Willy Mason

With a sound that recalls Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash along with the cynicism of grunge and punk, nobody could believe wry singer/songwriter Willy Mason was only 19 when he appeared on the indie scene.

Born and raised on Martha’s Vineyard, Mason grew up with his parents’ love of folk music. He loved it, too, but his teen years brought Nirvana and Rage Against the Machine into his life. Mason found their political and social messages much easier to identify with and soon combined folk’s softer and looser delivery with the revolutionary attitude of his new heroes. Writing came easy now and the teenager had plenty of self-penned material ready when a family friend asked him to appear on his local radio show. As luck would have it, Sean Foley — an associate of Conor Oberst and his band, Bright Eyes — was driving through Cape Cod as Mason was on the air. Foley was captivated by Mason’s song “Oxygen” and left his phone number at the radio station, setting off a chain of events that would have Oberst and Mason hanging out, doing gigs together, and touring America.

Since 2020 Willy has been touring with increasing regularity, steadily honing his live sound and playing. His band includes Charlotte Anne Dole on drums (Cymbals Eat Guitars, Hammydown, Cult Objects, Empty Country) and Farley Glavin on bass (The Lemonheads, Killer Motorcycle). The trio have a tight and dynamic sound that allow them to easily move between all phases of Willy’s catalogue faithfully, with high energy and care. Willy has been steadily adding new songs to his shows. He is currently in the studio working on new recordings for an album.

“I want to provide people with places where they can emote and move freely, in safety. To feel connected with each other and experience the strength in that. Performance allows me to create and inhabit these places.” Willy Mason