51°µÍø

Fuchsia Dragon | [email protected]

Former Jasperite Travis Matthews has made his mark in the flourishing Edmonton music scene.

He has hosted open stages at The Dirtbag Cafe and performed solo at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, and now the singer-songwriter is coming back to Jasper, and bringing his dad along for the show.

Dad Gordie was the lead guitarist for K.D Lang and The Reclines from 1983 to 1990, and inspired Travis to pick up the instrument for himself. Travis’ music has been likened to Paul Simon and Jack Johnson, and the musician said he strives to deliver passionate and sincere performances that make everyone feel included. He had a sincere conversation with Fuchsia Dragon.

Travis and Gordie Matthews
Olive Bistro
May 30
$10 with a donation to the food bank

51°µÍø: You’ve performed in Jasper before?

Travis: I’ve typically performed at the open mic nights on Fridays but used to work at the Olive Bistro and Darrell (Huculak, owner of the Olive) has set me up with a few shows there. This will be my first ticketed event.

Fitz: How did the food bank idea come about?

Travis: We are trying to set up a tour for later in July and coming up with ways to do some good while we are on the road. We are starting off with the food bank idea because it is easy and does some good straight away.

Fitz: Where are you with the music right now?

Travis: Right now we are based out of Edmonton and I have been doing solo stuff, I’ve been recording an album last winter and I’m looking forward to releasing it sometime in September.

Usually I’m a solo performer at folk festivals, then I was looking for ways to make my live show a bit more interesting and it turns out my dad is quite the guitar player as well so we decided to collaborate.

Fitz: How long have you guys been performing together?

Travis: Technically my whole life but recently we have been putting together shows and stuff. Our first show was last November.

Fitz: How has your show changed since he joined?

Travis: It’s interesting. We both play guitar but my guitar playing is fairly intricate and we were struggling to find a way to bring another instrument into it. Dad picked up his old baritone guitar, a lower tone, and fills in the lower end of the spectrum so does bass and lead guitar, we are back and forth covering bases.

Fitz: What’s is like performing with your dad?

Travis: It’s pretty funny. We both have the same sense of humour - he is not afraid to make fun of me on stage.

Fitz: Who are you inspired by?

Travis: It may sound cheesy but my dad was my favourite guitar player growing up. Hearing him play when I went to sleep, going to shows, he has always just impressed me a lot.

For bands, I really dig the Barr Brothers, a folk band from Montreal. The way they design their live shows, their songs are interesting, it’s something I want to incorporate.

Fitz: What’s your creative process?

Travis: When I’m stressed about something of really happy about something I just pick up the guitar to express myself. I never sit down and think I’m going to write a song, it comes about naturally. It’s cool because I write about stuff that means a lot to me rather than it being forced.

Fitz: What do you feel is the best song you’ve released and why?

Travis: Actually one I wrote a long time ago. I released a song called Sarah about me, but actually about my parents and struggles they had but came out on top. That’s the first song that meant a whole lot to me and people really seemed to be responding.

Fitz: What can we expect from your show in Jasper?

Travis: It will be a bit of everything. A song about my grandmother, about delivering pizzas, about saving the whales. I’ve got dance songs, sad songs, happy songs.