Matt & Shannon Heaton

• Celtic
• Trad

With engaging stage presence and masterfully-crafted music, Boston-based Matt & Shannon Heaton offer well-travelled Irish music from the heart. Steeped in sessions in County Clare and brewed in the acoustic music scenes of  Chicago & Boston, their flute/guitar/bouzouki instrumentals and sweet husband-and-wife harmony singing draw deeply from the Irish tradition.

Since their move to Boston in 2001, the Heatons have become an integral part of Boston’s vibrant trad music scene. Shannon co-founded the Boston Celtic Music Fest in 2003.

Shannon was named 2016 Massachusetts Cultural Council Traditional Artist Fellow. The Irish American News dubbed her Female Musician of the Year (2009) and Live Ireland nominated her Female Musician of the Year 2010 and  2011. She’s been compared to Alison Krauss and Altan’s Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh for her combination of vocal grace and instrumental prowess on Irish flute, whistles and accordion. She is also an acclaimed arranger and composer, and has published two instructional Irish music books.

In addition to his acclaimed work as an Irish accompanist on guitar and bouzouki, Matt has also received multiple Massachussetts Cultural Council Grants for his work with kids (he’s got two CDs of original rockabilly-tinged music for children and discerning parents). He fronts surf-rock band Electric Heaters and also holds a master’s degree in classical guitar. For his creative chording and driving grooves, Matt has been called “a combination of Bill Frisell and Arty McGlynn.”

Matt and Shannon are poised, passionate American performers with Irish roots and universal appeal. They are comfortable onstage and have a warm connection with their audiences. They move listeners with their love of traditional music (and each other), and their sense of adventure and fun in exploring new directions and possibilities.

O’Jizo

• Celtic

Hailing from Japan, O’Jizo specializes in Irish traditional music, and combines the musical talents of Kozo Toyota on flute, guitarist Koji Nagao, and Hirofumi Nakamura on bouzouki and accordion. Their band name comes from blending syllables of each player’s name (hirO, koJI, koZO). And their music is a blend of old and new Irish tunes, learned from years of study and travel to Ireland, the U.S., and Canada. They play expertly with a variety of moods, pacing, and use of musical space.

For their March 2025 East Coast tour they will collaborate with Boston duo Matt & Shannon Heaton. The Heatons are integral figures in Boston’s Irish traditional music scene, performing extensively, teaching, and welcoming players of all levels in sessions and other community events. With Shannon on flute and vocals, and Matt’s rhythmic, nuanced guitar and bouzouki playing, the duo is known for their engaging, dynamic stage presence. They have collaborated with members of O’Jizo for over a decade.