Matt Blais makes Strathmore appearance

By Melissa Piche Times Contributor

When Matt Blais takes the stage at the Strathmore Travelodge on Feb. 28, the audience can expect more than just a concert – they can expect connection.

The performance is part of the Musical Arts Society concerts, known for bringing high-calibre musicians into intimate, community-driven spaces, something Blais values deeply.

“One of my heroes is Joni Mitchell and she famously said that she preferred performing to small audiences – where you can see people’s faces because it feels very human,” Blais said. “I’ve always resonated with that. I perform for myself, but I’m also fuelled by that connection.”

Over a career that has spanned large festivals and quiet listening rooms alike, Blais has come to appreciate the intimacy of smaller venues.

“I’ve performed for 12,000 people and 12 people,” he said. “Each has its merits but the human element of it is really special. I’m not sure that big crowds have that same intimacy.”

That intimacy shapes how he prepares for shows like the upcoming Strathmore performance. 

“I love words, first and foremost. I consider myself a writer more than a musician,” Blais explained. “If I know they’re going to be listening then I want them to hang on every word. I’ll tell a few more stories and choose songs that have a deeper message.”

The Strathmore show will include new material, reflecting a creative period Blais describes as ongoing and deeply personal. Recognition such as Calgary Songwriter of the Year in 2024 has affirmed his path but he sees accolades as motivation rather than arrival.

“Winning that award was something to put on my mantle,” he said, “but really it was a push forward. It was saying, ‘Okay, the work’s not done. You’re on to something. There are more songs to write.’”

For first-time listeners Blais hopes the experience offers both release and belonging.

“I hope there will be some laughter and some tears or at least some introspection,” he said. “If they can forget about their worries for an hour and a half or two hours and leave smiling, feeling like they really belonged in that moment, then my mission was accomplished.”

Opening the concert is Strathmore-based singer-songwriter Greg Rider whose path to music has been anything but linear.

“Music for me was kind of a Plan B, I never really saw myself becoming a musician,” Rider said, a late bloomer on guitar with his first open mic performance in Montreal. “My hands were shaking, my legs were shaking, my voice was trembling. I left that stage thinking it was the worst performance I ever could have done, but something caught hold of me.”

Rider’s journey took him from Ontario to Nashville, where he immersed himself in country music, before eventually finding his way west.

“It was a godsend for me to find Strathmore,” he said. “It was where I was meant to be.”

Tickets are $60 and can be purchased online by visiting the Strathmore Musical Arts website (strathmorearts.com). The Feb. 28 event begins with cocktails starting at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the show starting promptly at 7:30 p.m.