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I Surrender 3:450:00/3:45
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Dillon Amphitheater Performance 1:10:130:00/1:10:13
“The more you listen the more you hear ” - Alice Gerard
Marly Lovett
Performing Musician
At just 18 years old, I have spent more than a decade building my life around music. I began playing guitar, singing, and writing songs at age seven, performing my first original song in a third-grade talent show before quickly moving into busking, open mics, and local gigs. When I first started performing, local musician Tina Ferguson invited me to my first-ever gig and became an important mentor in my musical journey. She taught me about singing, songwriting, and performing. As well as introduced me to a young pianist, Jessie Wiono. Jessie and I played together for a long time, and we both learned so much from eachother. At 14, I discovered bluegrass through the Prosit Jam in Frisco, Colorado, where I have continued playing every Wednesday, sharpening my improvisation and jam skills alongside outstanding musicians.
At 15, I won the South Park Bluegrass Festival Troubadour Contest, earning a festival performance. I turned to the musicians I trusted most, my weekly jam companions and created my band Risky Strings at the age of 16. The festival was my bands debut. Today, Risky Strings is a successful five-piece bluegrass band that has headlined the Dillon Amphitheater, headlined a show at Ten Mile Music Hall, performed at Ullr Grass, South Park Bluegrass Festival, toured across the country, won the Best Band Of Summit award in 2026, and have opened for renowned artists including Bill Nershi, Jeremy Garrett, Bonnie & Taylor Sims. As well as play many gigs around our local music scene.
As the band's manager, leader, sound engineer, and marketer, I've gained hands-on experience in booking, business management, finances, promotion, teamwork, sound production, and live performance. I perform regularly as a solo artist, duo, and with Risky Strings, while continuing to write original music and develop as a flatpicker, singer, songwriter, and occasional fiddler.
My musical education includes three years at Bryan Sutton's Blue Ridge Guitar Camp, where Bryan Sutton twice invited me to perform at the Guitar Celebration Concert. The venue being an audience of 2,000 people. The first time I performed was with Avril Smith from Della Mae and 4 other talented women around my age, The second time, I performed with all the kids that attended Bryan Sutton Camp, Avril Smith, and Bryan Sutton.I have also attended RockyGrass Academy for two years, the IBMA World of Bluegrass conference, and have studied with Berklee alumnus and instructor Stash Wyslouch starting in 2025. A lot of my learning was in jam circles at festivals such as: Tico Time, Palisade Festival, Ullrgrass, Rocky Grass Bluegrass Festival, Southpark Bluegrass Festival, and local jam circles.
I have been fortunate to play with Bryan Sutton, Jerry Sutton, Bill Nershi, Andy Reiner, Grant Gordy, Kyle Tuttle, Avril Smith, Stash Wyslouch, Micheal Daves, Casey Driessen, the 65 North Pickers, and Christopher Henry, while receiving instruction from many of today's leading acoustic musicians, including Julian Lage, Chris Eldridge, Dan Tyminski, Darol Anger, Courtney Hartman, Jake Workman, Jake Eddy, Michael Daves, Charlotte Carrivick, Tim Stafford, John Doyle, Cody Kilby, Grant Gordy, Tyler Grant, Rebecca Frazier, and Matt Munisteri. Along the way, I've also had the opportunity to meet and pick the brains of inspirations such as Sierra Hull, Jon Stickley, and Billy Strings.
I have hosted community jam sessions, volunteered on the South Park Bluegrass Festival production team, taught guitar lessons, competed in the 2026 Rocky Grass Band Competition with Risky Strings, and was featured in Summit County's Lamplight Series, performing a full evening of original music. From busking on street corners to headlining the Dillon Amphitheater, my goal has remained the same: to play every chance I get, connect with people through music, and continue growing as both a musician and a person.
