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A popular series that pairs new music with old silent movies, Sound for Silents is being recast this year to also showcase a veteran Minnesota musician who has been partially silenced.
He happens to be blind, too — giving new meaning to him being a cinematic songwriter.
Walker Art Center’s annual pairing of innovative modern musicians with early-pioneer filmmakers is putting a spotlight on Matt Arthur, a rootsy gospel-folk musician from southern Minnesota.
The dramatically bellowing, 60-year-old song picker was booked months ago to perform a batch of new songs at Thursday’s outdoor screening of silent films from the museum’s permanent collection. However, Arthur suffered a stroke on June 13. He is still working his way back to perform again.
Rather than call off the show, this year’s Sound for Silents curator Philip Harder — a filmmaker with ample music connections — lined up an all-star cast to help perform Arthur’s music alongside the films. Among the musicians now set to appear are Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum, Poliça’s Channy Leaneagh, the Jayhawks’ Tim O’Reagan, Lady Midnight, Brian Tighe and Alison LaBonne of the Starfolk, Bill Patten and many well-known instrumentalists.
Southern Minnesota resident Matt Arthur regularly performed at Palmer’s and other rustic bars before being sidelined by a stroke in June. (Provided)
Harder praised the Walker for standing by his vision of matching Arthur’s songs with this year’s batch of silents, and he thanked the other singers and players for stepping in to keep the event on track.
“There’s something about these very unique songs and these really crazy films from that era that just go well together,” said the filmmaker.
Known for directing the 2019 indie drama “Tuscaloosa” and the 2023 rock doc “Cue the Strings: A Film About Low” — as well as music videos by Prince, the Foo Fighters and Liz Phair — Harder has been a longtime admirer of Arthur. He was involved in the making of Arthur’s upcoming concept album about an outlaw on the road to redemption, songs from which will be featured at Thursday’s screening.
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