Rev. Robert Jones & Matt Watroba | Honoring Black History Month

The Woodstock Folk Festival brings quality folk music to our community. February 24 in honor of Black History Month Woodstock Wednesdays presents Rev. Robert Jones and Matt Watroba.

Show your support and appreciation by going to revrobertjones.com and mattwatroba.net to purchase CDs, make a donation or learn about virtual shows.

Here’s your link for the show on February 24.

Visit our Video Gallery anytime after the show to enjoy again or share with others. While you’re there, check out past performers’ shows such as Pete Morton or The Flyin’ A’s.

Folk music lovers: Want to receive email updates each Monday from the Woodstock Folk Festival? Then subscribe in the right column of every page of this site. Want more folk music online and real time? Then use the Donate button just above the subscription form.

Featured Performers for Black History Month: Rev. Robert Jones & Matt Watroba

Rev. Robert Jones, Sr. is a native Detroiter and an inspirational storyteller and musician.

In live performances, he celebrates the history, humor and the power of American Roots music. As he interweaves timeless stories with original and traditional songs, Robert shares his deep love for traditional African-American and American traditional music.

Robert entertains and educates audiences of all ages in schools, colleges, libraries, union halls, prisons, churches and civil rights organizations. At the heart of his message is the belief that cultural diversity is a story to celebrate, not just tolerate.

Blues Chronicles videos feature music and stories of Blues history. If you want to enjoy songs by Blind Lemon Jefferson, Son House and many more, then use the link to check them out. Take advantage of this opportunity to explore the roots of African American music.

Known to many as the voice of folk music in Michigan, Matt Watroba was born in Detroit and raised in Plymouth, Michigan.

Matt holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Michigan University, where he majored in English Language & Literature with a minor in Theatre Arts and Communication.  Throughout his high school and college career, Matt performed in a variety of plays and productions. Eventually, these experiences inspired his love and enthusiasm for communicating to an audience from the stage. Matt gravitated, though, mainly toward music and education as his main vehicles of expression.

Many know Matt as the voice of folk music in Michigan thanks to his work with WDET–Detroit Public Radio.Watroba came in contact with many aspects of folk music and culture through his work. He produced and hosted the Folks Like Us program and the nationally syndicated Sing Out Radio Magazine and Folk Alley. These experiences then helped shape a repertoire and presentation unique on stages across the state and country. Now he wants to inspire the world to sing — one town at a time.

In 2019, Matt was inducted into the Folk DJ Hall of Fame at the Folk Alliance International conference in Montreal. Now you can hear “Folk With Matt Watroba” on Michigan State Public Media, WKAR in East Lansing, MI. The show runs from 6-8pm (Eastern) on Sunday nights. Want to listen in? Then you can stream it at wkar.org.

Common Chords: Creating Connections Through Music & the Arts – Just Right for Black History Month

In 2019, Matt Watroba and Robert Jones co-founded the Detroit Non-Profit, Common Chords. The purpose of Common Chords is to create connections through music and the arts in order to bring us into a common understanding of one another. Through Common Chords, Matt and Robert want to promote an idea of community that showcases qualities we have in common while celebrating the diversity that makes us different. To educate and build community, they use the tools of artistic expression. Using the spirit of the folk tradition, they teach through demonstration and encouraging imitation. That then leads to innovation.

COMMON CHORDS provides programs to augment and enhance the impact of education curricula. There are virtual programs for every grade level and for adults.

Enjoy Robert and Matt presenting music and songs from blues, bluegrass, jazz, folk, rock, Motown, to hip-hop. It is music that breaks down barriers and brings people together!

African American History Month This Web portal is a collaborative project of the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.

Other Dedicated Web Sites

African American History Month Resources

National Endowment for the Humanities – African American History and Culture in the United States

National Park Service – Black History Month

Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of African American History and Culture

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum – Black History Month

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Just what you need! How to get official Woodstock Folk Festival masks …

Exciting news! We now have Woodstock Folk Festival masks for sale at WARP CORPS & READ BETWEEN THE LYNES on the historic Woodstock Square.

$15 for 3 layers of protection!

If you want to stay safe while you “shop local” and at the same time support the Festival, Warp Corps, and Read Between the Lynes, then call one of these vendors to get your mask.

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Views expressed by performers and others who appear at Woodstock Festival events or on the website are solely the views of these individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Festival or its Board members.