Matthew Cook Music

Matthew Cook (or Matt, if you like) has been involved in some form of artistic outlet since he was about 9 years old. He started with choir, moved to a year of piano, and eventually settled on guitar. The guitar his parents bought him sat dormant and dusty for a number of years (teenagers, go figure), but was eventually picked back up in answer to the call Matthew felt of Irish music. He and his brother-in-law played, badly, for a few years before they got the knack of things. That practice paid off, though, when they formed Slugger’s Rule in 2015, with two friends, Josh and Kelvin. From there, Matthew learned to play bodhrán from the wonderful player/instructor, and dear friend, Mark Stone, and was later asked to join up with String Theory Irish Band. Matthew has since gone on to learn mandolin, octave mandolin/bouzouki, tenor banjo, cajón, and djembe.

In his downtime, Matthew likes to hang out with his amazing and supportive wife, Erin, and their clowder of cats. He is a big movie buff, a giant nerd, and loves to spend time with friends, telling stories over a pint, or playing tunes and singing songs all night.

Currently Matthew plays consistently with two bands:
• Slugger's Rule, his first band that is a more pub style band with a collection of Irish, Scottish, Canadian, American, British folk songs and sea shanties
• String Theory Irish Band, his Trad Irish outlet that has a more traditional Irish tunes style
He loves them both and can't wait to see what else there is in store for them!

Matthew also helps lead the Wednesday night Irish Music sessions, with the amazing Daniel Mehalko, at The Celt Irish Pub; and is also a member of the TIMES Session Players, who play in sessions on Sunday afternoons at The Celt Irish Pub and Trinity Hall.

Matthew has played with some bands that are from the DFW area as well. He loved the experience and can't wait for more:
• Skeleton McKee
• The Bodarks String Band
• The Irish Rogues

And he recently took on his first Bodhrán student.....poor guy.

"If more of us valued food and song and cheer above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." - Thorin Oakenshield, 'The Hobbit', J.R.R. Tolkien