Rocker Matthew Patrick Receives HMMA Nomination for 'Midnight Special'

Maryland-based roots rocker Matthew Patrick picked up his first Hollywood Music In Media Award (HMMA) nomination for the song "Midnight Special," from his latest recording, Yard Sale.

Patrick mixes blues, Americana roots rock and a touch of the reggae vibe on his unique rendition of the public domain folk song which dates to the early 1900s and was notably recorded by Lead Belly and later everyone from The Beatles and Van Morrison to Bobby Darin.

"Midnight Special' is a song I have been performing live for a long time, and its history as a Southern prison song fits in well with the theme of escaping that comes through in all of the songs on Yard Sale," says Patrick.

Yard Sale was recently reviewed By Rebecca Hosking of SKOPE Magazine who wrote, "This CD is fun, no other word best describes it; FUN from beginning to end. Matthew Patrick takes enjoyment to a whole new level ... It is a great production, meaningful lyrics and top notch talent wrapped in a very cool package."

Emma Jade Gunn of Surf Rock Music praised, "Matthew Patrick is the answer to my musical dreams! His sound is blues, reggae, rock and country all in one and he keeps it playing until there is no question he's one in a million. Yard Sale, Matthew Patrick's new five-track EP, is an absolute gem. It sparkles with a vibrant array of musical colors that capture the soul and trigger the imagination."

The singer/songwriter - who is an anesthesiologist by day - celebrated the release of his eclectic new EP Yard Sale in February with a show that also raised money for a charity dear to his heart: Mi Refugio, which ministers to the needs of "at risk" children living in and around the Guatemala City garbage dump and in the villages surrounding San Pedro, Sacatepéquez.

While still playing regularly with his electric blues outfit Muskrat Sally before wildly eclectic audiences at JoJo's Tap House in Frederick, the anesthesiologist by day, singer and slide guitar master by night has been making major inroads as a solo artist these past few years.

His 2013 full-length debut album Blue Sun, whose vibe Patrick playfully described as "redneck reggae," received numerous rave reviews - and various tracks from the collection played on over 50 college radio and NPR stations throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Yard Sale is currently being promoted to Triple AAA radio by Peter Hay of Twin Vision. A "sequel" EP in slated for release this summer.

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