New stompin’ ground
Chad Matthews performed last month in Toronto as iconic Canadian performing
A smile stretches across Chad Matthew face as he describes walking into one of the popular “stompin’” grounds of the late country music icon, Stompin’ Tom Connors, last month.
ELMSDALE – A smile stretches across Chad Matthew face as he describes walking into one of the popular “stompin’” grounds of the late country music icon, Stompin’ Tom Connors, last month.
Matthews, who portrays Connors in summertime dinner theatre productions at the Stompin’ Tom Centre in Skinners Pond, P.E.I., was in Toronto for three shows at Hugh’s Room, guest of renowned tenor John McDermott.
While there, he was reminded through social media that Stompin’ Tom would’ve been 83 on Feb. 9.
“I’m like, ‘Wow, I’m going to the Horseshoe Tavern dressed up as him,’” said Matthews.
The Horseshoe Tavern was a regular stop for Stompin’ Tom early in the singer-songwriter’s career. Matthews saw the photos to prove it.
“People were looking at me and nodding their heads,” he said.
Although he didn’t perform while at the Horseshoe, he did manage to capture the milestone with a few photos on the tavern’s stage.
Matthews will need to get a new piece of plywood to stomp on for his 2019 dinner theatre performances in Skinners Pond, though, as he cut the old piece down to fit into his carry-on luggage and then left it in the Hugh’s Room as a souvenir.
The Elmsdale resident, who learned to play guitar listening to Stompin’ Tom tunes and later was part of a Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash tribute show, was impressed with how well his Stompin’ Tom performances were received in Toronto.
“Yeah, people up there still like Tom. Right from the first strum of the guitar they were clapping and liking it.”
Matthews gave interviews about his Stompin’ Tom impersonations with Toronto’s news channel, CP24, and SiriusXM while in Ontario. He’s not sure where all the exposure will take him, but he admits he wants to keep the Stompin’ Tom tribute going. He will be back for a third summer as “Tom” for the Stompin’ Tom dinner theatres, helping to bring to life a third Erin Dunn-Keefe script, “My Ode to the Road - A Stompin’ Tom Story.” That show will debut July 1.
The show that was introduced last year, My Stompin’ Grounds, is set to return June 17.
Anne Arsenault, general manager of Tignish Initiatives, operators of the Stompin’ Tom Centre, said they are giving a rest to the show that debuted two years ago when the centre opened but, based on its popularity, she not ruling out its return some day. Matthews will perform as Tom in both summer productions.
“I don’t know how we lucked out there,” Arsenault said of Matthews. “He enjoys it and he takes pride in it.”
Although taking a show on the road is not something the centre is considering, Arsenault agrees with the assessment of Matthews as Tom.
“He’s got it down pat. He’s studied it well.”
Matthews is preparing for a show this Saturday at Sidewalk Grill in Alberton and admits there will be some Stompin’ Tom songs in his set list. His son, Joel, will be making his drumming debut. Also performing during Saturday’s show will be Keelin Wedge, Danny Drouin and Wade Carragher.
He has also been recording some Stompin’ Tom songs and some original tunes at Up West Productions in Alberton.