“Ferris Wheel” is the ninth studio release from Philadelphia Singer/Songwriter Matt Roach. The album contains 12 original songs. It blends together the unique style of “An Alternative to Rock and Pop with some Country-Comedy thrown in for the Folk of it” music that Roach has always written. Matt Roach began as a quasi-comedian. When he was 15 years old he started the sketch comedy group “Jim’s Prom Picture Inc.” It was like Saturday Night Live but, funny!!! During the next 8 years the group played all over the Philadelphia area. During this time Matt began writing comedy songs to perform, along with the sketches. After the sketch group ended, he started to concentrate on writing music that included normal songs along with the comedy. He kept writing and, now 30 years and over 500 songs later, he is still going. He doesn’t play any cover songs. Matt says, “I never taught myself any because the original artist would perform the song much better than I ever could.” So, fast, slow, happy, sad…possibly demented music. But, all original, all the time!! Matt has been fortunate enough to perform on a regular basis for many years, playing hundreds of shows throughout the East Coast. He has received radio play in the U.S. and Europe. Matt has opened for Hamell on Trial, Steve Poltz (twice), Steve Forbert, Asylum Street Spankers, Peter Tork from the Monkees, UK legends The Alarm and opened four times for Marshall Crenshaw. His live shows are always fun and interactive. Matt says, “I love interacting with the audience. I like keeping them guessing by switching my songs from happy to sad to funny and, then, back again”.
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The Presbytery of Philadelphia for their initial $9,000 grant in 2015 to help build the coffeehouse ministry. And their follow-on $5000 grant in 2016 and their follow-on $4000 grant for 2017.