www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

Richard Bailey is best known as the long time banjoist and founding member of the amazing Grammy- and IBMA- award-winning band The SteelDrivers! But Richard's history as a Nashville banjo icon has led him to record and perform with some great bluegrass artists such as The Tennessee Gentlemen, Roland White, Rhonda Vincent, Jim Lauderdale, Vassar Clements, and other superstars like George Jones & Tammy Wynette, Kenny Rogers, Nanci Griffith, Kathy Chiavola - and that's just a few of them! It's easy to understand why when you hear Richard's perfect blend of groove, drive, creativity, taste, and tone. It was an honor to speak with him about his background and career in banjo!

Sponsored by Elderly Instruments, Peghead Nation, Sullivan Banjos, and Bluegrass Country Radio

SteelDrivers on the web:

https://www.thesteeldrivers.com/

Contact the show:

[email protected]

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

In tribute to Gabe Hirshfeld, who we lost in December 2025. Gabe will always be remembered for his amazing sense of humour, his kind and generous nature, and of course his myriad contributions to the banjo community as a talented player, setup technician, and all-around awesome nerdy guru.

Consider a donation to the Gabe Hirshfeld Memorial Fund, administered by the Boston Bluegrass Union

Original Notes:

This episode features a long and winding banjo chat with Gabe Hirshfeld, a true gentleman and scholar. Gabe studied banjo at the Berklee College of Music, as well as some great mentors such as Mike Kropp and Ben Freed. He performed and recorded with The Lonely Heartstring Band, and now plays on a freelance basis and does setup work

Contact the show:

[email protected]

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

It's a Freshly-Picked episode, talking to Picky Fingers alum Wes Corbett (of the Sam Bush Band) about his new album of original music titled "Drift" - available now on Adhyaropa Records! Drift has everything you want from a modern banjo album: creative compositions, interesting arrangements, and virtuosic playing from Wes and his all-star cast of studio musicians. Hear all about it and get some sneak peeks (listens?) into the album itself directly from Wes!

Sponsored by Peghead Nation, Elderly Instruments, Bluegrass Country Radio, and Sullivan Banjos

Wes on the web:

https://www.wescorbett.com/

https://wescorbett.bandcamp.com/album/drift

Contact the show:

[email protected]

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

This episode features Daithi Melia, banjoist for JigJam, the phenomenal Irish-American bluegrass band that has been seemingly everywhere recently, from the Grand Ole Opry to Grey Fox, and everywhere in between. Daithi is an incredible player, with a mastery of traditional bluegrass idioms, modern progressive banjo sensibilities, and of course a heavy dose of the Irish music he grew up with. He weaves all of this together to help give JigJam their genre-bending appeal. Sponsored by Peghead Nation, Elderly Instruments, Bluegrass Country Radio, and Sullivan Banjos Daithi on the web: https://www.jigjam.ie/ Contact the show: [email protected] Jig Jam

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

It's a Freshly Picked episode, featuring a banjo-centric deep dive into the brand new album from East Nash Grass, titled "All God's Children" - featuring an interview with intrepid banjoist Cory Walker! ENG is one of those bands that seems almost impossible NOT to like: they have that elusive knack for sounding both classic and traditional and fresh and new all at the same time! They are each true masters of their instruments, and the band features multiple singers and songwriters to keep listeners on their toes. They deliver all of this with their trademark sense of humor and deep respect for bluegrass and country music. Enjoy!

Sponsored by Peghead Nation, Elderly Instruments, Bluegrass Country Radio, and Sullivan Banjos

East Nash Grass on the web:

https://www.eastnashgrass.com/

Contact the show:

[email protected]

Buy Merch - closeout sale on all Small & X-Small T shirts!

www.banjopodcast.com

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

In this special episode, podcast hosts Keith Billik (of The Picky Fingers Banjo Podcast) and Hilary Hawke (of Banjo Chat) square off by interviewing an entire panel of banjo instructors... and each other!

This episode was recorded at a fun live event during the 2024 Ashokan Banjo Weekend at the Ashokan Center in upstate NY and features Keith Billik, BB Bowness, Hilary Hawke, Scott Hopkins, and Maggie Shar.

Sponsored by Peghead Nation, Elderly Instruments, Bluegrass Country Radio, and Sullivan Banjos.

