Inside the Banjoverse

Katherine Mac Mághnuis - Musician, Educator and CEO of Athenry Music School May 30, 2024

Musician, educator, CEO of Athenry Music School with over 500 students and 42 faculty. Katherine is a force of nature, a deeply present and committed educator and music teacher, and a huge inspiration for anyone involved in music education

Join me on Patreon for instant access to over 200 banjo tutor videos, graduated lesson paths, tune transcriptions, Discord, Zoom hangs, and more:

http://www.patreon.com/endascahillbanjo

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Brenna McMillan - Banjoist, Singer, Songwriter May 10, 2024

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http://www.patreon.com/endascahillbanjo

Brenna McMillan is a banjo player and singer from Winchester, KY.

Growing up, Brenna sang harmony parts in bluegrass bands, children's choirs, church choirs, and family gatherings. She began to play the banjo when she was nine. Throughout highschool, she dabbled in various genres of music, performing anything from R&B hits to gospel numbers. Through adoption, the family changed dramatically in size and lifestyle when she was eleven, and at this time her love for the rhythm of a banjo roll developed from researching the banjo in West Africa and listening to Liberian drumming. In college, she joined Theo in the college bluegrass band, an experience that solidified a latent love for playing bluegrass music. Brenna toured with the Berea College Bluegrass Ensemble in the United States and Europe, and was the recipient of the Red Foley Memorial Music Award in 2018. She completed her Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry and then moved to Nashville in May of 2018.

For more on Brenna check out her Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/brennamacmillanofficial/?hl=en

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Interview with Jim Pankey, banjo teacher and player Apr 04, 2024

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Jim has been playing and teaching banjo since 1977. He has been a contributor to the premier banjo publication The Banjo Newsletter. You will also find him listed among the faculty alumni at highly esteemed acoustic music and banjo camps such as Steve Kaufman’s Acoustic Kamp in Maryville, Tennessee, Banjo Newsletter Workshops and The Maryland Banjo Academy in Buckeystown, Maryland. Jim has recently taught classes at the Folk School of Chattanooga.

As a master of several styles, Jim has found outlets for each of these in the musical community. He is the banjo player for the well known bluegrass group The Lone Mountain Band. He performs regularly in an old time fiddle & banjo duo playing for contra-dances and other functions. Jim also spends time offering online assistance to beginner banjo players via the internet. Jim has also recently been seen performing with the Dogtrotters and the Jack Pine Savages.

Jim is an active and well respected member of the banjo and musical communities and continues to pursue the banjo’s music and its marvelous history. As an often reluctant yet always fierce competitor Jim’s banjo prowess has earned him many titles in contests all across the southeast.

www.jimpankey.com

💫 String Joy Picks Affiliate link: https://stringjoy.com/categories/strings/picks/jumbo-jazz/partner/enda/

I recommend the Jumbo Jazz 0.50mm pick

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Interview with Mick Conneely, fiddle & bouzouki player Mar 19, 2024

Mick is widely regarded as one of the finest fiddle players of his generation in the Irish tradition. To date he has played, toured and recorded with many artists, most notably De Danann. In 2001 his debut solo album Selkie was released to critical acclaim on the prestigious boutique trad label Cló Iar-Chonnacht and he has recorded on numerous albums to date. Mick's style of fiddle playing is characterized by his expressive tone, rhythmic drive, inventive ornamentation and his rich repertoire of tunes. Mick is a leading exponent of the 6-string Greek bouzouki in Irish traditional music.

https://mickconneely.com/index.html

🧡 A massive thank you to my amazing Patrons for their support

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Don Stiffe - Singer / Songwriter Mar 01, 2024

Don Stiffe is one of the greatest singer / songwriters to have emerged on the Irish Folk Scene in recent years, receiving critical acclaim and awards both at home and abroad. Don is a passionate and talented singer whose impressive performance style has moved audiences all over the world.

Stiffe’s version of the “Dimming of the Day”, by Richard Thompson won “Vocal Cut of the Year’ at the Live Ireland 2010 Awards. This song featured on his debut solo album, “Start of a Dream, which was originally released in 2006, achieving much critical acclaim. The renowned Irish Music Magazine described the musical quality of the album as being “in the Premier League”. The array of talented musicians playing on the album are testament to the respect that is held for Don in the Irish Music world, with guest performances from Frankie Gavin, Sharon Shannon, Arty McGlynn, Cathal Hayden and Carl Hession, to name but a few.

