Queer Singer Songwriter | Jess Martin

jessmartin.playsguitar@gmail.com

🌈✨ Ready to kick off your shoes and dive into a 12-hour art adventure? This Saturday, April 26th, I’m playing at 9 PM at the Fabulous Hilltown Draw-Around — and it’s gonna be a barefoot, big-hearted, beautifully weird kind of day. 🎶🖍️

🌿 From 12 PM to midnight at the Cowell Gym in Shelburne Falls, it’s a full-on, hands-on, everyone-in celebration of music, drawing, creativity, and community. There’ll be murals, zines, puppets, art stations, snacks, spontaneous joy... and did I mention the shoes-off policy? (Yes. For real. Comfy socks encouraged.)

🎤 When the sun goes down and the doodles get dreamier, I’ll be playing a full set at 9 PM — folk-rock storytelling with a slightly haunted edge. If you like your late-night music with some soul, some shadows, and a sprinkle of glitter, I’ve got you covered.

💖 This is a donate-what-you-can fundraiser to keep The Art Garden’s amazing work going strong — so bring your love, your friends, your sketchbook, and whatever you can give to support creative community magic.

📍 More details: www.theartgarden.org/hilltown-draw-around
🧦 BYO cozy socks.
🎨 Let’s make some joyful noise.

@the_art_garden_shelburne_falls

#hilltowndrawaround #shelburnefallsma #folkrockmagic #queerartistvibes #donatewhatyoucan #massartscene #creativecommunity #latenightmusic

Keeping it distinguished, keeping it real

✨ Were you there? Did you miss us? ✨

Shadow, Sound, Spectacle lit up the stage at Amherst College’s VoiceBox on April 11—and wow, what a night. We played to a wonderful crowd and premiered our newest piece, “Every Quiet Night,” alongside “Nevermore”—our NPR Tiny Desk Contest entry, which is also in the running for WBUR’s Massachusetts favorite! 🖤📻

The response? 🔥
💬 “Seeing the set with the puppets is on another level.”
💬 “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
💬 “Shadow, Sound, Spectacle’s part of the show was so cool! I really really liked the songs and the cranky was really delightful.”

🖤 Literary monsters, shadow puppets, haunting melodies—this project keeps evolving, and we want YOU to catch the next chapter.

📅 SAVE THE DATE:
May 10 @ 7 PM
📍 Drawing Board Brewing
36 Main Street, Florence MA

Our favorite incubator space becomes the stage once again. New work. A full showcase of all the monsters we’ve made to date. Cranky in tow. You coming?

Shout out to Ben Barnhart for photos! Check him out at bbimages in Shelburne Falls.

@ajwpuppets @abee.jpeg.mp4 @drawingboardbrewingco @amherstcollege

#shadowsoundspectacle #liveperformances #crankytheater #puppets #puppetry #literarymonsters #indiefolk #puppetart #northamptonevents #drawingboardbrewingco #florencema #supportlocalartist #tinydeskcontest #nprmusic #wbur #westernmassmusic

A sunny spring morning to debut our collaboration: Echoes of Nature Hampshire County at the Bangs Community Center in Amherst!

Thanks to the @amherst_cultural_council for your support!

#massculturalcouncil #amherstma #poetry #livemusic #westernmass #echoesofnature #hampshirecountyma

@amherstcollege last night

Thanks to everyone who showed, cheered and enjoyed our newest piece!
#premiere #emilydickinson

#shadowsoundspectacle #puppets #puppetry #livemusic #westernmamusic

Getting ready for the premiere @ajwpuppets @abee.jpeg.mp4 @amherstcollege

Oh yes, another fine story dreamed up @northamptonopenmedia

🎭✨ COMING UP: VOICEBOX: Words & Music at Amherst! ✨🎶

Join us Friday, April 11 at 7 PM in Buckley Recital Hall (Arms Music Center, Amherst College)—we’re honored to kick off the night with Shadow, Sound, Spectacle! Featuring Amy West, Abby Hanna and Jess Martin!

