BRUCE MATTHEWS

So Far...

2014-04-12

Bruce Matthews is a Grand Rapids-based independent singer songwriter, who sings about the outdoors, family, brokenness, redemption, and his journey with God. In his youth, he played in bands in central New York and later travelled the hotel bar circuit in the Northeast and Midwest, before packing up his guitar and heading to graduate school. His career in outdoor and environmental education led to positions in New Hampshire, New York and Michigan, and eventually he became founding president of the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation in Washington, DC. He's now executive director of the North Country Trail Association (MI). It was not until 2007, when Matthews began attending Ada Bible Church, that he started playing regularly again. Original music began flooding out and soon Matthews was occasionally performing at local coffeehouses. The new album, So Far..., was released in March 2014 and features many band members including Bruce Matthews (acoustic guitar, vocals), Tony Muka (electric guitar), Ned Swift (bass), Jeff DeGroote (drums), Carmen DeGroote (vocals), Gary Wayne Wade (percussion), Jen "Sparkles" Dudik (vocals), Andy Ferris (keys, mandolin) and David Pomper (keys, accordion). The level of skill these musicians have is apparent through the album, particularly on tracks like "Ballad of Foxey Brown" and "Band Of Brothers."
- Richard Martin 

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Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.