The Bluegrass Martian
Solo acoustic guitar | Traditional bluegrass, haunting folk spirituals, and originals with a cosmic bend
Watch
Reuben's Train - Solo Acoustic GuitarFilmed on the old rail trail near Monkton ON, not far from where I used to keep my horse. One take, no effects. Just wood, wire, and voice. This is what I do. Book me, and I'll bring this to your pub, venue, or back porch.
About
I'm Nick Vernem, a solo guitar flatpicker from Listowel, Ontario. I play fast, sing high and lonesome, and bring 20+ years of experience to every stage, back room, and front porch I land on.The Bluegrass Martian is as much brand identity and a character as it is a metaphor for lived experience. It's wrong planet syndrome communicated through folk music tradition with high urgency and stories to tell. I blend traditional bluegrass, gospel, genre crossovers, and original material with just enough strangeness and drive to remind audiences what it feels like to be alive.I play music to find meaning in life, to connect to tradition, and to try to make people feel what can't be said.
Book A Show
I'm available for solo acoustic shows in southwestern Ontario. I play anywhere from pubs and patios, to coffee houses, retirement homes, house shows, and festival stages.My setlists draw from traditional bluegrass and folk/Americana repertoire, gospel, and a few originals. I deliver fast picking, slow waltzes, and everything in between.I can bring my own small PA system and play up to 4 hours solo, or do shorter, focused sets depending on the room.Rates are negotiable. Let's talk.
[email protected]
647-648-1309
Yes, I'll play Wagon Wheel. But only ironically, and only once.