Mike Recruits carolina bluegrass royalty for his beautiful mess's bluegrass debut

old home place featuring graham sharp of steep canyong rangers on banjo

Martin recently released his Beautiful Mess bluegrass debut of the classic 'Old Home Place' collaborating with his long time collaborator Graham Sharp from Steep Canyon Rangers.

Martin's  record "Home" features Grammy Award-winning banjo player Graham Sharp from Steep Canyon Rangers and Steve Martin's band, cementing his position as a serious songwriter in the industry.

 May 31st, 2025 The Beautiful Mess opened for Grammy-winning bluegrass legends Steep Canyon Rangers at the Three Trails Music Series, and had a recent interview on WMUN discussing their music and connection to Muncie.

Mike Martin will be out on the road in 2026 promoting his down home version of country, roots rock, americana, and bluegrass. For booking or media inquries please email or call us at michaelmartinband@gmail.com or 615-212-9644. To see the full EPK http://mikemartinbeautifulmess.com/epk

Mike Martin is one of the hottest artists coming out of Charleston in the last few years. After years of playing the streets, bars, and beaches of Charleston Martin got much deserved recognition the last two years winning Country Americana Band of the Year in 2024 for the second year in a row; along with Music Video of the Year. In 2023 they also won Song of the Year, and fiddle player Caryn Egan won Female Singer Songwriter of the Year in the Charleston City Paper in 2023. 

https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2024/11/06/meet-the-winners-of-the-2024-city-paper-music-awards/ - 2024

https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2023/11/10/2023-city-paper-music-awards/ - 2023
  • Discography: Their albums include "Home" (2021), "Old Home Place" (2025), "Long Gone Train" (2020), "Startin' Tomorrow" (2024), and "Barefoot Child" (2022). Popular singles include "Old Home Place (feat. Graham Sharp)", "A Pirate Looks at 40", "Red Stripes and Rum", "Startin' Tomorrow", and "Barefoot Child".
  • Collaborations: Their album "Home" features Grammy Award-winning banjo player Graham Sharp from Steep Canyon Rangers and Steve Martin's band.
  • Background: Mike Martin has been a prominent figure in the Indiana music scene and a venue owner, having operated Doc's Music Hall in Muncie from 2006 to 2012. Longtime fiddle player, Caryn Egan, is a Ball State University graduate.
  • Social Impact: Mike Martin is involved in community initiatives and uses his platform to address social issues like addiction and finding positive solutions in communities.
  • Recent News: As of July 17, 2025, they were opening for Grammy-winning bluegrass legends Steep Canyon Rangers at the Three Trails Music Series and had a recent interview on WMUN discussing their music and connection to Muncie. They were also scheduled to perform at The Bounty Bar in Folly Beach, SC on August 1st, 2025.

Music & live video

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Press / Reviews

“"Indiana native and hardcore troubadour Mike Martin has spent much of the last decade traveling in a van with his appropriately named band, The Beautiful Mess. A bona fide honky-tonk hero, there is scarcely a Lowcountry juke joint or music venue where Martin has not held court in recent years. Weaving country-rock infusions, Martin’s distinctive output embodies what Gram Parsons of The Byrds once described as “cosmic American music.”” - Kevin Wilson: Charleston City Paper