In 2011 Don was a finalist in one of Ireland’s most watched TV shows, The All Ireland Talent Show, with live audiences of up to 800,000 people. His profile was raised significantly by taking part in this show and was further raised when he won yet another award at the Live Ireland 2011 Awards, this time for his song, “Somebody Special”, sung by Matt Keane, which was crowned Song of the Year from the Live Ireland Awards

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Tim Chaisson of The East Pointers & Six Hearts Feb 20, 2024

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Tim Chaisson is a JUNO, multiple East Coast Music and Music PEI award winning musician from Bear River, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Along with having three successful solo albums, he sings lead vocals and plays fiddle, guitar and percussion in the internationally acclaimed group, The East Pointers. Chaisson and The East Pointers tour consistently, selling out venues across Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and the United States.

https://thetuneroom.ca

https://www.theeastpointers.ca

https://www.instagram.com/6heartsband/

💫 String Joy Picks Affiliate link: https://stringjoy.com/categories/strings/picks/jumbo-jazz/partner/enda/

I recommend the Jumbo Jazz 0.50mm pick

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Jake Eddy - Bluegrass Guitar Virtuoso Feb 09, 2024

Jake Eddy is a bluegrass guitarist born and raised in Parkersburg, West Virginia. He began his music career and lifelong addiction to the road by playing banjo professionally at the age of fourteen with bluegrass-legend Melvin Goins. His guitar playing, which is primarily influenced by bluegrass and jazz, is showcased on his debut album of fiddle tunes, entitled "Jake Eddy," which features such greats as Grammy-award winning Bryan Sutton, Rob Ickes, and Kenny Smith. He tours as a sideman with the Becky Buller Band from Manchester, TN as well as his own group. His current touring group features his brother, Carter on the upright bass and NC-native Graham Brewer on the mandolin!

https://jakeeddy.wixsite.com/website

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Winifred Horan - fiddler with Solas and Reverie Road Feb 02, 2024

Winifred Horan is an American fiddler of Irish descent. After classical training, she played with the all-female Celtic music ensemble Cherish the Ladies before becoming an original member of the Irish traditional music supergroup Solas.

http://www.winhoran.net

https://www.reverieroadmusic.com

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My Top Ten Banjo Tracks - Part II Jun 29, 2023

You can support this podcast through Patreon at www.patreon.com/endascahillbanjo

Featured tracks:

Mick Moloney - No Strings Attached - My Love is in America/The Lisdoonvarna Reel
Theresa O'Grady - The Banjo'ista - Happy to Meet Sorry To Part/Padraig O'Keefe's/Paddy Fahey's
Colm Naughton - The Space Between the Notes - The Merry Sisters/Miss Susan Cooper/Richard Dwyer's
Angela Usher - The Gort Mile - The Love of Lucia/Cranman/Connaill's Favourite
Ciaran Ryan - Banjaxed - Tongue in Cheek
Brian McGrath - Pure Banjo - Maids of Mount Cisco/Come West Along The Road
Paraic Mac Donnchadh - Not Before Time - Reel of Rio/McFadden's/Pigtown/Coleman's Cross
Eamonn Coyne - Through the Round Window - Hendon Road
Kieran Hanrahan - Plays the Irish Tenor Banjo - Kitty gone A Milking/Music In The Glen
Caladh Nua - Next Stop - The Lisnagun Set

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Jimmy Keane (Piano Accordion - Bohola/Green Fields of America) Jun 15, 2023

Irish music accordion virtuoso Jimmy Keane was born in London of Irish-speaking parents from Connemara and Kerry. His late father Jimmy was a magnificent sean-nos (old style) singer, and along with young Jimmy’s mother Mary, actively encouraged him to take up traditional Irish music.

Jimmy’s accomplishments are far reaching. He has achieved astonishing and unprecedented success in competitive playing, having won five consecutive All-Ireland titles on the piano accordion. He has always been an avid collector and arranger of old tunes and is becoming increasingly known for his original compositions, many of which have become part of the mainstream of traditional Irish music around the world. He also has recorded and produced numerous albums

Many regard Keane as the premier exponent of traditional Irish music on the piano accordion. Noted University of Limerick Professor, composer, and musician Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin praised Keane as the "savior of the piano accordion." eMusic described him as "one of the true giants of Irish traditional music of the past fifty years," and the voice of Ireland, singer-songwriter Christy Moore, described Jimmy's playing as "wild and beautiful."

www.jimmykeane.com

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Ned Luberecki (Banjo/SiriusXM Host) Jun 01, 2023

BANJO PLAYER

Ned Luberecki was named Banjo Player of the Year in 2018 by the International Bluegrass Music Association. Ned is the banjo player for The Becky Buller Band and also tours with Stephen Mougin (of the Sam Bush Band) as Nedski & Mojo. Ned was formerly the banjoist for Chris Jones and the Night Drivers, The Rarely Herd, Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, The Gary Ferguson Band, Radio Flyer and Paul Adkins and the Borderline Band.

