From the Factory, Players | October 20, 2026
Martin Guitar Quarterly Recap (July–September 2026): Artist Highlights, Acoustic Cameos & Martin Moments
From mountaintop performances and late-night TV to festival stages, Nashville showrooms, London auctions, and beyond, Martin guitars kept showing up in artists’ hands throughout summer and early fall.
Welcome back to the Martin Guitar Quarterly Recap, our ongoing look at standout Martin moments from the past few months.
For this July–September edition, we’re focusing on the artists, performances, and acoustic cameos that put Martin guitars in the spotlight throughout summer and early fall. From mountaintop performances and late-night TV to social media clips, vintage guitar stories, festival stages, lesson videos, and intimate acoustic sessions, Martin guitars kept showing up in memorable places.
To catch up on everything else Martin did during this part of the year—including new products, artist collaborations, factory stories, and behind-the-scenes features—explore the Martin Blog, follow us on social media, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Here’s a look back at some of the biggest Martin artist highlights and acoustic moments from July through September 2026.
July 2026 Artist Highlights
July brought Martin guitars to mountaintop performances, late-night TV, major media features, acoustic collaborations, and plenty of vintage-inspired moments.
Acoustic Collaborations and Outdoor Performances
Jesse Welles and his vintage D-28 teamed up with Martin Signature Artist Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, and members of Old Crow Medicine Show for a cover of “Almost Heaven.”
Jesse also performed a new song, “I Carry You With Me,” on his vintage D-28.
Punch Brothers guitarist Chris Eldridge took his D-18 Authentic to a Colorado mountaintop for a special Fourth of July performance of “This Land Is Your Land.” The group also performed “New Bike” and “Song of the Water Kelpie.”
Martin Moments on Screens and Stages
Actor Edward Norton shared a story on the Armchair Expert podcast about fellow actor Richard Gere taking him guitar shopping and buying him a 1969 D-35.
Lestat de Lioncourt, played by actor Sam Reid, is seen playing a DX Johnny Cash in multiple episodes of the AMC TV series The Vampire Lestat.
Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood played a 000-18 alongside Mick Jagger for an acoustic performance promoting the band’s latest album in London.
Gracie Abrams and her D-15M StreetMaster® were featured on CBS Sunday Morning ahead of the launch of her new album.
On launch day, Gracie performed “Minibar” on The Tonight Show with her new go-to model, the CEO-7, which she’ll be using throughout her 64-date arena tour.
Signature Artists, Songwriters, and YouTube Moments
YouTuber Mary Spender performed three more songs from her acoustic double album—“6000 Miles,” “Rent Free,” and “Before We Arrived”—all on her Custom Shop OM-42.
Molly Tuttle was nominated for IBMA Guitar Player of the Year alongside fellow Martin Signature Artist Billy Strings and shared her thanks with a photo of herself and her Grand J-28E DN.
YouTuber Marty Schwartz taught a “Folsom Prison Blues” lesson on Johnny Cash’s D-42, filmed in the Martin Museum during his recent visit to the factory.
Marty also played Graham Nash’s D-28 for his “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” lesson and has continued using his own D-28 in other acoustic lesson videos.
Bob Dylan’s YouTube channel shared three performances from his 1994 MTV Unplugged appearance—“Tombstone Blues,” “Desolation Row,” and “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35”—during which he played a D-28.
Vintage Guitars and Special Sessions
Joe Robinson stopped by Music Villa in Montana for an interview and to demo his 1937 D-18 and the shop’s 1938 D-28.
Trey Hensley performed “Deep Elem Blues” at Carter Vintage Guitars on a 1940 000-45.
Renée Fleming, Béla Fleck, and Sierra Hull were backed by Jake Stargel and his vintage D-18 for their Tiny Desk Concert.
Mary Spender also teased her new Custom Shop Dreadnought with a behind-the-scenes video featuring Martin’s own Danny Brown and Joe Silvius.
August 2026 Artist Highlights
August kept the momentum going with Martin guitars appearing in artist promos, lesson videos, live sessions, album campaigns, vintage performances, and behind-the-scenes studio moments.
Album Moments, Artist Promos, and Social Cameos
Billy Strings shared a backstage photo with his D-28 Billy Strings microtonal model ahead of his show in Bethel, New York.
Martin Signature Artist Joe Bonamassa repped our Modern Heritage Crewneck Sweatshirt in a Guitar Center video.
Bob Dylan’s YouTube channel shared his iconic performance of “Mr. Tambourine Man,” played on Joan Baez’s 1929 0-45 at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival.
YouTuber Sean Daniel visited the Martin Showroom in Los Angeles with Claire Rice, where they picked out a 00DB Jeff Tweedy and covered songs by Norah Jones and Carole King.
Year of the Buffalo’s Jacob Trego performed a song on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show with his 000-17E Black Smoke.
Marty Schwartz played an SC-28E in one of his latest lesson videos.
KEXP, Live Lounge, and Acoustic Sessions
Alela Diane played a vintage 000-18 for her live performance on KEXP.
Phoebe Bridgers was accompanied by a vintage 000-18 for an acoustic performance of “Bobby” and a cover of Nirvana's “Lithium” in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge.
Alt-rock legends Dinosaur Jr. shared behind-the-scenes photos from the recording of their new album, including Lou Barlow playing J Mascis’ D-42.
