Matt McCartney to Play Boots & Hearts
Mike Davies
Peterborough Examiner
Peterborough Petes forward Matt McCartney will perform before potentially thousands of people – onstage rather than ice – next week.
McCartney, 19, is percussionist in a band called Northern Roads (formerly 2AM) which landed a second stage slot 1:30 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Boots & Hearts country music festival at Clarington’s Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.
The three-day festival is expected to attract 110,000 spectators and includes country stars Toby Keith, Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton.
McCartney and bandmates – brother Mitch and Scarborough buddies Rob Almeida and Connor Allen – will perform six songs in a 30-minute set including four originals from a CD recorded in the last year. Their grassroots sound crosses country, pop and rock formats.
“The band can’t wait,” McCartney said. “We’ve been preparing for this all summer. It’s really good experience and gets our name out there.”
McCartney says a few buddies joked he might have to give up hockey if the band hits it big.
“This is definitely a good break for us and we’re looking to make the most of our opportunity,” he said.
The festival’s promoter is Peterborough native Shannon McNevan who also assist Tim Coles with Petes’ chaplain duties. McCartney’s teammate Cameron Lizotte slipped McNevan a copy of the band’s CD several months ago. McNevan was impressed enough to offer McCartney a festival slot. The band has been performing in clubs in the GTA and at a recent Ribfest in preparation.
“I’ve told Shannon a million times how grateful we are. We owe him one, for sure.”
McNevan said he agreed to listen not having great expectations.
“I put it on and it was infectious, very much like Matt’s personality,” said McNevan. “I showed it to two or three people and they loved it and were asking to burn it to show friends. I’ve never seen them live but I can’t wait to see if Matt’s personality comes out on stage like it does in hockey.”
McNevan says part of his mandate is to give unproven performers an opportunity.
“That’s kind of our favourite part of this whole thing,” McNevan said. “My brother (Trevor) is lead singer for Thousand Foot Krutch and having grown up in Peterborough I saw how hard people have to work to get a chance in music. If you play hockey from Peterborough, and you’re good enough, you’re going to have a chance to be famous and play at a high level. If you’re in a band from Peterborough, you have to work really hard. It’s so hard to be found and be seen.”
McCartney says there are parallels between playing hockey and music in front of large crowds.
“After the first song starts the nerves go away, kind of like hockey. You’re nervous waiting to go on the ice but you get your first shift out of the way and all the nerves are gone and you’re into the game,” he said. “At the same time there are differences. In hockey, not as much of the spotlight is on you because it’s a team thing. With the band, there are only four of you and all eyes are on you at all times. I’d relate it to taking a penalty shot where you’re the only one on the ice.”
Original article reprinted with permission from the Peterborough Examiner.