BANJO TEACHER

Ned teaches private banjo lessons in Nashville and now over the internet via web-cam! Check out the "Lessons" tab above for more info. Ned is a popular banjo instructor at music camps across the country and around the world, having taught at: Sore Fingers Summer School (UK), Nashcamp (TN), Munich Banjo Camp (DE), Camp Bluegrass (TX), B.C. Bluegrass Workshop (CA), Midwest Banjo Camp (MI) and many more. Click on the "Shows" link above to see Ned's schedule.

RADIO PERSONALITY

Ned is also an on-air personality on Sirius XM Satellite Radio’s Bluegrass Junction (channel 62). Tune in Sunday Afternoons from 2:00 - 6:00pm (eastern) for More Banjo Sunday. Ned brings his banjo to the SiriusXM Channel 61 studios and plays live banjo tunes during the show! Stay tuned for the Sunday Banjo Lesson every Sunday at 3:00pm (eastern) when all the breaks in the hour are devoted to how to play the banjo.Ned also hosts the Newgrass/Progressive Bluegrass show Derailed, Saturday nights 7:00 - 9:00pm eastern.

www.nedski.com

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Máirín Fahy - Fiddle (Riverdance/The Chieftains/Reeltime) Jun 01, 2023

A member of the renowned musical Fahy family, Máirín was the featured soloist with Riverdance for many years and has also guested with the multi-Grammy Award winning group The Chieftains on their many overseas tours. She has performed for millions of people worldwide.

Máirín’s fiddle playing has been described as “amazing and unique”, while Empire Magazine tags her “the girl on the white-hot fiddle”. Máirín performed with The Chieftains and Art Garfunkel in Carnegie Hall and recorded with Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries. She has played for royalty and dignitaries, including Prince Rainier and the Royal Family in Monaco, and Princess Diana at the Royal Albert Hall. Máirín features in the Harrison Ford/Brad Pitt movie ‘Devil’s Own’.

https://tradontheprom.com

Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/endascahillbanjo

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Cathy Jordan of Dervish May 04, 2023

Roscommon born Cathy Jordan has been a professional singer with traditional group Dervish for nearly 30 years. She is a self-taught guitar, bouzouki, bodhrán and bones player.

She has led Dervish as front woman through thousands of concerts in hundreds of cities in nearly 40 countries and has 16 albums under her belt. Among the most notable performances were The Great Wall of China and the biggest rock music festival in the world - Rock in Rio to over 250,000 people.

As a songwriter, she has written songs with internationally renowned Brendan Graham, best known for the most successful song of the twentieth century, You Raise Me Up. More recently she has been a teacher providing vocal training and exercises to students in Ireland and abroad, as well as expanding her students traditional song repertoire.

In 2014, she took up the role of presenter of Fleadh TV with TG4. Cathy has been an ambassador for Irish culture and music for over a quarter of a century, and has a deep understanding of traditional Irish songs and singing and has collected hundreds of songs which otherwise may have been forgotten. Cathy and Dervish have been invited to accompany Presidents and Taoisigh of Ireland as cultural ambassadors to China, Latvia and Lithuania.

Dervish’s most recent album, The Great Irish Songbook, was released in 2019 on Rounder records and features duets with Vince Gill, Steve Earle, Imelda May, David Gray and more. Over the years Cathy has picked up many awards for her contribution to traditional Irish music including BBC Lifetime Achievement Award 2019, Sligo Cultural Ambassador 2018, Annie McNulty Award 2014 and The Freedom of The City of Sligo in 2010.

Cathy has a deep understanding of the Irish tradition and is regarded as one of the finest traditional singers in Ireland today.

