Montreal·Video

Behind the scenes: Montreal's Matt Holubowski makes his Osheaga debut

The singer-songwriter has been performing at festivals and venues around the world, but he said he's happy to be coming home to perform at one of the biggest gigs in the city — Osheaga.

The musician from Hudson was surprised with a gold certification for his 2016 album, Solitudes

Indie folk musician Matt Holubowski, from Hudson, performed for the first time at the Osheaga Festival on Friday. (Melinda Dalton/CBC)

Matt Holubowski​ has come a long way since he was strumming his guitar around a campfire in his hometown of Hudson, Que.

The singer-songwriter has been performing at festivals and venues around the world, but he said he's happy to be coming home to perform at one of the biggest gigs in the city — Osheaga.

Holubowski, a contestant on the third season of La Voix (TVA's version of The Voice), released his third album in September.
Matt Holubowski was given the award after his show on Friday. (CBC)

When he originally agreed to let CBC Montreal follow him behind the scenes at Osheaga, he didn't know his record label, Audiogram, would be surprising him with a Canadian gold certification for hitting 40,000 in sales.

Despite the mainstream success — he recently performed at the Bonnaroo music festival in Tennessee — Holubowski remained humble before the Montreal show.

"There's definitely that pressure when you have your friends and family come check it out," he said. "But that being said, it's just a show like any other."

He called the opportunity to perform at Osheaga on home turf "magical," saying that having his name printed alongside artists like Arctic Monkeys and Florence and the Machine is "just wild in itself."

CBC arts contributor Nantali Indongo caught up with Holubowski at his Montreal studio Friday morning, ahead of the concert.

Behind the scenes at Osheaga with Matt Holubowski

6 years ago
Duration 4:52
The folk singer from Hudson, Que., made his debut at the music festival Friday.

Video produced by CBC's Melinda Dalton and Marilla Steuter-Martin.