Broadcast Date – November 5, 2025

Our chats will be just that very conversational, not entirely sensible and with any luck totally enjoyable. And you know here’s the thing about this little adventure I’ve been on for the last near decade and a half, it’s given me the great fortune of crossing paths with some extraordinary talents, and though it may have been a good many years between the first and the next, those opportunities stay with me. And so naturally, when those people pop up on my radar through a show on TV, a tune on the radio or tour news on my socials, those moments come rushing back and I love being able to say – “oh, I know them and have mercy, are they awesome!” I mention that in lieu of today’s guest because he’s a fella whom I first interviewed all the way back in 2012. I was in his home province of Newfoundland and Labrador filming for SEA AND BE SCENE TV and even though it’s been 13 years – give or take a month – I’ve been out here adoring his music, promoting his appearances and looking forward to the time when we could reconvene in celebration of his creativity. And what better occasion than just days before he hits the road for his annual tour with Sherman Downey? Plus 2025 saw the release of a stellar new album called STEALING TIME which just last week received 2 Canadian Folk Music Award nominations – for Traditional Album of the Year and Traditional Singer of the Year. Indeed, our timing couldn’t be better – so we’ll talk about all of that and then some, including how in the world he ended up in Sheffield, UK’s famed Yellow Arch Studios with folk legend Martin Simpson at the helm. We’ll also learn about his process for choosing the tunes and how it felt when they all came to life for the album. We’ll get the scoop on how it feels to be in the band with his mates The Dardenelles, what it’s like on the road with Mr.Downey and how it feels to sit centre stage as a solo artist. PLUS we’ll get to first things first – play a beyond overdue round of Insights in 10 and naturally spin as much of his marvellous music and we can within the hour – so with all that ahead we best get to it. Here’s my telephone conversation with the one and only Matthew Byrne. (you’ll find the player at the bottom of the post.)

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You’ll find Matthew Byrne online at his website matthewbyrne.net on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube too.

Catch Matthew Byrne in Concert

November 7, 2025 – With Sherman Downey at The Cardinal Room Fredericton, NB

November 8, 2025 – With Sherman Downey atThe Union Street, Berwick, NS

November 9, 2025 – With Sherman Downey at Old Confidence Lodge, Riverport, NS

November 28, 2025 – at NAC Fourth Stage Ottawa, ON

For tour details and tickets click here.

For more on Matthew’s band The Dardenelles AND FOR TICKETS TO THEIR CHRISTMAS SHOW visit thedardanelles.com

To see my first interview with Matthew you can watch the video below – that’s part 2 of Episode 102 at ROOTS, RANTS + ROARS

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We played some great songs on the show today and they’re all available on iTunes. To add a copy to your collection – just click on the title. “Lovely MaryAnne,” “Jessie Monroe,” and “Canoodle Doodle” by Matthew Byrne, and “Piccadilly Sand Farewell” by The Dardenelles

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