The ever prolific Matt Joe Gow continues to put out essential Antipodean roots music releases and is seemingly constantly on the road in Australia and Aotearoa, whether it’s solo, with his band The Dead Leaves or in collaboration with the likes of the exceptional Kerryn Fields and others.

Most recently, Matt followed up his Music Victoria Award-winning album Between Tonight & Tomorrow with an album of acoustic renditions of songs from his previous studio albums. Recorded live in one take, The Woodshed Sessions finds Matt in acoustic trio mode with two of his Dead Leaves compadres – Andy Pollock and Katya Harrop. The session was directed by Lucas Packett and with Fields as assistant camera operator.

The sole single ‘Grand Ambition’ first featured on Joe Gow’s 2016 album Seven Years and I’m very happy to be able to premiere it today on PTW. The song, originally recorded with a driving beat, upbeat tempo and 70s Americana sparkle, finds itself reworked in to  a Southern, soul infused groover set over a lush piano. Once again with layered three-part harmonies but this time alight with vibrant acoustic guitar work. 

Elsewhere on the album, produced by Matt and Andy, you’ll hear a completely reworked take on Between Tonight & Tomorrow‘s ‘Just This One‘, the once angry acoustic rocker is transformed in to a mournful southern gospel piano ballad. One of Matt’s most popular songs, ‘Sweet Collapse‘, is given renewed focus on its harmonies and melodic tag line, ‘I Let You Be‘, from Matt’s 2009 debut album The Messenger is stripped back to give it a dark and haunting feel, and closer ”Til My Whole Heart Bursts‘ is now in two parts with the outro focusing on the impactful lyrics of life, loss, rebirth that are a central theme of Matt’s work. 

The Woodshed Sessions will be available on digital and CD via Bandcamp from February 9th and across streaming services from February 16th.

Matt launches the album with The Dead Leaves at George Lane in Melbourne on Saturday February 10th – FB EVENT