Live on the Garden Stage: Matthew Griswold

Born into a home humming with melody — a piano-playing mama and a small-town DJ dad — Matthew had music in his bones before he could spell guitar. He begged for one every year growing up, and when he finally got it at 15, he didn’t waste a minute. No lessons. Just hours and hours of playing, learning, writing — and discovering he had a voice not just for singing, but for telling the truth.

That same truth-telling spirit led him to serve five years of active duty in the U.S. Army, deployed in Iraq. Today, Matthew is a passionate advocate for veterans navigating the long road of recovery and transition, using his voice — and his music — to speak for those still finding theirs.

With a sound rooted in American folk, Matthew blends his original songwriting with hauntingly honest lyrics, rhythmic grooves he calls “hypnotonic,” and a few familiar favorites that he makes wholly his own. It’s the kind of music that makes you stop, listen, and feel something real.

Whether it’s your first time hearing him or your fifth, Matthew Griswold will leave you moved, grounded, and maybe even a little changed.