Seven days shy of a year when he last performed live, singer/songwriter Matt Dylan stepped back on stage to debut his new song, “Carolina Moonshine” which will be featured in the soundtrack of “Red Dirt Rising” that will be released later this year.

Following his Saturday night performance at the Andy Griffith Playhouse for the White Liquor and Dirt Tracks event sponsored by the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, Dylan said he is encouraged with the amount of interest he and his band received while in town.

“I’m extremely pleased. The band was completely phenomenal. I felt like I got good response on the original song. I was really pleased with the amount of fans that came out for the show,” Dylan said.

Dylan quit performing Jan. 31 last year to write new material. Nearly one year later he has emerged with a brand new album. While visiting Mount Airy, the artist released his self-titled CD called “Matt Dylan.” The album includes 12 songs, six of which Dylan wrote.

Dylan’s band, Midnight Steel, includes Earl Farrior, who is the lead guitar player, Adam Moses plays the drums, Eric Welch plays bass, Chad Johnson plays guitar and Bill Stevens plays the keyboard.

“The guys are a really good group of fellas. I think everybody was really impressed with their level of talent,” he said.

The music video for “Carolina Moonshine” was filmed just two weeks ago in collaboration with the producers of the film “Red Dirt Rising.” The video was filmed with the latest in high tech digital cinematography, called the Red or Red-Eye camera, which was also used in the filming of the movie. The producers say the camera films in higher quality and clarity than a high-definition camera.

The music video was partially filmed at North Wilkesboro Speedway and on racing legend Junior Johnson’s property in Wilkes County.

So far, the video has been a viral sensation on Youtube, with more than 1,800 viewings since its release on Friday night. Promoters expect Dylan’s video and song to shoot straight to the top of the charts.

Todd Morris, head of marketing for “Red Dirt Rising” said the movement behind both the movie and Dylan’s music video has blown him away.

“Everything that has taken place around this movement is the biggest collaborative I’ve ever been involved in. And to have the passion of all these people helping, it’s just amazing,” Morris said.

Morris said Dylan contacted the “Red Dirt Rising” group out of the blue with a song that he couldn’t believe fit the movie so well.

“He sent me an e-mail and it basically said, ‘I don’t know if the stars are aligned or if this is a sign from the man above, but I have a song that is perfect for this movie.’ Well, my mom has always told me that you need to respect other’s efforts, because you just never know. So I told Matt that the movie was done, but to send us the song and I would at least share it with the guys. I didn’t know who he was — and then when the song came and I hit play, I was like, this is amazing. So I immediately called Gary (Lewallen) and said ‘You need to listen to this guy’s song.’ I told him that this song is over the top,” Morris said. The movie is based on the life of Gary Lewallen’s father Jimmy and his mother Carrie.

The world premier of the movie will be at North Wilkesboro Speedway sometime in the spring, Morris said. The date has not yet been determined. Dylan and other artists who have songs on the soundtrack will be there for a concert.

“This is one of the greatest things that I’ve ever been a part of. I believe the fans of the roots of racing are behind us 100 percent. This has been a labor of love for all of us,” Morris said.

Dylan’s CD will be officially released Jan. 30 at Johnny and Junes in Winston-Salem.

“If the response tonight is any indication of what is to come, I feel pretty good about it. We had a pretty good mix of songs that people seemed to like,” Dylan said.

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.