Matt Townsend began his music career in Burlington, VT, writing songs in secret and eventually moving on to busking and playing coffeehouses. Since then, Townsend has moved to Asheville and played stages in Boston and Ireland — and laid down the tracks for his debut album.
Townsend performs both as a solo artist and with a full band as Matt Townsend and the Wonder of the World. The band includes Rodney Easter on bass, Munchi Jones on drums and guest appearances by other musicians, including Casey Saulpaugh who plays steel guitar in this video for Xpress.
Townsend writes that his songs are “inspired by strange dreams and visions, the madness and beauty of the world around us, and the untouchable truth of the Universe itself.” Townsend’s debut album, Matt Townsend and the Wonder of the World, on which “Gratitude and Being” appears, is tentatively scheduled for June 20 but is also available for pre-order at MattTownsendMusic.com.
You can catch Townsend in a solo performance at the Town Pump Tavern in Black Mountain on Sunday, April 27. The full band will also be performed at The Odditorium on May 14. You can also connect with them on Facebook at facebook.com/MattTownsendMusic and look for other upcoming shows in Black Mountain, Brevard and Marshall.
This video web series is produced by Mountain Xpress and Sherwood’s Music. Check back each week for a new video featuring Asheville and WNC musicians.
Matt Townsend and Casey Saulpaugh of Matt Townsend and the Wonder of the World performing “Gratitude and Being” at Sherwood’s Music. (Carrie Eidson & Hayley Benton/ Mountain Xpress)
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