Howdy!
Happy back to school! That’s what’s going on around here. My son started kindergarten, my wife is back to teaching band and orchestra and pursuing a doctorate at the same time, and I’m back for my last year at the University of Northern Colorado as well as a new session at Swallow Hill Music. I’ve always been grateful for my teachers and my students. This time of year is both exciting and stressful as we all settle into new routines. If you’re headed back to school, or if you are responsible for someone who is, may this year be prosperous with learning, and inspiring with new knowledge.
August was a whirlwind. I took a quick trip to Lewiston, Montana to play Centerfest with Jackson Emmer, which was a lot of fun. I got to see a lot of the most historic parts of Wyoming, and enjoyed checking out Billings for a couple hours. The next weekend I competed in the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriters Showcase competition and WON FIRST PRIZE! That means I’ll be back in 2025 for a set on the mainstage! Come and see me with my band!
I finished up teaching a few classes at Swallow Hill including a really fun bluegrass singing class. And I was in Scottsbluff, Nebraska (one of my hometowns) for the first Beef, Beans, and Bluegrass Festival where my trio performed. We were joined by my cousin Ben Treffer, and my good friend Ron Lynam played some banjo with us since he was there playing with the fantastic Charlie Stevens Band.
I have had a wonderful summer full of music and personal achievements. I’m still sort of awestruck that I did so well in the songwriting contests this summer, and very honored to have been part of them. I have made several new friends from those experiences, and am excited to see them again. I’m also very grateful to all of my friends, family, and fans who have been so supportive of my music over the years. I can’t express enough gratitude to all of you. Thank you for buying my records, listening to my music, coming to my shows, and spreading the word about my art. It truly means a lot to me, and I couldn’t live this musical life without you all.
I still have the pedal to the metal this September. September 6th I will be at the authentically western Stampede Saloon in Chugwater, Wyoming with my friend Pat Kelleher from County Cork in Ireland at 7pm. We will be playing a mix of bluegrass, folk, celtic, and other music. He’s a master performer, and a swell Irishman. September 8th, Pat and I will be at the Gold Hill inn starting at 5:30pm.
The Martin Gilmore Trio will be playing a couple of festivals the next weekend. September 14th, we will be at the High Peaks Music Festival in Westcliffe, Colorado along with Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore, Harry Tuft, and Hazel Miller. September 15th, we will be in Greenwood Village for the Art on the Green Festival at 3:00pm. Ian is out of town but the fantastic Bradley Morse will be joining us on the bass. He is the bassist for the incredible band Gasoline Lollipops, as well as many others.
September 21st the Martin Gilmore Trio will be playing a house concert in Denver with limited seating. If you are interested in seeing us, send me a message and we will try to get you in.
September 24th-29th I will be in Austin, Texas for the annual Southwest Regional Folk Alliance (SWRFA) conference where I am one of the official showcase artists. I have a few in room showcases as well, and will be hosting a panel on developing curriculum for better lessons! If you are going to be there, please let me know, I’d love to chat with you. If you want to know my performance schedule, it will be on my website.
After the SWRFA conference, Jackson Emmer and I will be playing some shows around Texas stretching into October including Houston, New Braunfels, and Austin. More information on that tour can be found on Jackson’s website!
There’s also a little bit of time to jump in on my Progressions: Bluegrass Guitar Class if you’re looking for a deep dive into the style. It’s a big commitment, but I have seen some wonderful improvement from students during the duration of these courses. We cover techniques on playing bluegrass rhythm guitar, developing leads, improvising, and much more. There are still seats available, but we keep the cohorts small so don’t wait! We would love to have you, sign up now!
Here are some upcoming events to keep in mind. I will be at the FARwest Conference in Los Angeles, California in October with Jackson Emmer. Also, I will be teaching a Wernick Method Jam class starting November 10th and running into December (with a break for Thanksgiving). If you’re looking to start playing some bluegrass, this is a great place to start. It’s also a great place to learn a new instrument!
If you haven’t already, please follow me on YouTube and check out some of my new lessons there. There are also new charts and stuff on my Patreon account. If you would like to support my music in a more direct way, Patreon is a great way to do that. You can pledge at the $5 level for behind the scenes stuff, top ten lists, videos, interviews, music, etc. Or you can pledge at the $10 level for access to the lesson resources. A small amount each month makes a big difference to a DIY artist like me.
That’s it for September. I need to gather my pencils and head off to school. I’m looking forward to a great teaching year.
Martin
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