Heart Matter

Heart Matter is a San Francisco Bay Area based band, started in 2022 by vocalist Amy D and vibraphonist Dillon Vado. With improvisatory elements of jazz and carefully crafted arrangements, alongside intimate lyrics, Heart Matter is electric and honest.

Doors: 6:30pm ⎮ Show: 7:30pm                                  Tickets: $20 in advance ⎮  $25 at the door

Advance tickets can only be purchased online-we do not sell advance tickets at the venue. Refunds are not available within 48 hours of the event. Tickets do not guarantee seating during shows at the Royal Room. 

We are now accepting reservations for diners! After purchasing tickets, please visit the Reservations page to book a table. Table reservations require advance tickets, and are only for guests who plan to dine at the Royal Room.  We do not take reservations over the phone.

Seating for non-diners is first come, first served. Please arrive early to guarantee a seat!

Catch SF Bay Area based band, Heart Matter, featuring vocalist Amy D and vibraphonist Dillon Vado in their first appearance at The Royal Room in April! As part of a West Coast Tour, this show features their quartet and original music from their forthcoming debut album, Horizons.

Heart Matter has created a truly unique sonic footprint with a jazz-informed, indie band feel. Now with live processing of the vibraphone through guitar pedals, their music is sculpted in real time; setting the stage for riveting and emotionally-driven compositions.

With songs that center honesty and reverence for the human experience, Heart Matter reckons with loss and encourages presence and deeper connection. Co-led by Amy D and Dillon Vado, the two composers bring a genuine collaborative spirit to the music. Accomplished Bay Area musicians Lukas Vesely (bass) and Isaac Schwartz (drums) complete the lineup and serve the music with precision and spontaneity. 

Having built a following through performances at SFJAZZ, Healdsburg Jazz Festival, and the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, they're a band that’s worth catching live. Think Joni Mitchell's lyrical directness, Esperanza Spalding's adventurous yet accessible musicality, and the dynamic, avant garde qualities of The Bad Plus. Audiences often experience laughter, tears, and quiet reflection at their shows, describing the music as:

"fiery and exciting,"

"deep, elegant, honest,"

"the meeting point of impeccable musicianship and catharsis."

More than anything, Heart Matter seeks to share transformative music with those who need to hear it, offering a remedy for the trance of modern life and a sacred space to feel it all.