Matt Watroba

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This year's show will also be different, because it will feature many more of Matt's original songs. Three years ago he quit his longtime full-time work as a teacher and, for the first time in his long career, started writing songs. But these songs are not the work of a novice. They show the sure hand of someone who's been working with language for a long time — he taught high school English for twelve years — and one who's learned much from his conversations with some of the finest songwriters on the planet. Matt's songs range from the inspiring country-gospel-flavored "How Will I Leave" to a hot-off-the-press Woody Guthrie-type ballad about a Katrina family.

The Ark gig is special for Matt, but not because it's rare for him to play live concerts: he's been singing before audiences for more than twenty-five years. It's because, like so many people, he considers the Ark to be the finest folk music venue in the country: "When you play the Ark, you want to bring something good!" Every year, Matt does.

[Review published November 2005]