Broke Down @ 20 — A Tribute to Slaid Cleaves is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, at St. Lawrence, 76 Congress St. in Portland.

Matt Newberg and the Hearts of Gold with special guests will play and celebrate Slaid Cleaves album “Broke Down,” which dropped 20 years ago.

Weathered by salt and sea, Newberg has been weaving his life and songs through the tall pines, rocky coast and granite mountains of Maine for over 20 years. Born in upstate New York, his family moved to the coastal town of Harpswell when he was aged five. There, he walked the rural roads, tipped sailboats on the bay and fought on the local playground after little league games.

His musical career began in Burlington, Vermont while a student at UVM but his passion was kindled early on while listening to his mother sing James Taylor songs at the piano. His first physical memory of a song is Neil Young’s Sugar Mountain, an artist that continues to have a significant impact on his music.

His most recent release “Hollow Days” (2019) featured a duet with Lilly Hiatt (Nashville) as well as harmonica wizardry from longtime collaborator Brian Steele (Burlington). “Hollow Days” introduces his new band, The Hearts of Gold with Gregg Hoover on guitar, Jake McCarthy on bass and Joe Beninati on drums.

Tickets cost $15 in advance or $18 at the door.

For more info visit mattnewberg.com.