Matthew Hornbeck, left, stage manager to Country music artist Luke Combs, prepares for a show; the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, on May 5, 2022. Photo (c) 2022 David Bergman. www.DavidBergman.net. Used with Permission.
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Buying concert tickets — no matter the genre — is a common experience for many people across the United States and across the world. While the drawing factor of concerts is often the names names in music, there are numerous people behind the artists that make touring possible.
It is in light of that fact that numerous individuals gathered in Nashville for the 2023 Country Music Association Touring Awards on Feb. 12, which sought to “highlight vital behind-the-scenes members of the Country Music touring industry.”
The Touring Awards were divided into 20 categories from venue of the year and touring musician of the year to talent agent of the year and lighting director of the year. Among the categories is a familiar name to Barren Countians and Glaswegians alike — Matthew Hornbeck, a 2004 graduate of Barren County High School.
“It was exciting to be in the room with everyone that does what we do for a living,” Hornbeck said. “It’s hard work to get out there and make sure the artist and the band are taken care of…it was a thrill to be nominated. It was good to see all the hard work pay off and I’m very thankful just to be in the room with those folks.”
Hornbeck has been the stage manager for Country music artist Luke Combs since 2019.
His tenure as Combs’ stage manager earned him a nomination as the stage manager of the year; joining seven other big touring stage names such as Sam “Sambo” Coats, stage manager for Eric Church, and Justin Sumrall, stage manager for Thomas Rhett.
The votes were tallied and the stage manager of the year award went to Todd Green, Chris Stapleton’s stage manager whose crew also won crew of the year. Though Hornbeck, 38, did not bring home the award, he does have the distinction of being the youngest nominee in the category.
As a first-time nominee Hornbeck said he is just pleased to be able to be in such distinguished company.
“Growing up in Glasgow I never thought any of this would happen and it did,” Hornbeck said. “So just to be nominated, even though I didn’t take home the award, is pretty much all the experience I need. I’d be very thankful if I did win but it’s not a big deal that I didn’t. I’m just very thankful to have been nominated and to be part of the process.”
“Sambo Coats and Todd Green..those guys have been doing this since I’ve been in the business so just to be up there with names like that is an honor,” he added.
He said it takes a team of numerous people to make touring possible.
“Although there are individual awards that we can win in our industry it really does take a village to make it all work,” Hornbeck said. “It’s cool to be recognized individually but it’s really all about the team and going forward I am thankful to be a part of such a great team.”
“It’s never about the individual it’s always about the team,” he added.
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