Sean McGowan is a guitarist, author, performer, and professor at the University of Colorado Denver. Martin and Sean talk about teaching, performing, the future of music education and so much more in this conversation. Sean has released several solo guitar records and authored countless articles and books including his newest instructional book "The Acoustic Jazz Guitarist" from Acoustic Guitar Magazine."

Pete Henriksen helped his dad start the Henriksen amplifier company more than a decade ago. Since then they have become a leader in jazz and acoustic amps. After his father's death, Pete carried on the tradition and has named their new product after him 'The Bud'. Martin and Pete Talk about Amp building, luthiers, the music gear business and much more. This episode also features a conversation with the band 'Generation Nomad' one of the winners of Swallow Hill's Young Songwriters Competition.

In this episode of the Front Row Podcast, Martin Gilmore interviews Mark Diamond. Mark is a gigmaster...or a "gigfarmer" in his own words. His bass has driven numerous bands and multiple styles of music. From Bluegrass to jazz to blues Mark has an abundant musical energy and makes his living gigging! It is still possible.

Thank you for listening to the Front Row Podcast, created and hosted by Martin Gilmore.

Tyler Grant is a National Flatpicking Guitar champion, bandleader, songwriter, and all around great musician. His band "Grant Farm" has become a mainstay of the Colorado music scene and tours nationally with their flavor of Americana. Martin and Tyler talk guitar contests, business and much more on this episode of the Front Row Podcast.

Thank you for listening to the Front Row Podcast, created and hosted by Martin Gilmore.

Denver has a cutting edge avant-garde music scene exploring the borders of conventional music. Martin is joined by two prestigious Denver musicians and composers versed in prepared instruments. Janet Feder is an acclaimed guitarist and "musical experimenter." She has a bag of gadgets that expand her guitar into something unexpected, new and wonderful. Conrad Kehn teaches music composition at the University of Denver. For this episode, he found some things in his car and changed the piano into a collage of new sounds and depth. Martin, Conrad and Janet talk about the norms of music and art, what it's like to push the boundaries of sound and what listening means. It's an in depth discussion about something musicians often take for granted. Check out their websites: www.playgroundensemble.org andwww.janetfeder.com. Enjoy!

David Thomas Bailey and Martin have been friends since Martin moved to Denver in 2007. David is a notable guitarist who plays a really unique jazz style on a really unique 7-string guitar built by Greg German from Episode 16 (you can also hear some of his music on this episode). Martin and David talk about digital influence in the analogue world, composition and the band Faceman, which features David on guitar and bass...simultaneously...Check them out! www.facemanmusic.com

Greg German is an artist by trade. Not just an artist with guitars and sound, but a painter, and medical illustrator. His unique vision has brought the world some incredible and (dare I say it) revolutionary instruments. Martin has known Greg for almost ten years. They cover a lot about guitar design and building in this conversation. All while Greg works...he never stops.

Slam poetry is a rapidly rising folk art, and Slam Nuba is at the forefront of the craft. With several national competitions under their belt, Slam Nuba will return to the championships in Oakland, CA this August to try to claim the national title again. They join Martin for episode 14 of the Front Row Podcast. We hope you enjoy Martin's conversation with Luce, Jovan, Joser, Mary, Ken and Johnny.

Martin sits down for a panel discussion to weigh the benefits and disadvantages of a formal music education against an apprenticeship method. The panel includes a cast of experts from varied backgrounds including Colleen Jackson, Steve Seifert, Dave Devine and Eric Thorin.

"This was our first live podcast...I learned some lessons." - Martin Gilmore.

Andres Cladera is the new director of the school at Swallow Hill Music. Andres is originally from Montevideo, Uruguay but came to the United States to pursue his education in music. He is a classically trained pianist and singer. He started the "Microscopic Opera" with Erica Olden in 2010. 

Heather Browne's music blog "I Am Fuel, You Are Friends" is full of discovery. She is an explorer finding sources of creativity and telling all of us about them. Since moving to Colorado from the San Francisco bay area she has discovered, uncovered, bolstered and cultivated the Colorado music scene. Check out her blog at fuelfriendsblog.com. Enjoy!

Heather Browne's music blog "I Am Fuel, You Are Friends" is full of discovery. She is an explorer finding sources of creativity and telling all of us about them. Since moving to Colorado from the San Francisco bay area she has discovered, uncovered, bolstered and cultivated the Colorado music scene. Check out her blog at fuelfriendsblog.com. Enjoy!

For more than thirteen years, Bevan Frost has been building musical instruments. His brand, Big Hollow Guitars, have become known as some of the finest quality small bodied guitars in the country. Originally from Laramie, Wyoming, Bevan Frost has traveled around the world to learn his trade. As a student in Germany he explored his trade, while at the Breedlove Guitar factory he refined his system and now he focuses on his instruments from his shop in Frisco, CO.

His instruments can be seen at www.bighollowguitars.com