Review: Matt Cory Kicks Off Rockin’ the Fields with a High-Energy Performance
Matt Cory and his band wasted no time setting the tone for Rockin’ the Fields of Minnedosa on Friday, July 31, opening the festival with two energetic half-hour sets that immediately got the crowd engaged.
The first set showcased several of Cory’s original songs, highlighting material from his upcoming album Hollow Sun. Standout performances included his most-streamed Spotify track, “Last Dance,” the defiant rock anthem “Die on This Hill,” and a fitting finale with The Trews’ Canadian classic “Not Ready to Go.” The mix of original material and a crowd-favourite cover proved to be the perfect way to launch the weekend.
Returning later for their second set, the band raised the energy even higher. The set featured fan favourites from Cory’s catalogue, including the party anthem “Another Day in Paradise” and “Lit Up and Out of Line” from his debut EP Ghost Rising. The band was locked in from start to finish, delivering a tight, confident performance.
Frontman Matt Cory was impossible to ignore, commanding the stage with soaring guitar solos, nonstop movement, and the confidence of a seasoned performer. Whether shredding through solos or sprinting from one side of the stage to the other, he owned every moment.
The band closed their performance with a powerful rendition of Pearl Jam’s “Even Flow,” featuring an impressive bass solo from Kevin Blair that brought the set to an exciting finish. Guitarist Wes Lipischak and drummer Craig Metruk rounded out the lineup, providing the rock-solid musicianship that helped make the performance such a strong opening statement.
If the opening day was any indication, Matt Cory and his band didn’t just kick off Rockin’ the Fields—they set the standard for the weekend.
Manitoba Music Selects “Doomsday Clock” as Song of the Week
Brandon, Manitoba rock artist Matt Cory continues to build momentum ahead of the release of his upcoming album Hollow Sun, with his latest single “Doomsday Clock” being selected as Manitoba Music’s Song of the Week.
Featured across Manitoba Music’s social media platforms, the organization highlighted Cory’s newest release while showcasing an exciting stretch of performances that has seen the award-winning rocker share festival lineups with legendary Canadian acts including Helix, Headpins, Quiet Riot, Big Sugar, Crash Test Dummies, and Econoline Crush.
Released on July 17, Doomsday Clock offers fans a heavier glimpse into Hollow Sun. Blending crushing riffs, industrial textures and soaring melodies, the song explores a dystopian future where artificial intelligence threatens to replace human creativity. Inspired by the aggressive sounds of late-‘90s industrial rock while staying true to Cory’s signature songwriting style, the track has quickly become one of the standout songs from the forthcoming album.
“It’s incredibly exciting to have Manitoba Music recognize Doomsday Clock as Song of the Week,” says Cory. “As an independent artist, support like this means a lot, especially while introducing listeners to what Hollow Sun is all about.”
The recognition comes during a busy summer for Cory, who recently opened Rockin’ the Fields of Minnedosa with two high-energy performances before heading west for Living Skies Music Festival in Saskatchewan.
With more singles still to come and Hollow Sun slated for release this fall, Doomsday Clock marks another milestone in what continues to be a breakout chapter for the Brandon-based rock artist.
“Doomsday Clock” is available now on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and all major streaming platforms.
Matt Cory releases New Single “Doomsday Clock”
Matt Cory returns with his explosive new single “Doomsday Clock,” arriving on July 17, 2026, on all major streaming platforms. Serving as the latest preview of the upcoming album Hollow Sun, the track is the heaviest release from the record, blending crushing riffs, industrial grooves and a dystopian atmosphere.
Drawing inspiration from the late-’90s industrial metal movement, Doomsday Clock channels the aggressive energy and futuristic edge of bands like Powerman 5000, Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie. Lyrically, the song paints a bleak post-apocalyptic world where artificial intelligence has taken control, creativity has all but disappeared, and humanity has become complacent in its own extinction. Influenced in part by the Terminator films, the song explores the consequences of surrendering imagination and individuality to technology.
The recording features Craig Metruk on drums, Ian Morris on bass, and Matt Cory on guitar and vocals, delivering one of the most intense performances of the upcoming album.
