Matthew O’Donnell at Pale Fire

Matthew O’Donnell is a singer, multi-instrumentalist and performer of traditional Celtic music based in Charlottesville, Virginia sharing songs and tunes for all people and all places.

An experienced practitioner of the classic pub singer’s trade, Matthew brings a modern energy to traditional drinking songs, sea shanties, Irish jigs & reels, timeless folk favorites and original songs. A typical live show sees Matthew switching between the accordion, bouzouki, guitar, banjo, fiddle, bodhran and tin whistle as he roars out singable choruses to the rhythm of kick drum and tambourine (played with his feet).

Matthew’s familiarity with a wide range of musical styles allows him to mix flavors of rock, pop, country and jazz music as side dishes to the main course of traditional folk music. Matthew’s expansive repertoire of 1,000+ songs & instrumental tunes, and penchant for variety, ensures that no two shows are ever quite alike. Matthew treats every performance, be it for 10 or 10,000, as a warm gathering of close friends, full of humor, storytelling, interaction, camaraderie, optimism and tenderness, and Matthew invites all who might hear to rediscover the joys of social music and communal singing.