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Mick O'Connor (Banjo) Apr 20, 2023

London’s Mick O’Connor, All Ireland winner on the tenor banjo in 1971, has been playing since 1967 and is a veteran of the great days of the London Irish music scene of the 1960s, 70s and 80s. In 2013, he was honoured by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, which bestowed its Bardic Award on him for his “exceptional contribution to the promotion of Ireland’s cultural traditions”. He's one of the true gentlemen of Irish music, a fantastic music historian and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of Irish musicians worldwide over 50 years of playing and touring. A master story teller with a wicked sense of wit and humour, you're going to love this episode!

https://www.wraggletaggle.com/

🥇 Support my this podcast through my Patreon Page and access tons of exclusive banjo goodies, tune transcriptions, Discord, Zoom hangs, and more:

http://www.patreon.com/endascahillbanjo

Shackleton Music Radio Documentary

https://www.rte.ie/culture/2022/1202/1339018-lyric-feature-shackleton-his-men-and-the-power-of-music/

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Brian Finnegan (Flook/KAN Apr 06, 2023

Brian Finnegan began playing whistle at age 8 and flute at age 10 as a student of the Armagh Pipers Club. He went on to international fame with his outstanding work with supergroup Flook, and subsequently the band KAN.

https://flook.co.uk/about-me/

Brian has recently released a solo album Hunger of the Skin https://brianfinnegan.bandcamp.com/album/hunger-of-the-skin

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David Benedict - Mandolin Mar 23, 2023

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David Benedict is Grammy-nominated mandolinist who is quickly becoming one of the leading figures and content creators in the mandolin world today. After graduating with a mandolin music performance degree and spending a 3-year stint in Nashville touring and recording with acclaimed bass player Missy Raines, David moved to Boston to join the bluegrass band Mile Twelve. The group quickly gained traction, receiving the 2017 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Band Momentum Award which launched the band into extensive tours around the US, Canada, England, France, Belgium, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and beyond. Mile Twelve went on to record 3 studio albums as well as win the 2020 IBMA New Artist of the Year Award before David stepped down from the band to pursue other projects.

Now, David is active as ever in the mandolin community through his solo efforts. His most recent record produced by Grammy-Nominated mandolinist Matt Flinner, The Golden Angle presents an original body of instrumental string band music. This new album, recorded four years after David’s last solo release Into the True Country, displays a new level of musical maturity and individuality. With an emphasis on virtuosic instrumental interplay and memorable melodies, the record weaves a complex yet compelling soundscape, featuring collaborations with a host of celebrated and award-winning bluegrass musicians such as David Grier (guitar), Mike Barnett (fiddle), Missy Raines (bass), Ross Martin (guitar), Stuart Duncan (fiddle), and Wes Corbett (banjo). David’s compositions, arrangements and playing style on The Golden Angle demonstrate his ability to integrate seamlessly with the high-caliber company he keeps and confirms his place among notable emerging acoustic musicians.

Following the success of this record, David received the 2018 IBMA Momentum Award for Instrumentalist of the Year, and in 2019 he was nominated for a Grammy as part of Missy Raines album Royal Traveler.

But beyond these accolades, David might be even be more well known for his YouTube channel which features the popular, long-running weekly series Mandolin Mondays featured on the Mandolin Cafe, as well as David’s prolific in depth mandolin lessons. The channel is currently pushing 2 million views and growing. David’s online instruction and transcription work is held in high esteem through his Patreon page as well. Now David lives in Travelers Rest, SC, where he teaches full-time and performs regularly with his wife Tabitha in their new Transatlantic Folk project The Foreign Landers.

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Tom Nechville of Nechville Banjos Mar 09, 2023

To support the podcast please visit www.patreon.com/endascahillbanjo

Around age 30, young Tom Nechville was contemplating his place in the world, and decided to combine his main interest, playing the banjo, with his work experience of manufacturing, design and engineering. The result of his self study lead to the two words, “Banjo Designer”. Equipped with the knowledge of his fate, but not yet knowing how he was going to drastically modify his favorite instrument, he confided in a friend who suggested perhaps a banjo that employed a head that screwed on like a jar lid. This food for thought triggered a light bulb moment the next day, when Tom realized that you can’t really screw on a banjo head, but you can screw the banjo tone pot into the “lid” of the jar! The Heli-Mount concept was born. By firmly but adjustably fixing the neck to a hardware frame, any sort of banjo pot could be inserted from the back of the instrument and tightened with a single threaded flange, yielding perfect head tension.

The Heli-Mount frame, (meaning Helical Thread Mounting system) allows for easy, quick and simple adjustments, and offers the most versatility of any banjo. It has been the staple of our product line for over 30 years. The sound of a perfectly tensioned banjo head is remarkable: rich, deep, and sweet. The time spent changing the head transformed from an all afternoon event to a two minute spin.

Since that time in the late 1980's, he has made many other improvements to the banjo. These include an adjustable and removable neck connection that negates the need for coordinator rods. Also a compensated bridge, wooden armrest and radiused fingerboard. These are modern conveniences not traditionally found on the instrument. The result is cleaner sound and easy adjustment.

