MIXTAPE: Songwriter Showcase featuring John Statz and Martin Gilmore

Date and Time

• Thursday, Mar 12, 2026  7:30pm - 9:30pm

Location

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Details

This is an intimate live show in downtown Longmont, Colorado presented by The Soundpost Sessions at The Times Collaborative featuring two songwriters and host Monica Marie LaBonte all on stage swapping songs and stories in-the-round. Music is from 7:30-9:30, doors at 7:00. Join us for this very special ongoing musical series every other month!

$18 Advance (reserved seating)

$20 Day of Show

The Artists:

John Statz https://johnstatz.com/

It was somewhere in England while on tour in September of 2019 that Colorado songwriter John Statz – stressed out by rainy days, Brexit anxiety, and a disintegrating relationship back home – began to feel optimistic and plan his new record. Early Riser is a balancing act between the experiences in modern life that cause us worry or pain and those that bring us joy. The album is very much a product of the year 2019 and the cultural scene at the end of a decade, with songs referencing political divisions over Brexit, the destruction of Notre Dame, and the racist dog-whistles of a xenophobic president. John presents those weighty topics alongside more personal songs of reverence for travel and the outdoors, falling in and out of love, and his parents’ relationship. These songs are brought to life by an ace band featuring Billy Conway (Morphine) on drums, Jeremy Moses Curtis (Booker T) on bass, and Denver multi-instrumentalist Kate Hannington on keys, backing vocals, woodwinds, and guitars.

One of the more prolific thirty-something songwriters working in the Folk/Americana genre today, John Statz has released nine studio albums and performed all over North America and Europe over the course of his fifteen-year career. The Boston Globe has called John’s music electric, urgent folk; aching, sweet country-rock while American Songwriter has said that he writes the kind of songs that float through your mind and stay nestled in your thoughts long after listening. John has worked with some of the best producers in the genre, including Bo Ramsey (Lucinda Williams, Greg Brown) on his 2012 release Old Fashioned, Jeffrey Foucault (Kris Delmhorst, Caitlin Canty) on a 2015 album TULSA, and Denver songwriting friend Megan Burtt on 2017’s The Fire Sermon. He’s more recently taken a turn towards the production chair, self-producing 2018’s Darkness on the San Juans and co-producing 2020’s Early Riser, along with Kate Hannington, Billy Conway, and Jeremy Moses Curtis.

John Statz was given a guitar by his grandmother when he was fifteen, which turned out to be perfectly timed for an easily-distracted Wisconsin teenager who, after ten years of piano lessons, had lost interest in classical music and had taken to learning John Lennon and Elton John tunes. It wasn’t until Statz was nineteen and attending university in Oshkosh that he began writing songs. The spark lit after attending a show at the storied Café Carpe in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin featuring Jeffrey Foucault and Peter Mulvey, who quickly became heroes, and, later on, friends and collaborators. John moved to Denver in 2010 where he escapes to the mountains as much as possible to hike and camp, cooks almost entirely in cast-iron cookware, and reads presidential biographies in chronological order.

Martin Gilmore https://www.martingilmore.com/

With a diverse and extensive repertoire, Martin Gilmore’s soulful voice navigates a wide range of sounds with traditional and original songs. His easy-going style explores the depths of folk music with authentic reproductions, creative reimaginations, and unique original songs. His robust vocals, and impressive guitar work combine to bring color to new and old songs alike. Gilmore’s strong desire to let his authenticity blaze a trail leaves no doubt about his sincerity or artistry.

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Martin Gilmore released his debut self-titled record in 2009 which was produced by Infamous Stringdusters bassist Travis Book. The record also featured members of FY5, Open Road, and Pete Wernick of Hot Rize. In 2017, Martin released his EP East-West also featuring Eslam Elabaty, which was recorded in Cairo, Egypt where Martin lived from 2015-2017. Martin’s 2021 release The Martin Gilmore Trio featured the talents of mandolinist Nick Amodeo and bassist Ian Haegele, who play regularly with Martin. The record also features Tim O’Brien, Courtney Hartman, and Mollie O’Brien. The Martin Gilmore trio have played all over the United States and Ireland, and were one of the official showcase groups at the International Bluegrass Music Associations World of Bluegrass conference in 2021.

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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 conducted lessons in bluegrass guitar, singing, composition & songwriting, and has led the bluegrass ensemble. Martin has also been an instructor at Swallow Hill Music Association in Denver since 2008, where he leads classes about songwriting, guitar, singing, and directs bluegrass ensembles and the Swallow Hill Bluegrass Band. He also has taught courses on bluegrass music, the banjo, country music, and cowboy songs for the University of Denver’s Enrichment Program.

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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. He is a winner of the 2025 New Folk Competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival.

Monica Marie LaBonte monicamariemusic.com

From a wide-eyed tike delicately pressing the keys of her mother’s upright piano to a seasoned artist taking various stages across the country, Monica Marie LaBonte has always been guided by song.With the sharp ability to craft tracks that speak to the fragility and wonder of life, the crystalline vocalist continues to attract listeners with her stirring blend of folk and country. At times, her lyrics come across as wise whisperings from a dear friend. At others, they hold all the vulnerability and transparency of raw confessions. A keen observer, LaBonte bears witness to life’s magic and heartache and artfully weaves the intricacies of the human condition into tunes that possess undeniable intimacy, grace and grit.In her over 10-year career, the Colorado native has played hundreds of venues, including the historic Gold Hill Inn and Planet Bluegrass. Whether belting out ballads in a small listening room or playing to tens of thousands at an open-air venue, she brings a palpable authenticity to each gig.Known for her stint in mystic-Americana band Monocle, her stellar musicianship and gift for commanding a stage shines just as bright in her solo work.Armed with an acoustic and her truth, it’s clear LaBonte is pursuing her art for all the right reasons. Although her creative pursuits are guided by pure passion, LaBonte hasn’t escaped critical praise and success. A finalist In the 2018 Songwriter Showcase, at Rocky Mountain Folks Fest in Lyons, Colo., she continues to impress with her art.A natural-born wordsmith — in the vein of Joni Mitchell and Alison Krauss — it’s easy to see why the songstress has packed coffeehouses, held her own on the lineup at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and been hailed as having “a voice I trust” by fellow musician Daniel Rodriguez (founding member of Elephant Revival).Powerful, yet understated — poetic, yet real — LaBonte remains one to watch.