Martin Gilmore
Denver, Colorado
Performer
Singer-Songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger, educator.
The Martin Gilmore Trio - 2021 IBMA Official Showcase band
Long Road Home - 2006 Rockygrass band competition winners
Solo - Two studio albums, toured nationally in the US and internationally in Ireland and Canada.
Educator:
Swallow Hill Music Association - Faculty member since 2008 concentrating on bluegrass and songwriting education.
University of Denver Enrichment Program - Lecturer on music culture, music history, and performance.
University of Northern Colorado - Instructor of music in the Folk and Bluegrass Program.
Bio
Martin Gilmore grew up on the prairies of the panhandle of Nebraska. Raised in a musical family, he was surrounded by folk and bluegrass music from a young age ultimately leading to a career as a professional music. Now residing in the Denver, Colorado metropolitan ares he is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, producer, and music educator.
Martin's broad musical repertoire has led him down many musical paths. From rock bands in his younger years to honky tonk and bluegrass bands that toured nationally and internationally, Martin's American roots style has brought a voice and direction to many bands in the rocky mountain region.
In 2005, he formed the bluegrass band Long Road Home with Justin Hoffenberg. In 2006, Long Road Home won the prestigious Rockygrass band competition. The band recorded two albums including Long Road Home: Live From eTown Hall (2009) and Headed Back to Dixieland (2014). Long Road Home continues to perform around the Rocky Mountain region.
Martin has been a recognized solo performer ever since he started playing. He has performed all over the United States as well as in Ireland, Egypt, Cyprus, and elsewhere. He released his first self-titled debut album in 2009 which was produced by Travis Book of the Infamous Stringdusters. From 2015-2017 Martin lived in Cairo, Egypt and performed with local and expat musicians while he was there. He recorded an EP with acclaimed oudist Eslam Elabaty titled East-West during Ramadan in 2017. Martin still performs often as a solo artist.
Originally, The Martin Gilmore Trio started as a pickup band for events around Denver, playing weddings and other events, but over the years their repertoire became more established and they started incorporating Martin's original music into their sets. They soon became a well known acoustic group in the region. In 2021 they released their record The Martin Gilmore Trio and were one of the International Bluegrass Music Associations official showcase bands at the World of Bluegrass Conference that same year. They have toured throughout the Rocky Mountain Region as well as in Ireland in 2015 and 2016.
Martin is also a music educator. He maintains a private studio focused on bluegrass and folk guitar styles as well as songwriting and song coaching. He has a passion for helping people find joy and expression in music. Many of his students have achieved successful music careers of their own.
Martin has been an instructor at Swallow Hill Music Association since 2008. He has created and taught classes on folk and bluegrass guitar, singing, songwriting, and performing. He is the director of the intermediate bluegrass ensemble, and has led camps and workshops on various musical topics. He is one of the teachers in Swallow Hill's new in-depth Progressions program, and created the curriculum for that course. From 2013-2018 he hosted and produced the Front Row Podcast featuring interviews of important figures on the Denver music scene. Martin continues to be an active member of the faculty at Swallow Hill.
In 2017 Martin joined the music faculty at the University of Northern Colorado as an instructor of s guitar when the Folk & Bluegrass studies program was established. Currently he directs the bluegrass ensemble and instructs private lessons.
The University of Denver's Enrichment program is a lecture series designed for continuing adult education. Martin has become a frequent presenter in the program offering courses on the banjo, bluegrass music, and the Bakersfield Sound in country music. He continues to offer courses about music history and culture through the program.
Besides his own records, Martin has produced records
He is an instructor of folk and bluegrass music at the University of Northern Colorado where he teaches guitar, vocals, and directs the bluegrass ensemble. He has recorded two solo records which feature members of Hot Rize, The Infamous Stringdusters, and FY5.
In 2017 he recorded a collaboration project titled East-West with famed oudist Eslam Elabaty in Cairo, Egypt where he lived from 2015-2017. He is an acclaimed songwriter and teaches songwriting at Swallow Hill Music Association in Denver, Colorado. Martin is the lead singer and plays guitar and bouzouki in the MG3. Martin is a member of the bluegrass band Long Road Home featuring Pete Wernick on Banjo.
“This album seamlessly journeys through the Rockies and the Appalachian Mountains with timeless stories and tasteful instrumentation.” – Bluegrass Today
“A nice collection of pleasing material from the Martin Gilmore Trio. “ – Bluegrass Unlimited
“With plenty of emotional electricity and snappy spirit in their fluid melodic conversations, The Martin Gilmore Trio has the potential, repertoire and chops to build a legion of fans and appeal to a wide demographic that simply likes solid, tastefully rendered acoustic music.” – Roots Music Report
“The Martin Gilmore Trio has an enchanting, varied repertoire that channels inspiration from folk, old-time, blues, honky-tonk, bluegrass and swing.” – Roots Music Report