The Suitcase Junket Brings His Handmade Sound to Myrtle November 12

An old suitcase might seem like an unusual instrument for a singer-songwriter. But for Matt Lorenz, it provides a steady beat. Performing as The Suitcase Junket, the Massachusetts musician uses discarded objects and homemade instruments to create a full sound that makes it hard to believe he’s the only person on stage.

You’ll have a chance to check out that musical machinery up close when Lorenz plays Myrtle on Thursday, November 12 at 8PM, bringing his distinctive blend of folk, blues, and rough-edged rock to East Providence. Click here for details.

The appearance follows his recent performance at Charlestown’s Rhythm & Roots Festival and a September stop at AmericanaFest in Nashville, where he played before industry leaders and loyal fans.

I chatted with Lorenz briefly at Rhythm and Roots are learned a little more about his set-up. Lorenz finds discarded instruments, often at municipal dumps and second-hand stores. “I sort of blunder across things,” he noted. “The suitcase bass drum, a couple of cans that basically do a snare sound, and a circular saw blade for a crash cymbal.”

How does it all sound?

“It’s all about the tone,” says Lorenz. “It’s like, what does it sound like when you throw this object across the room? But I have to be able to take this on an airplane.”

Raised in Vermont, Lorenz grew up taking things apart and finding new uses for the pieces. He later studied music and adaptive instrument design at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. His interest in making instruments developed alongside his songwriting, with invention becoming part of how the music takes shape. The result is a singular blues-roots sound, behind lyrics as compelling as any singer-songwriter out there.

Lorenz recently released To Go On, an album exploring grief, memory, and perseverance following the death of his sister, singer-songwriter Kate Lorenz. The album combines dark folk, blues, and rough-edged roots music with deeply personal songwriting. “The new album is kind of stripped back down,” adds Lorenz. Songs including “Blindside Memory” and “Don’t Worry” reflect its intimate focus, while “Put Your Phone Down” encourages reconnecting with the world. It’s a record about carrying loss while finding reasons to keep living.

With seven albums and over a decade of shows behind him, Lorenz's show is far beyond a novelty act—it's compelling music from an artist with a lot to say. Check out Thursday's show to see why.