The Martin Experience: Custom Shop & Vintage Edition
Date: Saturday, 23 November 2024
Time: 12.00PM – 7.00PM
Venue: City Music 3.0
Address: 701 Sims Dr, #02-05 LHK Building, Singapore 387383
Admission: FREE (Registration required)
The Martin Experience Returns With A Twist
Delve into the C. F. Martin legacy at The Martin Experience 2024 and get the chance to catch your favourite Martin artists, learn valuable music and maintenance tips from acoustic guitar experts, be graced by the timeless craftsmanship of Martin guitars in person, vibe with your peers and jam at Martin Open Mic session, and even stand a chance to walk home with your very own free gifts.
This year’s event is centered around vintage guitars and the launch of City Music as an official Martin Custom Shop Expert. These Vintages and Custom Shops are the absolute cream of the crop in the acoustic guitar world. Featuring musicians Victor Chen, Neil Chan, Bakers in Space, Papaya Duck, guitarstreet, Hafiz John and Jill-Marie Thomas, as well as our partners, Heirlooms Music and The Guitar Spa. Get ready for a real and intimate experience with the original acoustic guitar produced by C. F. Martin & Company.
C.F. Martin & Company
191 years ago, Christian Frederick Martin’s dream was realised when he set up C. F. Martin & Co., now one of the world’s leading acoustic guitar and ukulele manufacturers.
Since their relocation to Nazareth, Pennsylvania in 1839, the family-run company has been producing high-quality steel-string acoustic guitars, classical guitars and ukuleles that are revered and owned by musicians internationally.
Martin guitars are known for their authentic sound and rich history spanning two centuries, as well as being the inventor of the classic Dreadnought body shape that the majority of acoustic guitars are built with nowadays.
Image credit: u/gregornot
Take Part In History
The Martin Experience 2024 invites guitar enthusiasts, acoustic guitarists, live musicians, artists, music industry professionals, music students and educators, craftsmen, luthiers, and anyone who loves Martin guitars. If you have a passion for these iconic guitars, this event is for you!
Admission to this event is FREE, but registration is required. Limited seating available.
*Programme details and highlights are subject to changes.
The Performer Lineup
Image credit: Hafiz John, Jill-Marie Thomas
Hafiz John & Jill-Marie Thomas
@jambreadmusic, @jillmariethomas
Hafiz and Jill are both performing musicians, Twitch streamers and content creators aiming to bring their music and joy to the people around them.
In their own time, Hafiz teaches vocals at “What’s Your Jam?” Music School & Studio, while Jill regularly performs live at venues such as the Esplanade, Orchard Road, and local bars like Chupitos and Bar NKD.
Bakers in Space
Bakers in Space dives deeper into their acoustic era with the release of Acoustic Vol. II, featuring reimagined, stripped-down versions of “Citrus” and “Mindfield” from their sophomore EP MAGMA. This EP also introduces a brand new track, “Monsoon,” which blends intricate fingerpicked guitar and mesmerising harmonies from Eugene and Ernest. Hauntingly soothing, “Monsoon” promises to be the perfect soundtrack for rainy days.
Image credit: Bakers in Space
Image credit: Papaya Duck, guitarstreet
Papaya Duck & guitarstreet
Join in on the lovely and high-spirited music by Papaya Duck & guitarstreet! Buskers on the same wavelength, Sheng Li (guitarstreet) was a participant in UFM100.3’s 《街头霸王》 and Papaya Duck in Mediacorp’s Battle of the Buskers in 2023, and they won the titles of “Busk King” and Finalists respectively.
Sheng Li is a professional performing musician, producer and music educator, frequently performing at various busking spots, weddings and events. Papaya Duck (Grey Ying and Audrina) are continuing to cover and release songs in whimsically sophisticated fashion, and have recently released a music video for their latest song, “Mr Round”.
Neil Chan
Fusion fingerstyle guitarist Neil Chan performs unique interpretations of traditional music, folk tunes and biblical scripture, exploring the culturally-diverse harmonic and rhythmic flavours that come together to create a symphony of texture.
These days, Neil focuses his gift of music on inspiring others and reaching out to the community. He actively hosts music-making sessions with persons-with-dementia, guest lectures on ethnomusicology and professional development at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He is the key tutor of NUS Fingerstyle Guitar.
Image credit: Neil Chan
Image credit: General Lee
Victor Chen (from General Lee)
Let your ears be awash in Victor Chen’s incredible blues, country and bluegrass playing as he shows you the true potential of C. F. Martin’s innovations.
Drawn in throughout his life by the traditional sounds of the Mississippi Delta, Chicago and West Coast, Victor covers American classics and writes his own songs based on historical and current events. He is also the guitarist of General Lee, a rock-and-roll band echoing the cries of blues, funk and the 1960s counterculture.
Exhibition Booths
Martin Custom Shop Expert
Martin Custom Shop and Custom Shop Expert guitars are the true embodiment of dreams made into reality. Made with love and passion by the best artisans over in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, every guitar displayed is a masterpiece of otherworldly sound and unparalleled quality, and a tribute to the ever-evolving legacy started by C. F. Martin.
As an officially-certified Martin Custom Shop Expert, City Music is proud to continue carrying the Martin tradition with exclusive Martin Custom Shop Expert guitars that will not be found anywhere else in the world.
Martin Custom Shop Experts are specialised Martin dealers that hold extensive knowledge and years of experience collaborating with the Martin Custom Shop. They will assist you in every stage of the custom-building process including answering all your questions, getting a quote, keeping you up to date on your guitar’s progress, and delivering your guitar.
Heirlooms Music
Fresh from GuitarFest, Singapore’s go-to vintage guitar shop, Heirlooms Music will have their antique Martin acoustics on display dating all the way back to 1922. Feel and hear the decades-old tonewoods that resonate with the unmistakable qualities of fine age.
Heirlooms Music, located at 9 Lichfield Rd, sells acoustic and electric guitars both modern and classic, with the oldest being more than 100 years old.
Image credit: Heirlooms Music
The Guitar Spa
Bring along a pen and notepad, because you don’t wanna miss these valuable nuggets of guitar information from our interview with Jarvis Wong!
Running his business The Guitar Spa, Jarvis is the go-to guitar tech for all kinds of guitar quirks, and will make your guitar play and feel even better than the day you bought it. The Guitar Spa is located at 468 Hougang Ave 8.
Martin Open Mic
We wish to invite all the musicians in the crowd to come up and display their musical talent in this final show of expression, creativity and love for the signature Martin sound. Grab a Martin guitar, get on stage and let it all out for others to hear!
Lucky Draw & Doorgifts
Getting late? Don’t go just yet! We’ve prepared a thrilling Lucky Draw at the end where we’ll be giving out some of the sweetest Martin prizes and equipment a guitarist could possibly want.
Our Previous Events
GuitarFest, Oct 2024 (View the full photo album here)
Mastering Video, Audio & Lighting for Captivating Content, Sep 2023
The Martin Experience, Nov 2023
Getting Here
Nearest MRT Station: Aljunied (EW9)
Nearest Bus Stop: Blk 45 (80229)
Bus Services: 64, 125, 134, 137
Nearest Available Parking: 705 Sims Drive, Shun Li Industrial Complex, Singapore 387384
Brand Partners
Event Partners
