Inside the Banjoverse

Nora plays old-time traditional music with a particular interest in eastern Kentucky and Tennessee banjo playing. Along with the banjo she also sings traditional unaccompanied ballads from southeast Appalachia and beyond. She has played at numerous venues and festivals on the East Coast including TED Salon in NYC, NPR Tiny Desk, Joe’s Pub, the Floyd Radio Show, Washington Square Park Folk Festival, Brooklyn Folk Festival, Brooklyn Americana Festival, Oldtone Roots Music Festival, Irvington Folk Festival, Summer & Winter Hoots at the Ashokan Center, and has had multiple month long residencies at famed Barbès in Brooklyn NY. Nora has participated in a variety of podcasts including WNYC’s Dolly Parton’s America. 

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John Carty is one of Ireland's best loved musicians. His unique style of fiddle and banjo playing has been lauded internationally for many years. John is a true gentleman of the tradition, and his impish humour is reflected in his incredible playing and exquisite variations and ornamentation.

www.johncartymusic.net

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I didn't necessarily expect that a banjo player of such renown as Alison Brown (rhyme intended!) was also a Harvard educated MBA until she got side tracked by bluegrass music and Alison Krauss. It's a fascinating story, and as someone who left the "permanent and pensionable" job to pursue music, I'm always interested to talk to others who have opted for the impermanence of a music career over a "stable" job. Alison has of course used her business background to great effect creating Compass Records, and thus has a very unique insight into both sides of the music industry

www.alisonbrown.com

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Joanne and I go way back, having come up through the life universities of The Willie Clancy summer school and the Fleadh Cheoil competitions in Ireland. We've had great fun over the years knocking head over our differing opinions on the virtue of playing polkas on a banjo. I'm not a fan, but Joanne finally explains to me how to do it properly!! We take a fond trip down memory lane in this interview, Joanne reminiscing about simpler times playing music as a child growing up in Co Limerick, the "craic" of the fleadhs, the mummers and the wren boys. Joanne is a terrific story teller and even better musician and a truly kind hearted soul.

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Tony Trischka has an illustrious and storied career in bluegrass music. He's such a well known and well loved musician that it's easy to forget what a stellar and expansive career Tony has had. A true innovator, picking outside the box for many decades, Tony has wisdom, experience and many tales to tell. Is he ready to lay down his banjo and retire? Far from it!!!

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It's summer time in Nashville, folks are mowing lawns and Abigail is hiding on the front porch taking some well deserved time away from motherhood to chat about all things banjo! This is a delightful conversation, Abigail showing her true spirit of kindness, integrity and honesty. Her journey to a full time music career and huge international success is fascinating and demonstrates Abigail's pure soul and her ability to trust in the flow of life.

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I had a lot of fun interviewing the effervescent Lisa Canny, she's high energy, high achieving, genre defying and very funny. A Mayo native, Lisa is a 7 time national champion on multiple instruments, yet despite spending her nascent years steeped in traditional Irish music she has gone on to create fascinating music fusing her Irish roots with hip hop and pop sounds. Now based in London, Lisa has a very refreshing take on the music industry and, as it turns out, life in general!

www.lisacanny.com

Part of Pantheon Podcasts

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The musician's musician is a phrase bandied around a lot but it's a fitting cap for virtuoso Ron Block. Ron's practice regimes are legendary and he's equally well known for being simply an all round decent human being. I've always been taken with his curious nature, his goodwill and openness to music outside of bluegrass. I really enjoyed this interview and perhaps I summed it up perfectly myself when I exclaimed at one point "There's a lot more to you than just banjo Ron Block!!!!!!

Make sure to check out Ron's work with Irish tenor banjo player Damien O'Kane - Banjophony

www.ronblock.com

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Have we run out of superlatives to describe Béla Fleck's banjo playing and his genre defying musical career? We Banjo 3's banjo maestro Enda Scahill, takes Béla on a winding trip down memory lane discussing his earliest influences, New Grass Revival, the enduring importance of Earl Scruggs, his deep respect and love for his mentor Chick Corea, and his brand new project My Bluegrass Heart.

www.belafleck.com

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Natalie McMaster is a world-renowned Cape Breton-style fiddler and one of the nicest musicians you could ever hope to meet. She has toured with The Chieftains, Carlos Santana, and Alison Krauss, and has recorded with Yo-Yo Ma. One time live on stage at a festival, I took her shoes off mid-tune. Totally at her request mind! Let's just say we have a special bond since then!

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