🎥🖤 We’re presenting two crankie-style performances from our touring show Literary Monsters, combining live music and live puppetry in eerie, evocative fashion:

🔹 “Nevermore” – a bluesy lament drawn from Poe’s The Raven
🔹 “Every Quiet Night” – inspired by the quiet intensity of Emily Dickinson’s world

The full evening showcases a spectrum of powerful voice-based work: traditional American song, Syrian muwashahat, embodied movement, digital media, new poetry, and more.

Other creators include Tim Eriksen, Miriam Kuzbary, Angelica Monteiro, LJ White, JaMario Stills, Eric Sawyer, and others—joined by talented performers from across the Amherst community.

🗓️ Friday, April 11 | 7 PM
📍 Buckley Recital Hall, Arms Music Center, Amherst College
🎟️ Free & open to the public—no tickets required!

Come early, stay late—let the stories move you. 🕯️🪶

@abee.jpeg.mp4 @ajwpuppets @amherstcollege @emilydickinson.museum

#shadowsoundspectacle #puppets #puppetry #literarymonsters #crankietheater #livepuppetry #edgarallanpoe #emilydickinson #amherstarts #freeevents

Tonight! Join us @drawingboardbrewingco for our April Song Share Session for Nonbinary, Trans, & Women Singer Songwriters!

We gather at 7 pm for a community check in and setting intentions for the evening. New folks & audience always welcome. Each performer gets 10 minutes each to sing, share, get feedback, practice performance.

This is a welcoming & inclusive event. Let’s build community together.

#songshare #lgbtqmusic #westernmassmusic #lgbtqcommunity #florencema #northamptonma #womensingersongwriters #nbmusic #transmusic

Thursday night! Join us @drawingboardbrewingco for our April Song Share Session for Nonbinary, Trans, & Women Singer Songwriters!

We gather at 7 pm for a community check in and setting intentions for the evening. New folks & audience always welcome. Each performer gets 10 minutes each to sing, share, get feedback, practice performance.

This is a welcoming & inclusive event. Let’s build community together.

#songshare #lgbtqmusic #westernmassmusic #lgbtqcommunity #florencema #northamptonma #womensingersongwriters #nbmusic #transmusic

Creating connection when things go sideways @northamptonopenmedia

🌿🎶 We’re so excited to invite you to our inaugural performance of Echoes of Nature: Hampshire County at the Bangs Community Center in Amherst, MA, as part of their wellness programs! 🌱✨

Kim Hoff and I will be sharing original songs and poetry inspired by the natural beauty of Hampshire County, with a special focus on Amherst’s own Sweet Alice Conservation Area. This performance is a chance to immerse yourself in creative works that celebrate the landscapes that make Amherst so unique.

Join us at 10 AM in South Meeting Room #101 for this free, public event. We hope you’ll experience the connection between nature, wellness, and creativity as we bring this project to life!

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Amherst Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

We can’t wait to see you there! 🌳💫

@masscultural @kimbahoff123 @amherst_cultural_council

#echoesofnature #hampshirecounty #amherstma #wellnessprograms #natureinspiration #sweetaliceconservation #songwriting #poetry #amherstculturalcouncil #massculturalcouncil #creativecommunity_

Adventurous times with directions and distractions @northamptonopenmedia

Another beautiful day in the stop motion studio
Inspired by the spin and wander

@northamptonopenmedia

🌸 Song Share in Springtime – Lift Your Voice! 🌸

NEXT THURSDAY!

As the days grow longer and the light returns, so do our voices. On Thursday, April 10, we gather once more at Drawing Board Brewing (36 Main St, Florence, MA) for a Song Share Session—a space where nonbinary, trans, and women singer-songwriters create, explore, and connect.

We begin at 7 PM with a community check-in, sharing our creative goals for the evening. Each participant will have 10 minutes to explore their work—whether that means playing a new song, refining lyrics, or seeking feedback. This is a space for generating and creating, nurturing and supporting—a moment to hold space for each other’s artistry and let our songs take flight.

