Fresh off their annual pilgrimage to perform at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Jackson Emmer & Martin Gilmore return to the Roaring Fork Valley for a stopover in Aspen, guitars in hand. Join us for an evening of listening in on some incredible pickin', storytelling, and song as these two incredible musicians share their well-honed craft!
Note: This evening concert will follow an afternoon songwriting workshop led by Jackson Emmer. Learn more.
BIOS
Emmer
Jackson Emmer is an award-winning songwriter and folksinger from Santa Cruz, California. His 5th solo record, "Battle Hymn of the Early Riser," came out in June of 2025. The album explores themes of family, parenthood, broken dreams, and steady bonds. Emmer’s writing is often compared to the late greats of the 70's Texas troubadour scene – think witty and gritty, cheerful and lonesome, a poet bleeding while you tap your toes.
Emmer has performed at the Bluebird Cafe, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and Club Passim. He has taught for Acoustic Guitar Magazine, Swallow Hill Music, and many other music camps. Bluegrass legend Tim O'Brien said this about Emmer's latest: "I chuckled, I sang along, and a few tears came. It's personal, universal, fresh, and hopeful. And there's steel guitar. Were you looking for more?"
Official Website / Instagram / Spotify / YouTube
Gilmore
Martin Gilmore is a Folk, Americana and Bluegrass musician and educator based in Denver, Colorado. As a musician, he has toured all over the world as a solo act, as well as with the Martin Gilmore Trio, and his bluegrass band Long Road Home. He also won the 2024 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Troubadour songwriting competition and the 2024 Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriters Showcase competition. He is a winner of the 2025 New Folk Competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival. Martin has opened for groups such as The Infamous Stringdusters and Stephen Stills, and his albums and EPs have featured Pete Wernick of Hot Rize, Tim & Mollie O'Brien, and Courtney Hartman, amongst others.
In 2017, Martin joined the faculty at the University of Northern Colorado as part of the Folk and Bluegrass program in the School of Music. As part of the program, he has taught bluegrass guitar, singing, composition & songwriting, and has led the bluegrass ensemble. Martin has also been an instructor at the Swallow Hill Music Association in Denver since 2008. He was nominated for an IBMA Momentum Award for Mentor of the Year in 2025.
Martin has opened for groups such as The Infamous Stringdusters, Stephen Stills, Judy Collins, amongst others. He has toured all over the world as a solo act, as well as with the Martin Gilmore Trio, and his bluegrass band Long Road Home. He also won the 2024 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Troubadour songwriting competition and the 2024 Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriters Showcase competition.
Official Website | Instagram / Spotify | YouTube