Harmony on the Green Coffeehouse Concerts


Vance Gilbert

with Jerry Martinez (opening act)

April 27, 2024

“If Joni Mitchell and Richie Havens had a love child, with Rodney Dangerfield as the midwife, the results might be something close to the great Vance Gilbert,” says Richmond Magazine.

Vance’s new album, “The Mother Of Trouble,” features Grammy winner Lori McKenna on background vocals, Juno award recipient and Bonnie Raitt Grammy hit song co-writer Joey Landreth on guitars, and Americana-Roots master mandolinist Joe K. Walsh. Thirty years into his career, the songwriter’s influence can be felt all over the contemporary Folk and Americana realm as he has helped pave the way for many of the BIPOC artists who have followed.

Vance was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. Starting out hoping to be an R&B and jazz singer once at college, there he discovered his affinity for the storytelling sensibilities of the acoustic singer-songwriter thing. Word spread like wildfire about Gilbert’s stage-owning singing and playing, and Shawn Colvin invited him to be special guest on her 1992 Fat City tour where he took much of America by storm and by surprise. “With the voice of an angel, the wit of a devil, and the guitar playing of a god…” wrote the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Considered by many to be an integral part of the national folk scene, his previous record “Good Good Man” features an eclectic roster of musical types including rocker Mike Posner, world renown Celtic harpist Aine Minough, bluesman Chris Smither, and Al Green’s organist Stacey Wade. He even has a tune on a Grammy Nominated children’s album. How rounded is that?


About Jerry Martinez

Jerry has been active in the local (and not so local) music scene for over 4 decades. He is a songwriter, guitarist, and singer steeped in the Americana, Singer/Songwriter, Blues, and Folk traditions. Over the years he has developed a unique synthesis of these art-forms and blended them into a powerful writing style that aims for the heart. Jerry’s vocals, described as “soulful and powerful,” drive home the often poignant messages in his songs. The years of playing have honed his acoustic guitar chops into a distinctive, flat-picking/finger-picking hybrid, all his own. After playing in a variety of Boston/Lowell-based bands, he was the lead singer and guitarist in the Baltimore, Maryland band, Starkey Drive. Jerry worked with the incredible Dana Pomfret in the late 2000’s contributing vocals and guitar to her Float release and her live performances. Having recently worked with producer extraordinaire, Jim Chapdelaine, Jerry is ready to share his music with all who would like to hear it.


All concerts start at 7:30pm in Clark Hall at Hancock Church, 1912 Mass. Ave., Lexington, MA. Tickets are $20 or pay what you can.

Future concert tickets are sold closer to show date!

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