Melissas Missteak Presents: MATT ANDERSEN with Mariel Buckley

Melissa’s Missteak Presents

MATT ANDERSEN

With Special Guest Mariel Buckley

“The Hammer & The Rose Tour”

Friday, February 27, 2026

Mellissa’s Missteak, 201 Banff Avenue

Doors: 7:00pm.

Concert: 8:00pm

When Matt Andersen steps on stage, he brings a lifetime of music to every note he plays. His latest album, The Hammer & The Rose, is a veritable garden of heart; a (mostly) delicate collection of tender folk and stirring soul numbers that find the New Brunswick-born songwriter thoughtfully tending to the most important things in life. Andersen’s stage presence is informed by decades of cutting his teeth in dusty clubs, dim-lit bars, and grand theatres all over the world, delivering moving performances that run the gamut from intimate to wallshaking. In the studio, he’s always brought the same attention to detail and commitment to craft as he has to his live show, and the result - a multi-faceted and poignant body of work - has led him to amass over 33 million streams on Spotify and 30 million views on YouTube. In addition to headlining major festivals, clubs and theatres throughout North America, Europe, and Australia, he has shared the stage and toured with Marcus King, Beth Hart, Marty Stuart, Greg Allman, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Randy Bachman, Serena Ryder, Tab Benoit, and more. Andersen nabbed the 2013 and 2016 European Blues Awards for Best Solo/Acoustic Act, was the first ever Canadian to take home top honours in the solo category at the 2010 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, won the CIMA Road Gold award in 2015, and has won multiple Maple Blues Awards. Matt Andersen & The Big Bottle of Joy was nominated for a Juno Award in 2024.

https://youtu.be/bEonAtPpL1s?si=7DMDLJwX1GBegUrZ

Mariel Buckley

Unapologetically genuine, wry and soft-hearted, Mariel Buckley has planted her flag firmly as asongwriter who’s in it for the long haul. She aims to find herself squarely on the fringes and exactlywhere she belongs: singing andwriting songs for the underdogs. Raised in the heart of Canada’srodeo and country music scenes, she was destined to challenge the boundaries around her, bothin life and in song. With a fearless spirit that’s consistently broken through both genre and personalbarriers, Buckley’s unique blend of angst-driven alt-folk has made her a standout artist, offering afresh and dynamic perspective on modern Americana music.For herlatest album,Strange Trip Ahead, Buckley set her sights on Nashville, working with alt-Americana mastermind producer,Jarrad K(Ruston Kelly, Lucie Silvas, Fancy Hagood, Goo GooDolls) to bringher third studioalbum to life. The nine tracks explore the all-too-relatablevulnerability of existing in the uncertain-within one’s life, relationships, and career.Mariel notes,“this album has some genre deviations with the signature "sad guy" sauce remaining true. I usedto steal my older brother's CDs in the early 00's, and found myself pretty deep in the alt-rock ofthat era. In many ways, this album was my gateway drug to indie rock. Grief, loss, liminal spacesand of course, another song about doing it in the car.”Written largely during a reflective period in Edmonton and finished in Nashville,Strange TripAheadis a meditation on the push and pull of creative life—the exhaustion and exhilaration ofpursuing meaning through art. From the weary confessions of “Vending Machines,” to the waterynostalgia of “Swim Practice,” to the gut-punch self-awareness of “Sickof Myself,” Buckleycaptures the beauty and burden of staying human through change.“Ultimately, this album is one about choices, and accepting the snack that falls whenwe push the button,” Buckley says. “I hope you find yourself somewhere in it. Hangon, buddy—the best is yet to come.”Serving as the album’s emotional centerpiece, “Anvil” captures the tension of life-alteringdecisions in a relationship—specifically around the question of whether to have children. Co-written with Nashville songwriterRobby Hechtand featuring Buckley’s brotherT. Buckleyonmandolin and background vocals, the track is one of the most meticulously constructed on therecord.Buckley’s past albums, 2022’s Polaris Music Prize nominatedEverywhere I Used To Beand2018’sDriving In The Dark, have been praised by notable publications and recognized withprestigious accolades. Her work has charted on Sirius XM, college and campus stations acrossNorth America, and with local Canadian favs CKUA and CBC radio.Buckley’s livejourney hasbeen a strong, steady climb, touring across Canada, America and the EU/UK as well asshowcasing at SXSW, Americanafest, The Philadelphia Folk Fest and Folk AllianceInternational.She’s supported the stage for John Moreland, Orville Peck, k.d.lang, River Shook,Matt Andersen,Adam Baldwin, Kelsey Waldon and The Bros Landreth