Adding a personal touch to the release, the single’s artwork was illustrated by Matt’s sister, Emma Cory, bringing the song’s dark science-fiction vision to life through her original artwork.
Doomsday Clock is the next chapter in the story of Hollow Sun, giving listeners a glimpse into the album’s darker, heavier side before its full release.
Stream it on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2RZPfPYYPmlPnAMNi1vUvH?si=6c609a00d7a646c4
Matt Cory Delivers Career-Best Performance at Riverbank Discovery Centre on Canada Day
Matt Cory and his band celebrated Canada Day in style with a standout performance at the Riverbank Discovery Centre, delivering what was arguably their strongest live show to date. Featuring Matt Cory on guitar and vocals, Wes Lipischak on guitar and vocals, Kevin Blair on bass, and Craig Metruk on drums, the band showcased remarkable chemistry, confidence, and musicianship from the opening song to the final encore-worthy moment.
The setlist struck the perfect balance between celebrating Canadian rock and highlighting Matt Cory’s growing catalogue of original music. Canadian favourites such as Tall Trees by Matt Mays, Not Ready to Go by The Trews, Ahead by a Century by The Tragically Hip, and How You Remind Me by Nickelback had the audience singing along, while fitting seamlessly alongside the band’s original material.
Cory’s own songs stood proudly beside those classics, with powerful performances of Spark in the Sky, Runaway (Can’t Hear a Thing), Another Day in Paradise, and the title track from his upcoming album, Hollow Sun. The newer material demonstrated the band’s continued growth as songwriters and performers, earning an enthusiastic response from the Canada Day crowd.
Closing the afternoon with Pearl Jam’s Even Flow, the band left the audience on a high note with an energetic, hard-hitting finale that perfectly captured the spirit of the performance.
More than anything, this show highlighted just how far the group has come. The band sounded tighter than ever, with every member delivering a confident and polished performance that elevated the entire set. Their chemistry on stage was unmistakable, and the performance set a new benchmark for what audiences can expect moving forward.
With appearances at Rockin’ the Fields of Minnedosa and the Living Skies Festival in Yorkton still to come later this summer, Matt Cory and his band have built significant momentum. If their Canada Day performance at the Riverbank Discovery Centre is any indication, they’re heading into the rest of the festival season firing on all cylinders.
Matt Cory Announces New Instrumental Single "What If We Knew Everything? Pt.1" — Out June 5
Brandon, Manitoba-based guitarist and songwriter Matt Cory is set to release his latest instrumental composition, "What If We Knew Everything? Pt. 1," on Friday, June 5.
Drawing inspiration from the innovative guitar work of Robert Fripp and the unique possibilities of King Crimson's famed New Standard Tuning, Cory approached the instrument from a completely different perspective. Rather than studying the tuning academically or attempting to master its theory, he chose a more instinctive path.
"I wanted to play from the heart instead of the mind," says Cory. "Rather than analyzing the tuning, I simply explored it through feel, creating random shapes and following wherever the music wanted to go."
The result is a deeply atmospheric and emotional instrumental journey that moves through a wide range of moods and textures. At times mellow and dreamlike, at others abrasive, aggressive and unsettling, "What If We Knew Everything? Pt. 1" is designed to reflect one of humanity's greatest mysteries: what happens when we die.
Inspired by accounts of near-death experiences and the idea of consciousness continuing beyond the physical body, the song serves as a musical representation of the soul's journey into the unknown. Through shifting dynamics, evolving melodies, and unconventional guitar voicings, Cory invites listeners to imagine what it might feel like to cross from one existence into another.
Adding further depth to the recording are performances from longtime collaborators Wes Lipischak on keyboards and Craig Metruk on drums. Their contributions help shape the song's cinematic atmosphere, providing both the expansive textures and dynamic energy that carry listeners through the various stages of the musical journey.
"What If We Knew Everything? Pt.1" continues Matt Cory's tradition of creating music that balances technical exploration with emotional storytelling, offering listeners an immersive instrumental experience that is both thought-provoking and deeply personal.
