Matt Butler

Matt Butler shows have an organic and mysterious quality. There are tears, but there is also laughter. Whether he’s performing at a theater, a state prison or a conference, Butler delivers an experience that engages and transforms his audience. Everyone ends up feeling a little more whole, more human, and more connected – often with a changed view of the world around them.

Shortly after the release of his debut album Reckless Son in 2016, Butler wrote and performed ‘Just One’, the original song for the feature documentary Generation Found - a film about teens struggling with substance abuse and special schools supporting their path to recovery. While touring in support of the film and the album Butler was invited to play a concert for the incarcerated population “behind the walls” of Albany County Jail. Following a glowing reception, word of the show quickly spread and requests to perform at other facilities culminated in a ‘Behind the Walls’ Tour of state prisons across Ohio. Butler’s work was noticed by The National Alliance On Mental Illness (NAMI) which recognized him as a ‘2017 Leader In Mental Health Awareness’. Deeply inspired by these experiences, Butler established the Art That Serves(501c3) in 2018 which brings art with a mission and a message into underserved communities.

Meanwhile, Butler’s mainstream success continued to flourish in another unlikely place – the final cross-country Vans Warped Tour. Having grown up in the punk rock clubs of downtown New York City, Butler thrived amongst the mosh pits despite being an acoustic act and was so well-received that he was invited to perform as a mainstage artist at the Vans Warped Tour 25th Anniversary show the following summer in Atlantic City, NJ. Shortly after, he was invited to be a feature performer at the ‘Beyond The Bars’ exhibit curated by the Columbia Center for Justice at Columbia University in the winter of 2019.

No less active during the 2020 quarantine when he released a short documentary film titled ‘Mother’s Day Miracle’ in conjunction with Art That Serves. The film reached thousands across social media and a fundraiser launched in conjunction with the film met its goal of $10k in only 4 days. Butler was also a featured performer for the livestreamed UnCancelled Music Festival as well the 320 Festival, the world’s first virtual mental health summit. Simultaneously, he created and contributed content for the NY Department of Corrections new tablet system for inmates on Rikers Island. To date, Butler has now performed over 150 shows at more than 30 correctional facilities across 11 states and plans to continue this work alongside his regular touring. He’s a staple figure at New York City’s famous ‘Rockwood Music Hall’ and performs in venues as diverse as high schools and spiritual retreats. He was recently named 'Activist In Residence' for December of 2021 at The Kripalu Center. In 2022 Butler made his first foray into the world of theater by writing and performing 'Reckless Son', a one-man-show inspired by his years traveling the country performing in jails and prisons. After a string of sellout performances, 'Reckless Son' will be back for a a fall residency at Rockwood Music Hall with new music from the show on the way.