Happy August!
It’s hot outside, and I keep finding myself hunkered in my basement hiding from the sun all afternoon unless I have to go out and do something. Even though I lived in Egypt, and worked many summers out in the sun at Fort Laramie National Historic Site, I wasn’t built for the heat. I’m happy to sit under a shade tree all afternoon and watch the world go by, or sit in my basement and work.
July wasn’t quite as busy as June, but I found my way up and down the road and played some fun gigs with friends around the Front Range. I played a couple of shows with my trio in the middle of the month. We were back at the Evergreen Acoustic Series at the Church of the Transfiguration in Evergreen on July 13th. That’sa fantastic concert series run by Joey Purmort. If you’re not on his list, you should definitely sign up. It’s a nice little acoustic venue with intimate shows featuring great acoustic musicians. We are always glad to be part of his lineup. We also played at Saul Rosenthal’s fun backyard concert series in Denver. It was hot that day, but the clouds came in mercifully and we had a nice concert there.
I played my annual shows at Scottsbluff National Monument and Fort Laramie National Historic Site as well. These are usually historic music programs featuring songs from history or songs about history. I played several songs from a historic songbook called “Put’s Original Songster” that was published in 1858 and features songs about life in the California mining camps and the California Trail. I even played the fiddle a little bit. I also did a program of some music of the homestead era and the great depression for a Civilian Conservation Corps program. It was great to be back at Fort Laramie chatting with people about the place. I still remember all the details, dates, stories, and names. If I wasn’t doing this, I would probably still be there.
Another highlight was playing with my friends Erin Youngberg, Tod Livingston, Natalie Padilla, and Eli West at the Main Stage Brewery in Lyons, Colorado on the Thursday before Rockygrass. I picked Eli up at the airport and we had a nice chat while driving up to the gig. If you’re unfamiliar with Eli West, I can guarantee that you will like him if you are on this email list. He’s a great singer, instrumentalist, and songwriter.
I was also able to attend Harry Tuft’s portrait unveiling at Swallow Hill that is now on display in the venue that bears his name “Tuft Theater”. Harry is a Denver music legend, and has influenced so many musicians, big and small, over the years. I played my very first show in Denver in Tuft Theater opening for my friend Bryan Bowers, and I met Harry that night. It was one of the things that made me think “Denver is where I should be!” His portrait party was really fun and it was nice to catch up with so many Denver music friends.
It’s probably no surprise that August is busy as well (I’m not complaining though, it’s nice to be busy as a musician).
August 3rd I will be in Lewistown, Montana playing at Centerfest Music Festival with Jackson Emmer. We were there in June as well, and I’m excited to be back in beautiful Montana and it’s always fun to play music with Jackson.
Excitingly, I am one of the finalists in the Songwriter’s Showcase at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival in Lyons, Colorado August 9th-11th. This is the second songwriting contest I have entered, and I’m very much looking forward to it. I enjoyed meeting all the other writers at Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and I’m very much looking forward to expanding that circle. All the other contestants in the showcase are amazing, and I’m honored to be among them. If you are going to Folks Fest, I play in the contest which is on Friday from 10:30am-12:30pm and on Sunday at 1:45pm in the Wildflower Pavillion.
August 17th, I will be at the Swallow Hill Open House talking about the Progressions classes along with a couple of amazing students who have taken my classes. These classes are in-depth courses that last sixteen weeks and are designed to push people from being intermediate or “closet” musicians to develop skills to play in jams, to play open mics, to play in bands, and beyond. I’m teaching a Progressions class focused on bluegrass guitar and another focused on songwriting. They are a big commitment though. They run sixteen weeks and we meet twice each week, once online and once in person. I have seen real results from these students though, and these classes have been some of my most rewarding teaching experiences. If you want to know more about it please send me a message, or come to Swallow Hill on the 17th to chat!
August 24th I will be back in Scottsbluff, Nebraska for the Beef, Beans, & Bluegrass Music Festival with The Martin Gilmore Trio. We will be playing the bluegrass music for the good people of western Nebraska, and we will likely sprinkle in some honky tonk and western swing music as well. If you are around, don’t miss this great event. My former UNC student Charlie Stevens will be playing with his fantastic band, along with several other good friends. I love being back in that part of the world. Come say howdy!
August 28th I will be back in Brush, Colorado playing in the park. If you are around town that day come say hello. It's always fun to catch up with all the people I've gotten to know over the years.
August 30th I will be in Dodge City, Kansas for a High Plains Public Radio fundraiser. More details on that are to come, but if you're around the Boot Hill area that day, I will be there too.
We will be back to school in August as well. My wife is a teacher and goes back at the beginning of the month, my son starts kindergarten in the middle of the month, and I’m back to UNC at the end of the month. It will be a relief to fall back into a bit of a routine, but I have a lot of class prep to do!
Some other highlights are that I will be directing the Swallow Hill Bluegrass Band again this fall. This ensemble requires an audition and only one person for each bluegrass instrument (guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass, fiddle/dobro) is accepted. We prepare a full set of music over sixteen weeks, and play an advertised show somewhere in the Denver area. If you are interested in playing in a bluegrass band please contact me and I will let you know what the audition process is.
I sold out of my album East-West which I recorded in Egypt with oud player Eslam Elabaty, but I’m hoping to get those reprinted this fall. It is still available on Bandcamp. I’m also headed into the studio early this month to try to finish a solo album that I have had in the works for a long time. Look for that one in the spring of 2025.
Finally, a heads up that I will be at the High Peaks Folk Festival in Westcliffe, Colorado with the Martin Gilmore Trio on September 14th, 2024. You can’t beat the backdrop for this stage, and the lineup is great. The festival will feature Harry Tuft, Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore, Hazel Miller, and us. If you want a weekend getaway, this will be a great one. Come join us in this beautiful town for some fantastic music.
I’m enjoying my new Martin D-28 that I won at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Admittedly, it’s not getting played as much as it deserves, but I’ve been on the road too much to really drive it. I won’t neglect it as much this fall. It’s a fabulous guitar. I’m lucky to have it.
Have a great August, and I hope to see you out there on the road sometime soon!
Martin
Comments