Matthew Dames is a seasoned performer who migrated to Tasmania, Australia from Cambridge, UK. He busks frequently at Salamanca Market and Farm Gate Market in Hobart. His Contemporary Folk style is warm and sensitive, drawing influence from artists including Passenger, Luka Bloom and Dougie Maclean. Matthew has released two original albums and his third album, Traditional Ballads, is a selection of his most requested traditional folk songs. Matthew has performed at multiple national and international music festivals including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Matthew was the winner of the 2015 Liz Johnston Memorial Award for Vocal Excellence at the National Folk Festival. He also won the Tamar Valley Folk Festival Youth Award with his song Climbing Mountains in 2012.
Matthew is the lead Singer and Rhythm Guitarist for the band Schmeltic and a member of the A cappella folk trio Velvet Sledghammer. Matthew Dames’ 2020 album is a collaboration with fellow Tasmanian folk artist Anna Talbot and features their favorite traditional songs and other songs from Ireland and Scotland, 11 in all.
For the DCMW Matt will lead classes for DADGAD Guitar. This DADGAD workshop will cover strumming styles, chord patterns and touch on modes such as Mixolydian. Learn how to listen to the tunes being played in a session, work out whether they are a jig, reel or other time signature and what key they are in. Other potential topics, time permitting, include song accompaniment, finger picking and other open tunings.
Saturday Elective: Sing your hearts out in harmony. Matt and Anna will teach a contemporary folk song in 4 parts. All voices, ages and abilities welcome!