Matthew Spransy - Magic Mansion

I was honored with the opportunity to interview Matthew Spransy, who has had a profound impact on the Lake Country’s music scene over the years. Matthew has been instrumental in bringing together the community, specifically over the love of great music, by creating unique and unforgettable events for locals and opportunities for artists. The impact is so profound, that many would say he has put Oconomowoc ‘on the map’ in the music industry.

What began as a small group playing worship music on Matthew’s porch, soon turned into full porch-concerts for the community, featuring original live music by award-winning artists. These neighborhood events, called “Magic Mansion Concerts on the Porch”, quickly grew and became so popular that a larger venue was needed. Thus, the “Twilight Concerts at Fowler Park” was born. Between organizing the events, Matthew also spends a lot of his time working with and producing local artists and musicians.

It was a pleasure sitting down with Matthew Spransy in person to hear his story. His love and passion for music is evident throughout his life’s journey, and his dedication of bringing the joy he finds in music to the community is inspirational.
I hope you enjoy reading a bit about Matthew’s story as much as I enjoyed this interview. – Jessalyn Rich

About Matthew Spransy

Matthew Spransy is an audio engineer, producer/engineer, concert promoter, woodworker, and restorer of antique houses. In the 80s, he was a touring musician in a Contemporary Christian Rock band called “Servant”, who released 5 albums and toured all over the US, Canada, and Europe, winning a Canadian GMA lifetime achievement award. Currently, he spends most of my time producing local artists, doing live and broadcast sound for Hope Church, and booking and organizing concerts for the community.

Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.

My wife Siv is from Sweden. We met in London when we were both in the cast of a rock musical called “Lonesome Stone”. I have 5 kids. One is a successful fine artist in Los Angeles, one owns a Successful Real Estate company in Madison, one ran a 30,000 acre game farm in Namibia and is now an accomplished photographer, one rescues trafficked women, and one composes music and designs sound for Netflix and Marvel, among others. I am a proud papa. I also have 18 grandkids!

Q: Please tell us about what you do and how you got started on this path.

I grew up here for about 12 years of my childhood, and moved back about 35 years ago.

In 1972, right out of high school, I got a fateful phone call where I was invited to play keyboards for a rock musical that was being put together in London, England. Of course I jumped at the chance. This also meant that I was to join the existing rock band that was providing the music for the production. They were called “Sheep”. We played music with a strong Christian message and I got to tour many places in Europe with them. It was an amazing opportunity.

Years later, some of the same folks asked me to join the “Servant” band.

After we started having kids, touring became unsustainable so we decided to move back to Oconomowoc and ‘settle down’.

As soon as my kids got old enough, they formed their own band called ‘Jacobstone’ and asked me to produce them. Upon the release of their first album, they immediately got signed to a national label, and I’ve been busy producing artists ever since.

Q: What has the growth of your business/work looked since starting?

The community concerts that I do started because I was constantly asking my neighbors to stop mowing their lawns, etc so that I could get a good recording. I didn’t know my neighbors very well, so it was a bit awkward. Then a new neighbor moved in who was a very popular local musician (Keith Pulvermacher). He saw my porch and said it would be a great place to have a concert, so he volunteered to play and invited some friends to join him. We invited the neighbors, and for that first concert, both the band AND the audience all fit on the porch! There were maybe 35 people. However, the talent was so phenomenal (Grammy winner Grace Weber joined us), and it was so fun, that we decided to do it again. After a while we started passing the hat to pay for the musicians expenses.

12 years later there are 700 – 1000 people in my yard and famous national touring musicians are contacting me to play the porch.

Because there seemed to be so much interest in great live, original music, I asked Mayor Bob Magnus if he would like me to put together a concert series for the city. He and his wife Gina jumped at the chance and we started doing the Twilight Concerts at Fowler Park in 2021.

Q: What has been your biggest accomplishment over the years?
That’s a tough one, but I find that the thing that brings me the most joy is bringing joy to others in the form of extremely high quality live music in beautiful settings, and the relationships that result from that.
Q: What was the most difficult challenge in getting to where you are now or in your life?

The logistics of doing a concert and organizing all of the moving parts can be a real challenge.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your work?
The joy and gratefulness on the faces of the folks that come to the shows (including the musicians) and the resulting relationships.
Q: Do you have any future goals, or do you have anything exciting coming up that you can share with readers? 

I would like to see Oconomowoc becoming a real national center for great live original music. It is already appearing on the radar of many agents and artists, so I think we may be on our way!

Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in doing something similar to what you have done/are doing?

Always work at improving your craft. Say yes when opportunity comes knocking. Be kind to everyone.

Matthew Spransy & Our Community

Q: What is your favorite thing about our community, favorite thing to do, or something unique about our community that you love?

The ambiance in Oconomowoc is incredible. My favorite thing to do is walk around Fowler lake and run into all of the lovely people I’ve known for so many years and all of the new friends I’ve made because of the concerts.

Q: Who is an interesting person you’ve met here in our community, and how have they inspired you?

There are so many. My neighbor Keith, who sadly passed away last year, Bob Magnus who took a chance on me, Jason Ewart, who pastors Hope Church, Terry Kaldhusdal, my neighbor who makes fascinating documentary films. My neighbor Mike Bohrman, who has been a constant encouragement concerning the concerts, my next door neighbors Steve and Mary Hunter, who cater all of the food for my concerts, in fact, my whole neighborhood who are so supportive of this. It goes on and on….

Q: Do you have a favorite coffee shop, cocktail shop, or restaurant?

I like Whelan’s coffee & Ice Cream!

Q: What 3 words would you use to describe our community?

Gorgeous, friendly, visionary

For Fun

Q: What is your favorite book, TV show, movie, poem, or song? Why?

Book: The Bible – it really gives me life.

Movie: Blade Runner (Director’s Cut) – So immersive, incredible world building, surprisingly life-affirming.

TV show: almost any good Science Fiction

Song: You’re kidding. There are too many.

Poem: sorry, not that sophisticated.

Q: If you were a drink (can be a coffee drink, alcoholic, non-alcoholic, etc.), what would you be?

A good strong cup of english tea with cream.

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone, who would it be with? Why?

Jesus, he changed my life, but I have questions….

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?

Hopefully, still above ground. And still doing what I am doing, but even more!

Q: What makes you the happiest?

Spending time with my enormous extended family.

Q: Any general life advice you would like to share?

Don’t be afraid to say yes when opportunity knocks. Never stop making new friends. Step outside of your comfort zone.

Where to Find Matthew Spransy

Matthew Spransy
Musician, Producer and Local Entertainment
Twilight Concerts at Fowler Park
Website: www.twilightconcertsoconomowoc.com
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
 
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