Ryan Gilmore

Today we are going to introduce you to a young man named Ryan Gilmore, homegrown right here in Charleston, SC. On first glance you might think those dimples are his greatest feature BUT you would be mistaken - because as soon as you see this fella pick up a fiddle and start shredding, you’ll be like ‘Oh, shit. That might have the dimples beat.’

Gilmore picked up the violin in first grade (we’ve asked for a school picture and are awaiting a response - we’re sure it’s absolutely adorable). His older sis was in the strings program at School of the Arts and, being the little brother, he decided “I want to play violin, too.”

Upon high school graduation, Gilmore succumbed to a musician’s gravest sin: He didn’t pick up the violin for a year and a half. “It was one of those dead moments where you don’t know what to do anymore...” But a sweet young talented singer-songwriter awoke him from his musical slumber. “...and then Haley [Mae Campbell] asked me to start playing with her.”

Though Gilmore took the classical route at the start of his strings career, he’s been a long time listener of country music and has always enjoyed playing along to country songs. Miss Haley Mae and Ryan Gilmore teaming up was a match made in honky-tonk heaven.

What we love most about Ryan Gilmore is his ability to freestyle. “It’s an exciting [kind of] stressful, like ‘okay, what’s going to happen next?’ It keeps you on your toes.” We presume free styling is a definite no-no in symphony, which is where Gilmore spent a good portion of his career, but with the symphony shackles loosened from his bow, Gilmore’s horse hairs fly.

The ability to freestyle ain’t the only difference difference between symphony performance and playing onstage with rising country star, Ms. Campbell, though. There’s also a one thousand per cent increase in pressure. “When you’re in a symphony you have another hundred people around you, so if you mess up no one will really notice. But since I’m the only violinist onstage, it is a little more noticeable.” But rest assured, Ryan rises to the occasion each time.

Gilmore says it’s amazing to get to play in front of crowds that actually care about the music, like at festivals or headlining the Music Farm. “Everyone has played those gigs where you get the pity clap afterwards, no one really cares.” Actual concerts, however, remind him of symphonies, “because those people would be there to listen to the music as well - except they’re not drinking and screaming quite as loud.”

He goes on (with utmost humility) to say that playing with an artist like Haley is very unexpected. “When I graduated I never thought that I’d be where I am this year, playing shows like this... The first couple shows we played were pretty low-key, I didn’t think it’d be anything like this snowball effect.”

#features