🎶 Come as you are—whether to share, to listen, or to simply be in a room where music and community thrive. In a time when the world feels heavy, we carve out a space to lift each other up. Let’s sing in the spring together. 🌿✨

@drawingboardbrewingco

#songshare #queervoices #transmusician #womenwhowrite #communitythroughmusic #liftyourvoice

📣 Exciting news! On April 4, I’ll be showcasing my work at Celebrating the Life of the Mind at Amherst College – a gathering of scholars, artists, and creators sharing recent projects.

I’ll be presenting Echoes of Nature: Hampshire County & Shadow, Sound, Spectacle, two grant-funded projects that fuse music, storytelling, and immersive performance.

🎭 Shadow, Sound, Spectacle reimagines gothic literary monsters through live music, puppetry, and haunting visuals.
🌿 Echoes of Nature brings the landscapes of Hampshire County to life through original songs and poetry.

📍 Frost Library, Amherst College
🕟 April 4 | 4:30–6:00 PM

This is a perfect lead-up to Voices of Amherst on April 11 at Buckley Recital Hall – let’s build the audience! 🎶 If you’re around, come chat, connect, and get a sneak peek at these projects in motion.

@kimbahoff123 @ajwpuppets @abee.jpeg.mp4

🔗 Link in bio for more! #LiveMusic #newenglandartist #amherstcollege #storytellingthroughmusic #echoesofnature #shadowsoundspectacle

Tune in Saturday night, if you want to see who made the critical changes to our script for Echoes of Nature.

Join us at @drawingboardbrewingco Saturday at 6:30 to hear more about our local nature inspirations

@kimbahoff123

#skunkcabbage

One more from my playground @northamptonopenmedia

another experiment @northamptonopenmedia incorporating critters in this axolotl dance

Another a short piece made in the studio yesterday @northamptonopenmedia

Fun in the stop motion workshop, calling this: unlocking spring

🔥 Our Tiny Desk Contest Submission Is Live! 🔥

We’re thrilled to share Nevermore, our hauntingly beautiful entry for this year’s @nprmusic Tiny Desk Contest. This piece fuses live puppetry, visual FX, and original music, bringing gothic literature to life in a way you’ve never seen before. 🖤🕯️

🎥 Watch it here: Nevermore – Tiny Desk Submission (link in bio)
👀 Contest details: Judges wrap up voting in April, and winners are announced on May 13.

✨ Help us amplify this dream! ✨
✅ Watch the video.
🔁 Share it with your people.
💬 Comment and let NPR know you want to see Shadow, Sound, Spectacle on that Tiny Desk stage!

@ajwpuppets @abee.jpeg.mp4 @nprmusic

Your support means everything. Let’s make some noise. 🖤🎶

#tinydeskcontest #shadowsoundspectacle #nevermore #supportindieartists #nprmusic

🔥❄️ CROWD FAVORITE, BABY! ❄️🔥
This past Saturday, The Fighting Poets (aka Riley & I) braved the icy waters for All Out Adventures—and thanks to your epic support, we were crowned Crowd Favorite at the Plunge for Adventure! 💙🏅

Huge gratitude to everyone who donated, cheered us on, and backed this amazing cause. Your generosity helps All Out Adventures continue providing inclusive, adaptive outdoor recreation for people of all abilities. 🌿🛶🚲

If you missed it, there’s still time to support this incredible org. Dive in (metaphorically 😅) and make a donation: alloutadventures.org/plunge-for-adventure. 🌊

@aoaalloutadventures

#fightingpoets #plungeforadventure #alloutadventures #crowdfavorite #inclusiveoutdoors #adventureforall

Took a fun workshop on stop motion animation last week @northamptonopenmedia

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

@jessmartinmusic

Daily Hampshire Gazette: Read More

"Jess's gift for storytelling work in tandem with their evocative vocals on these three works {Haunted Singles: Nevermore, Headless, Every Quiet Night}. Though we've heard these tales before, Martin's layered and intimate approach to the material wholly transports the listener, enfolding us into the goosebump-inducing realm of ghosts."