Fontaines D.C. headlined Reading Festival in England, with guitarist Carlos O’Connell playing a vintage 12-fret 00-18 for “In the Modern World.”
Billy Strings and Jesse Welles Keep the Acoustic Momentum Going
Billy Strings did a major promo run around his new album So Much for Goodbyes, including an interview with The New York Times and an appearance on Theo Von’s This Past Weekend podcast. He played vintage D-28s in both.
Billy also shared a clip of his dad playing an HD12-28 12-String.
Jesse Welles debuted his new Custom Shop OM-18 in his video for “M-S.”
Jesse also hit the woods with his vintage D-28 to record “Freedom Isn’t Free.”
September 2026 Artist Highlights
September rounded out the season with Martin guitars on TODAY, KEXP, CBS Saturday Morning, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Tiny Desk, lesson channels, artist collections, and more.
Stories, Sessions, and Songwriter Moments
Dolly Parton’s cousin, Richie Owens, appeared on TODAY, where he shared a photo of himself and Dolly with some special Martins and told the story of finding a 5-18 that matched her childhood guitar.
Sera Cahoone played an OMJM John Mayer for her KEXP performance.
Mary Spender continued to use her Custom Shop OM for her Songbook Volumes III & IV acoustic project.
The Universal Documentaries YouTube channel shared Oasis guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher’s Once in a Lifetime Sessions episode from 2018, which featured heavy use of The Chief's HD-28, including this performance of “Wonderwall.”
Trey Hensley played a 1938 000-18 for a cover of The Allman Brothers Band’s “Blue Sky” at Carter Vintage Guitars.
Greta Van Fleet shared a clip of guitarist Jake Kiszka playing a CEO-7 in front of a wall of Martins.
Martin Signature Artist John Mayer announced an April residency at Sphere in Las Vegas with a promo that prominently featured his OM-45 John Mayer 20th Anniversary.
Major Stages, Broadcasts, and Festival Moments
Improvement Movement played an SC-13E and 000-15M for their performances of “On the Bus” and “In the Morning” on CBS Saturday Morning.
Martin Signature Artist Kenneth Pattengale of The Milk Carton Kids played a vintage 0-15 on Jimmy Kimmel Live for a performance of “A Friend Like You.” (Check out Kenneth’s episode of the official Martin podcast, Martin Stories, here.)
The Austin City Limits YouTube channel shared a 2024 performance of Kacey Musgraves playing “Too Good to Be True” on a 000-17E Black Smoke, with her guitarist also playing a 000-28E.
Latin singer-songwriter Alex Ferreira played a 000-15SM for his NPR Music Tiny Desk performance in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month.
There were plenty of Martin moments onstage at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, including Daniel Santiago playing a 000C12-16E Nylon, Brothers of the Heart’s Mike Rogers playing a D-18, Joe Bonamassa playing his signature 00-10E Retro, Del McCoury’s grandson Heaven McCoury playing a D-28, Charlie Sexton playing an HD12-28 12-String, and Eric Clapton closing out the weekend with his Custom Shop OM-45. Fans can stream performances from both days on the festival’s official site.
Johnny Marr, Vintage D-28s, and Guitar Collections
Martin Signature Artist Johnny Marr chose a D-28 as one of his top three guitars.
Johnny also took Noel Gallagher for a tour around his Christie’s exhibition ahead of his guitar collection being auctioned off in London, and his iconic 1971 D-28 made a special appearance. The collection sold for nearly $5 million, with the D-28 selling for $170,000.
Heavy Weighs the King guitarist Brian Whitman played a vintage D-28 on YouTuber Rick Beato’s first episode of his new series, We’ll Do It Live!
Brad Paisley shared behind-the-scenes footage of recording “We Are South America” for an episode of South Park, featuring his vintage D-28.
Showrooms, Lessons, and New Martin Models in the Mix
Sean Daniel shot a video in Martin’s Nashville showroom all about the 5-28 Terz.
Sean and Mimisounds also filmed a video about the refreshed 16 Series after he returned from Nashville, featuring the J-16E Cream. He also covered Big Thief’s “Masterpiece” with Madison Eicher and the 00L-16E Blue Denim in another video, and joined Andres Colin for a sunny Sarasota, Florida, performance with the J-16E Cream.
Marty Schwartz showcased the new DSS-16E Cherry Cola in his lesson video for The White Stripes’ “We’re Going to Be Friends.”
Marty also played the 00L-16E Blue Denim in his lesson video for Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Life by the Drop.”
And LOLO went viral covering Plain White T’s “Hey There Delilah,” with the band’s singer Tom Higgenson playing her 00L-16E Blue Denim.
Looking Back on July–September 2026
From mountaintop sessions and late-night performances to KEXP in Seattle, Tiny Desk in DC, Nashville showrooms, historic guitar stories, lesson videos, and major artist cameos, summer and early fall were full of memorable Martin moments.
Some came from longtime Martin Signature Artists. Others appeared in unexpected performances, vintage guitar features, behind-the-scenes posts, or acoustic videos that gave fans a closer look at the instruments behind the songs. Together, they show how Martin guitars continue to be part of the music, stories, and performances shaping culture across generations and genres.
Follow the Martin Blog, social channels, and YouTube for more artist stories, product news, factory features, and behind-the-scenes moments throughout the year.
Stay tuned for the next quarterly recap—and until next time, happy playing!