Matt Woolley

This event will take place in the Folk House cafe. 

His love of storytelling through song blended with driving instrumentals means his set is one minute lilting and filled with emotion and the next joyfully energetic with soaring Fiddle, Guitar or Bouzouki.

Matt is a founding member of the Folk music group String Workshop and enjoys collaborating with fellow musicians and artists on various projects and art installations from Cornwall to Shropshire.

2024 performances have included Chippenham Folk Festival, the Shrewsbury LoopFest Music Festival, Folk In The Orchard Festival, Brimfield Folk Club and Albert’s Songwriters Showcase in Shrewsbury. He was also thrilled to be nominated for Folk musician of the year at the Shropshire Music Awards in 2023.

For his second album Adélie, due to be released in the summer, he has taken advantage of his collection of instruments and created a mini-orchestra of Matts, including Fiddle, Guitar, Bouzouki, Vocals and Chin-Cello. The album includes several of his songs covering a wide range of topics, from shipwrecks to homelessness to songs about musicians’ woes.

From songs that make you cry to rip-roaring Fiddle tunes that will make you stomp your foot, Matt will guide you through the full spectrum of emotions while you sing along!

“Matthew Woolley played an incredible set at Chippenham 2023 so much so that we invited him back in 2024. Matthew’s love for the folk tradition shines through his soulful singing and exceptional multi instrumental accompaniments.”(Debra Hannis – Chippenham Folk Festival)

“A talented multi-instrumentalist, switching effortlessly from bouzouki to guitar to fiddle, Matthew’s song and tune writing abilities are truly impressive. His songs, though based in the time-honoured folk tradition, sound fresh and contemporary and pursue arresting and intricate narratives. His violin compositions provide welcome additions to the established canon of fiddle tunes and he sings with a rich mature voice which belie his years.”(Fergus Reid – Wheatsheaf Open Mic Shrewsbury)