Lily Sexton,

Splendid Torch & Sweet Lightning

The Projects

Book Us

Shadow, Sound, Spectacle

Media Kit

Book Us

Echoes of Nature: Hampshire County

Media Kit

Haunted Singles Project:

Nevermore, Headless,

Every Quiet Night

Hosts monthly Song Song Share Sessions for Nonbinary, Trans and Women Singer Songwriters at Drawing Board Brewing in Florence, MA. See Events, every second Thursday at 7 PM. Read all about it in the Daily Hampshire Gazette!
New Singles: In Fall 2024, Jess released three new singles: 'Nevermore,' 'Every Quiet Night,' and 'Headless,' each inspired by classic literature. *Special shout out: Nevermore is featured in the latest publication from Ravens Quoth Press: Evermore 4 (now available)!
Echoes of Nature: Hampshire County (Media Kit) is a collaborative project with Kim Hoff (nature essayist and poet) that merges music and poetry to inspire stewardship and inclusivity in six natural locations across Hampshire County.
Shadow, Sound, Spectacle (Media Kit), merges music and puppetry to create immersive, visual storytelling experiences. Jess is joined by collaborators: Amy J. West and Abby Hanna. Read more here: The Reminder

STREAMING PLATFORMS

Coming Up Next

Sat, Apr 26
Art Garden's Fabulous Hilltown Draw-Around
Shelburne
RSVP
Apr 26, 2025, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Shelburne, 51 Maple St, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370, USA
Share
Multiple Dates
Thu, May 08
Song Share: Nonbinary, Trans & Women Singer Songwriters
Northampton
Learn more
May 08, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Northampton, 36 Main St, Florence, MA 01062, USA
Share
Sat, May 10
Shadow, Sound, Spectacle @ Drawing Board Brewing
Northampton
Learn more
May 10, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Northampton, 36 Main St, Florence, MA 01062, USA
Share
Sun, May 18
Shadow, Sound, Spectacle: Mighty Squirrel
Waltham
Details
May 18, 2025, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Waltham, 411 Waverley Oaks Rd, Waltham, MA 02452, USA
Share
Sat, Jun 07
Echoes of Nature: Hampshire County, Clapp Memorial Library
Belchertown
Learn more
Jun 07, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Belchertown, 19 S Main St, Belchertown, MA 01007, USA
Share
Tue, Jun 10
Echoes of Nature: Hampshire County at Bangs Community Center
Amherst
Learn more
Jun 10, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Amherst, 70 Boltwood Walk, Amherst, MA 01002, USA
Share
Sat, Sep 20
Tentative: Shadow, Sound, Spectacle: Literary Monsters at Wistariahurst
Wistariahurst
Details
Sep 20, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Wistariahurst, 238 Cabot St, Holyoke, MA 01040, USA
Share
Tue, Oct 28
Shadow, Sound, Spectacle: Literary Monsters
Newton
Details
Oct 28, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Newton, 330 Homer St, Newton, MA 02459, USA
Share

ABOUT JESS MARTIN

Haunting Melodies, Literary Depth, and Theatrical Storytelling

Jess Martin, a singer-songwriter from Western Massachusetts, fuses gothic folk, punk, and modern rock with haunting melodies and poignant lyrics. Dubbed "a punk rock Joan Baez," Jess’s music explores themes of identity, transformation, and belonging, drawing literary inspiration from icons like Edgar Allan Poe and Patti Smith.

Jess’s latest single, Headless—an edgy, rebellious anthem—is part of a trio of Fall releases showcasing their ability to transform classic literary landscapes into unique auditory journeys.

Jess also bridges music and visual storytelling through Shadow, Sound, Spectacle, a puppetry and performance project. With a knack for community engagement and genre-defying innovation, Jess continues to invite misfits and dreamers into their world of sound and spectacle.