Matthew English Fiddle player specialising in high energy Celtic folk rock music, pop, effects

Introducing Matthew English a young inspirational fiddle player with a passion for performance.

Born with microtia atresia (no ear or ear canal) Matthew is hearing impaired but has never let this disability hold him back. Learning to play the violin gave Matthew the means to gain confidence. Matthew says ‘My violin is like a ‘friend’ to me who I turn to when things have been tough’

Matthew grew up on a diet of folk music. Inspired at a young age watching Fairport Convention and the likes of fiddle players Ric Sanders, Chris Leslie and Dave Swarbrick - Matthew always wanted to follow in their footsteps. Fairport’s Ric Sanders has followed Matthew’s progress and says “I’ve known Matty since he started playing fiddle as a nipper. Each year he’d be at the Cropredy Festival and each year he’d be taller and better on the fiddle, going from strength to strength. He has an infectious enthusiasm for the instrument and its music which he transmits to the audience, making for a most enjoyable performance!”

At age 7 - after a chance meeting with 70s pop idols The Osmonds – Matthew was given his first violin and sponsorship for lessons by Merrill Osmond who encouraged Matthew to prove that having a hearing loss is not a barrier to achieving your dreams. Matthew continues to make The Osmond family proud of all he has achieved as a result of their initial support. During a recent meeting Donny Osmond enthused “This guy is unbelievable on the violin” Matthew was recently featured on BBC One Show with Donny Osmond too!

Matthew has gone from strength to strength gaining quite a following and has been invited to play at a wide variety of events, well known festivals, corporate functions and venues nationwide including recent appearances at Cropredy, Towersey and Swanage festivals playing with Merry Hell alongside Simon Swarbrick who remarks “Matt is a fine fiddle player, if anyone needs a fiddle player for a band- grab him now before someone else does!”

Matthew plays regularly around Kent and Sussex as a solo artist playing his own arrangements of popular tunes but also as half of three different duos playing traditional jigs and songs to get your feet tapping. He has gained quite a following and is often invited to play alongside other musicians such as BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Musician of the Year winner Tim Edey who has been immensely encouraging about Matthew. Tim says “So being from Kent myself I know how rare and hard it is to hear or see young musicians getting into folk music in this modern world we live in. I heard of this young fiddler playing around the Medway area from a friend. I got to get a tune with Matthew and hear him and was astounded by his natural ability and passion for the tunes and the fiddle. It’s fabulous to see. I know we are going to be hearing lots of him in the coming years”