Ashokan Center/Ashokan Banjo Weekend:

www.ashokancenter.org

BB Bowness:

https://www.catherinebowness.com/

Hilary Hawke/Banjo Chat:

https://www.hilaryhawkemusic.com/

https://hilaryhawke.bandcamp.com/album/lift-up-this-old-world-2

https://banjochat.podbean.com/

Scott Hopkins:

www.scotthopkinsbanjo.com

Maggie Shar:

www.maggieshar.com

Recorded by Connor Wenk

Contact the show:

[email protected]

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

Colton Crawford is the rare quadruple threat of 5-string banjo players: He plays banjo in the 2-finger, 3-finger, clawhammer, and flatpicked styles! He is best known for being an original member, performing, and recording as banjoist with The Dead South, a highly acclaimed band with whom Colton has toured the world. Although Colton's playing is rooted in traditional methods, his style is truly one-of-a-kind and has shaped the sound of The Dead South!

Sponsored by Peghead Nation, Elderly Instruments, Bluegrass Country Radio, and Sullivan Banjos

Colton on the web:

https://www.thedeadsouth.com/

https://www.twitch.tv/coltoncrawford

WIN BELA FLECK'S BANJO!

https://restringappalachia.org/

Contact the show: [email protected]

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

Cynthia is a modern virtuoso of the 4-string plectrum banjo! She is celebrated not only for her talents in the traditional jazz/plectrum repertoire, but also for her original pieces and creative interpretations of different musical genres from around the world. Her accolades include the 2023 Steve Martin Banjo Prize and an inductee into the American Banjo Hall Of Fame, the first banjoist to win the 2019 Bistro Award and 2018 Global Music Awards, and in 2018 the first 4-string jazz banjoist to be a featured artist at the iconic Newport Jazz Festival.

Cynthia rose to international prominence as a founding member of Woody Allen's New Orleans Jazz Band, and has played with leading jazz, popular, and roots music artists including Bucky Pizzarelli, Dick Hyman, Andy Statman, Les Paul, Marvin Hamlisch, Wynton Marsalis, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox, Vince Giordano, The Kingston Trio, Scott Robinson, and many others.

Sayer has appeared as a guest and performer on CBS, FOX & ABC network television, on NPR's "Piano Jazz," and elsewhere. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, DownBeat, Fretboard Journal, People Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and countless other local, trade, and foreign media outlets.

Cynthia Sayer is also an avid educator. She has been a guest clinician at The Berklee College Of Music, The New School and others, given multiple educational programs at Lincoln Center, in public schools, and more. She's on the faculty of the NY Hot Jazz Camp, and gives lessons and workshops. Her play-along program, You're IN The Band is popular with players of all instruments learning and practicing traditional/hot jazz and swing. Her newest book for banjo, guitar and mandolin, The Swinging Solos Of Elmer Snowden, was published in 2022.

Cynthia lives in New York City and endorses Ome banjos, GHS Strings, Blue Chip Picks, and The Realist Banjo Pickups by David Gage.

Sponsored by Elderly Instruments, Peghead Nation, Bluegrass Country Radio, and Sullivan Banjos

Cynthia on the web:

https://cynthia-sayer.squarespace.com/

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

It's a Freshly Picked episode! This time, we're taking an in-depth look and listen to "Daggomit!" - the new solo project by banjoist Max Wareham. Max is best known as the longtime banjoist for bluegrass legend Peter Rowan, and as the author of the definitive book on Rudy Lyle.

In addition to his sweet banjo skills, "Daggomit!" also showcases Max's arranging, singing, and songwriting. The album also features a top-notch list of supporting musicians, including Chris Eldridge, Chris Henry, Laura Orshaw, Mike Bub, Larry Atamanuik, Peter Rowan, Gabe Hirshfeld, and David Grier. Recorded by Sean Sullivan at the Tractor Shed, and mastered by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering.

Sponsored by Elderly Instruments, Peghead Nation, Bluegrass Country Radio, and Sullivan Banjos

Max on the web:

https://www.maxwareham.com/

Contact the show:

[email protected]

www.patreon.com/banjopodcast

Marc Horowitz (aka the "Banjo Whisperer") is a fantastic player in both 3-finger and clawhammer styles: he came up in the '60's folk scene in NYC, and became an in-demand sideman and session player, playing on commercials, movie soundtracks, and folk and pop music records, and many more. He's a teacher, and lists a guy named Bela Fleck among his former students. He's a setup technician, personally entrusted by Steve Martin to maintain Steve's stable of instruments. Marc now works as a design consultant with Gold Tone Banjos, and helped bring into existence their flagship Bluegrass Heart model.

Sponsored by Peghead Nation, Elderly Instruments, Sullivan Banjos, and Bluegrass Country Radio

Contact the show:

[email protected]