"What If We Knew Everything? Pt.1" will be available on all major streaming platforms on Friday, June 5, 2026.
Matt Cory is set to perform at the Living Skies Music Festival as it expands into Yorkton, Saskatchewan for a full two-day event this summer.
Taking place August 14–15, the festival brings together a diverse lineup of country and rock acts, including Dallas Smith, Jess Moskaluke, Big Sugar, Crash Test Dummies, and Econoline Crush, alongside a strong roster of emerging and regional artists.
Matt Cory will be performing on Day 2 (August 15), joining the rock lineup for what’s shaping up to be one of the standout nights of the weekend.
Living Skies has quickly built a reputation as one of Western Canada’s fastest-growing festivals, offering a full weekend experience with live music, food vendors, and on-site camping at the Yorkton Exhibition Grounds.
🎟 Tickets & Info: LivingSkiesMusicFestival.com
Matt Cory’s Next Single From Hollow Sun Album,
“Last Dance” out now
“Last Dance” is one of the heavier moments from Hollow Sun, leaning into a darker, more aggressive side of Matt Cory’s sound while still holding onto the melodic edge that defines the record.
At its core, the song is built around a powerful metaphor—a plane going down. It captures that unmistakable moment when you know something isn’t going to work out. There’s no fixing it, no turning back, no escaping what’s coming.
But “Last Dance” isn’t about defeat.
Beneath the surface, it’s about choice.
It’s about staying on that plane—not because you’re trapped, but because it means something to you. Because it’s yours. Because you believe in it. Because you love it.
Where some might hear failure, the song reframes it as conviction. There’s a quiet strength in going down with something you care about, in refusing to walk away just because the outcome isn’t guaranteed.
Sonically, the track channels heavier influences, bringing in a grittier, more intense energy that contrasts with earlier singles like “Spark in the Sky.” It’s raw, direct, and built to hit hard—both musically and emotionally.
“Last Dance” drops Thursday, April 2, continuing the rollout of Hollow Sun—with another release already on deck as the album continues to unfold.
This is a song about standing your ground when everything’s on the line… and choosing to see it through to the end.
Stream it Here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mattcory/last-dance
Matt Cory to Perform at Rockin’ the Fields
Matt Cory will be performing this summer at one of Manitoba’s most iconic rock festivals, Rockin’ the Fields of Minnedosa, taking place July 31 – August 2 in Minnedosa.
Matt is scheduled to perform on Friday, July 31 at the Heritage Co-op Hilltop Stage, bringing his guitar-driven rock sound to the festival crowd alongside other performers including Last Kiss and The 12/21.
Each summer, Rockin’ the Fields transforms the scenic lakeside amphitheatre at Lake Minnedosa into a three-day celebration of classic rock, camping, and community. The festival has become a staple of the prairie music scene, drawing thousands of fans from across Manitoba and beyond for a weekend filled with live music and summer atmosphere.
The 2026 edition continues that tradition with a lineup that includes legendary rock acts such as Collective Soul, Cheap Trick, Quiet Riot, Helix, and 54‑40, making it one of the biggest rock weekends of the summer in Western Canada.
For Matt Cory, the performance marks another milestone in a year that continues to build momentum. Known for blending the grit of ’90s alternative with modern hard rock, Matt’s live shows are built around powerful guitar riffs, soaring melodies, and the kind of raw energy that feels right at home at a prairie rock festival.
Fans attending the festival on Friday can catch Matt Cory live at the Heritage Co-op Hilltop Stage as the weekend of music kicks off in Minnedosa.
who is
matt cory?
Matt Cory is a Canadian rock artist from Brandon, Manitoba, delivering guitar-driven songs that fuse ‘90s grit with a modern edge. With standout appearances at festivals like Dauphin’s Countryfest, and upcoming summer 2026 performances at Rockin’ the Fields of Minnedosa and Living Skies Festival, he continues to build momentum across Western Canada—sharing stages with acts like Helix, Quiet Riot, Big Sugar, and Crash Test Dummies. His upcoming album Hollow Sun arrives in 2026.
