Martin Gilmore Music - March 2026

Happy March!This has been a weird winter. The south east got a disastrous ice and snow storm at the end of January, the Northeast is getting snow, but Colorado has had one of the mildest, sunniest winters I recall. It’s nice for now, but I’m not sure the summer is going to be so nice. Lets all hope there’s some big snow storms headed for the mountains this March and April. I drove over Loveland pass the other day, and while there is some snow…well…likely not enough.

February was busy as always. I played with my bluegrass band The Otherners at the Midwinter Bluegrass Festival. It’s always great to go and catch up with everyone there. It’s like a big family reunion. My former Long Road Home band mates Shelby and Jacob Means were there playing, and I caught up with my friends Tristan Scroggins and Frank Evans. There were so many of my students there jamming and making music. It’s always inspiring to see folks putting their skills to work. Teaching can be difficult sometimes because you don’t get to see the immediate results of your work. But seeing so many folks who have played music in my classes out making music with the bluegrass community is amazing. I’m not sure they learned anything from me, but I hope so. Nevertheless, I love seeing them in the bluegrass community.

I played a really fun show in beautiful Paonia, Colorado at the Paradise Theater. My friend Gabrielle Louise curated a songwriter’s round show called the “Troubadour Takeover”. I was joined by my friends and monster songwriters Antonio Lopez, and Mike Finders. Antonio and I drove over together and played on the fantastic community radio station KVNF and enjoyed some slow-paced time around town while an actual snowstorm blew through. Mike and Antonio are such great songwriters and musicians. It was great to hear their songs, attempt a few guitar solos, and tell stories with them.

I also wrapped up my final concerts with the Colorado Symphony for their Youth Concert Series. We performed my song “The Dry & Dusty West” for over 24,000 regional school kids and community members. It was a real career highlight to get to play with one of the best symphonies in the United States and perform in their wonderful concert hall. If you have not seen the Colorado Symphony, you should definitely check out their upcoming programming. They play such a wonderful variety of traditional and contemporary classical music as well as popular music. Wonderful people making wonderful music. I feel so lucky to get to collaborate with folks like them!

March is a little bit slower, but it’s the calm before the storm of April and May. 

March 1st (that's tonight!) at 7pm Mountain Time I will be playing a livestream concert on my Youtube Page featuring songs from my Songsmith Series on Patreon. Each week I write a new song and record it. Some of them are relegated to life on Patreon., but I like some of them enough to perform. I’ll be playing those and talking about my creative process. It’s free…and live in your living room!

March 6th I will be playing with Bluecifergrass at Coda Brewing in Golden, CO from 5pm-8pm. These folks are alumni of my Swallow Hill Bluegrass Band class at Swallow Hill and have kept the motor running to play their FIRST GIG! If you are around, come and show them some support! I’ll fill the time they don’t use, and we have a special collaboration on a song!

March 12th at 7:30pm I will be playing in Longmont, Colorado for the Soundpost Sessions Mixtape concerts at the Times Collaborative. I’ll be joining John Statz and Monica Labonte for some great original music. Songwriting fans shouldn’t miss out on this awesome series. I’m excited to be part of it. 

March 13th, I will be teaching a songwriting class for KC Groves’s Sunshine Mountain Bluegrass Retreat. It’s sold out, but you can get on the waitlist in case there are any cancellations. I don’t do many of these kinds of workshops, even though I like teaching them.

I also have a new song coming out in March, but I will send a special announcement for that. So keep a look out!

My Intermediate Bluegrass Ensemble at Swallow Hill starts again on Wednesday at 8pm. These classes are eight-weeks long and meet every Wednesday. We learn four songs and prepare two for a performance during the last week of the class. They are a great way to get your feet wet playing bluegrass, try out a new instrument, meet some other pickers, or just to make some music. If you know your basic chords you are welcome to join. Also, if you want to learn to play bass, or try out a banjo, this would be a good class for something like that!

A couple of other special things that I wanted to mention. My Youtube Channel is plugging right along. I have a video about playing basic bluegrass rhythm guitar that has over 100,000 views now, and a new seminar about what to look for when buying a bluegrass guitar. Please check out my channel if you enjoy YouTube and maybe subscribe if you find something you like. But more than that, if you know someone interested in bluegrass guitar, maybe point them in my direction. I have a lot of lessons coming this year and I always post music there as well. It’s something I enjoy doing and I want to encourage you all to check it out!

Likewise, if you haven’t subscribed to my Patreon, come on over and check it out! I post a new original song each week, and at higher tiers you can even get the lyrics and chords for the songs. I also have a new monthly podcast debuting there this month where I interview touring musicians about their favorite places to stop on the road. Antonio Lopez and I recorded an episode while we were hanging out in Paonia. In true Shakespearean style, it will be out on the Ides of March (March 15th). Subscribe now and help me keep this show on the road!

Springtime is almost here, which means summer is right around the corner. Time to get the car tuned up for all the tours this summer. Happy March!

Martin