The best performing songwriters, the ones who sound like they really mean what they're singing about, tend to come from areas known for hard times and hard work. Like say, Perth-Andover, a rural blue-collar village in the Canadian Maritime province of New Brunswick-the home of acclaimed singer-songwriter and guitarist Matt Andersen.

"Through Eric Clapton I got into B.B. King, which led me to the Chicago electric stuff and eventually back to the Mississippi Delta guys," says the 30-year-old singer. "What really hit me most about the blues was its total honesty."

Matt began to build his name on the Canadian circuit, his imposing voice and slashing slide guitar making a monolithic impression on audiences. He debuted with 2002's One Size Never Fits, and followed with the likewise-warmly received Solo at Session (2004) and Live at Liberty House (2005).

In 2010 he became the first Canadian to win Memphis's famed International Blues Challenge, which led to festival dates in France, Italy, and the US, where he toured with Old Crow Medicine Show as well as Randy Bachman, Bo Diddley, Little Feat, America, Loverboy and April Wine.

As Matt Andersen continues to do what he was born to do-play his exhilarating music-fans can look forward to many great nights, indeed.

December 2011 saw Matt embark on his first tour of Australia to coincide with the release of Coal Mining Blues on The Code One Recordings label and was hailed as the highlight at this year's Woodford Festival.