurry that rivals what Dylan himself achieved with Time Out of Mind, Love and Theft, and Modern Times. Like Dylan, Russell constructs his songs from the building blocks of classic American folk and blues traditions. POP MATTERS 9/11

Without doubt, Matt's debut RMC performance last year was one of the highlights of our 2012 programme and we are delighted to have him back.

New Brunswick, Canada's Matt Andersen has a larger than life showmanship that has been earning him a fervent and steadfast audience wherever he graces the stage. Matt's sprawling blues, roots and rock musical hybrid with his sorrowing and soulful voice and astonishing guitar-playing has sparked a phenomenal buzz on Canada's East Coast and that grass roots word of mouth cannot be contained any longer!

In the past few years, Matt has released an introductory EP along with two critically-acclaimed live fans' favorites, the full length studio release "Second Time Around", "Something In-between" which garnered two East Coast Music awards for Matt (Male Solo Artist of the Year and Blues Recording of the Year), "Piggyback" with harmonica virtuoso Mike Stevens and "Live at the Phoenix Theatre". Along with a very busy touring schedule as a headliner at major festivals, clubs and theatres throughout North America and the UK, Matt has also shared the stage and toured with David "Honeyboy" Edwards, America, Randy Bachman, the late Bo Diddley, Little Feat and a host of others.

Matt has just finished his fourth successful UK Tour along with airplay on the BBC and in various prominent blues and roots publications. Matt's hectic touring schedule includes over 200 live dates a year that encompass North America and the rest of the world. In December 2009, Matt performed on the CBC Vinyl Cafe tour that is hosted by Stuart Mclean and included major centers between Ottawa and Victoria to capacity crowds. The Vinyl Cafe is a radio variety show on CBC radio, BBC radio 7 and U.S. public radio stations.

On Jan 24, 2010 Matt won the 26th edition of the 2010 International Blues Challenge (IBC) in the birthplace of Rock n' Roll and home of the blues, Memphis, TN. Matt was sponsored for this event by the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival in Fredericton, NB in the solo/duo category. Blues musicians from all over the world including 39 states, 12 countries and 5 continents were chosen by their respected Blues societies to compete in venues on the world-famous Beale Street. As the big winner and first Canadian to ever win the coveted first place position, Matt opens the door to the U.S. market and the larger world stage! Some of the prizes Matt won include: cash, 1st place International Blues plaque, large profile American festival gigs, festivals in France, Italy and a slot on the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruises.