Katie Matzell pays tribute to Bonnie Raitt with One Longfellow Square show

Katie Matzell. Photo by Lauryn Hottinger

Portland-based singer-songwriter Katie Matzell has been a lifelong fan of singer, songwriter and guitarist Bonnie Raitt.

Because her parents were big fans, Matzell grew up listening to Raitt’s music. “My father was also a musician and played these songs in the living room in the evenings after work. My sister and I sang the background music and my brothers played air guitar and drums.”

On Saturday evening, she and some of her musician friends will play an evening of Raitt songs at One Longfellow Square.

Matzell’s band consists of Sean Morin (guitar and keyboards), Max Cantlin (guitar, vocals), Cilla Bonnie (bass, vocals), Dawson Hill (keyboards, vocals), Chris Sweet (drums), Emma Stanley (trumpet), John Maclaine (trombone) and Andrew Halchak (saxophone, flute).

Singer-songwriter Larry John McNally will also join Matzell on guitar and sing some backing vocals. McNally is a Bangor native who recently returned to Maine after several years in Los Angeles. McNally has released a number of solo albums and Raitt has recorded some of his songs: “Nobody’s Girl” appears on “Nick of Time” and “Slow Ride” on “Luck of the Draw”.

Here’s the Matzell version of “Nobody’s Girl” with McNally on guitar.



McNally became friends with Matzell last year. “He was browsing shows on the One Longfellow Square website, came across my bio, noticed I listed Bonnie Raitt as a musical influence, and reached over to get coffee,” Matzell said.

McNally brought Matzell to see Raitt at Merrill Auditorium in June and introduced her to Raitt backstage. “It was a wild night when I met my hero and watched Larry with tears in his eyes as Bonnie played his songs.”

Matzell said she and McNally love getting together to play and talk about music and songwriting. “I’m so happy that he came to me to perform the songs he wrote for Bonnie and to lend me guitar on a few songs throughout the evening,” she said.

Matzell has seen Raitt a few times, mostly in Maine. But her favorite experience was hearing Raitt play with James Taylor at Fenway Park in Boston in 2017. “It was absolute magic,” Matzell said.

Matzell said Raitt’s singing is the main reason she is such a big fan. “Her voice has just gotten better over the years.” Matzell also appreciates Raitt’s selection of covers and how she interprets and performs them, including Gerry Rafferty’s “Right Down the Line,” Del Shannon’s “Runaway” and “Need You Tonight.” “ by INXS.

“Her commitment to activism and her huge impact in the world with her huge platform and finally her deep appreciation for the music, the writers, her long-time collaborators and her influences that came before her,” Matzell said. “She’s a class act.”

One of Matzell’s favorite Raitt songs is the ballad “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin. It is one of Raitt’s best-known songs and appears on her 1991 album “Luck of the Draw”.

“’I Can’t Make You Love Me’ is just a perfect song, a perfect performance, perfect production. It almost feels wrong to report on it,” Matzell said.



Matzell has been concentrating on and rehearsing for the Raitt tribute show for several months. In 2025 she has other plans. “I’m going to move on to recording new music of mine, continuing to record and collaborate with other artists, and I’m planning some fun shows.”

Love Letter: Katie Matzell & Friends present the music of Bonnie Raitt
Saturday, 8 p.m. One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland, $25 in advance, $35 at the door. onelongfellowsquare.com.

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