Go check them out www.nechville.com

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My Top Ten Banjo Tracks (The First Take!) Feb 23, 2023

🥇 Support the Podcast: http://www.patreon.com/endascahillbanjo

What are my Top Ten All Time favourite banjo tracks? Jeez that's a big ask. And I'll probably pick a different ten every time the question comes up! So here's a good stab at it. What do you think?

Gerry O'Connor - Funk The Cajun Blues
Angelina Carberry Dermot Crogan's Jig / Hardiman's Fancy
Seamus Egan - The Czar of Munster
Solas - The Stride Set featuring Bela Fleck
Damien O'Kane & Ron Block - Brian Boru's March
At The Racket - The Darling Girl from Clare
Four Men and a Dog - Easy Club Reel
Cathal Hayden - The Blooming Meadows & The Connacht Man's Rambles
The East Pointers - Tanglewood
Gerry O'Connor - No Place Like Home

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Emma Langford - Limerick Singer-Songwriter Feb 09, 2023

To support this podcast please visit www.patreon.com/endascahillbanjo

Emma Langford was awarded the RTÉ Folk Award for Best Emerging Artist in 2018, and in following years was twice nominated for Best Folk Singer. She received the Music Network RESONATE residency and Arts Council Agility Award in 2021 to support a continuing musical exploration of women in Irish history. Since 2017 Emma has written and independently released two highly acclaimed albums – Quiet Giant & Sowing Acorns – laying the groundwork for a bright, busy future.

As part of an international tour, in 2019 Langford made her US debut at the world’s largest celebration of Irish music, Milwaukee Irish Fest - she makes her return to the US in August this year.

Emma made the bold choice to release her new album, Sowing Acorns at the height of a global pandemic – the gamble paid dividends, and her sophomore record received huge international praise. The artist climbed the charts with her epic folk ballad Birdsong; collaborated with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra; was selected to perform at the prestigious Ireland Music Week international showcase and on RTÉ’s Ireland In Music which has been broadcast to a huge global audience; and joined the wildly successful supergroup Irish Women In Harmony.

In 2023 she is back on the road around the US, Ireland and Germany sharing work from her genre-defying catalogue of songs, while continuing her research around Irish women in myth and history.

http://www.emmalangfordmusic.com

https://limericklady.libsyn.com/

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Brian McGrath - Irish Tenor Banjo Player Feb 02, 2023

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Brian McGrath comes from Brookeborough, Co. Fermanagh, an area steeped in traditional music. Brian’s first professional work was with Dervish. He then joined Four Men And A Dog and played on the award-winning album Barking Mad. He moved his career on, accompanying Noel Hill, Paul Brock and Frankie Gavin, among others, before joining the Sean Keane Band as pianist. Brian joined De Dannan where he stayed till the band broke up in 2003. Brian now plays with At The Racket, and is much sought after as a session musician on piano, banjo and mandolin. He has toured extensively, playing with all the biggest names in Irish traditional music, including Frankie Gavin, Noel Hill, John Carty, Matt Molloy, Paul Brock, Charlie Lennon, Joe Burke, Sean Maguire, Brian Rooney, Cathal Hayden, Joe Derrane, Arty McGlynn, Alec Finn, Alan Kelly, Dolores Keane, Maura O’Connell, Tommy Fleming, Steve Cooney and Eleanor Shanley, as well as doing extensive TV and media work.

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Mohsen Amini - "The Noblest Art is is that of making others happy" Jan 26, 2023

Four time BBC Radio award winner Mohsen Amini from Glasgow, Scotland is one of the fastest growing names in the traditional world. He continuously tours with firebrands Talisk & the supergroup Imar, appearing in all corners of the globe at world leading festivals including closing out Saturday nights main stage at the 2019 Cambridge Folk Festival, three back to back years at Philadelphia Folk Festival, four at Tønder Festival and five at Celtic Connections.

https://www.talisk.co.uk/about/

https://www.imarband.com

🥇 Support my Patreon Page for tons of exclusive banjo goodies, tune transcriptions, Discord, Zoom hangs, and more:

http://www.patreon.com/endascahillbanjo

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An Interlude Feb 28, 2022

The podcast is taking a short break as We Banjo 3 heads out on our first major tour in 2 years. I will be producing more podcast episodes later in Spring.

However, I am also launching a brand new Patreon channel focused entirely on Irish tenor banjo and this podcast. If you'd like to support the channel and the podcast please head over to www.patreon.com/endascahillbanjo

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I Want You To Meet (ME!) with Jasmine Faulk Dickerson Feb 21, 2022

This time I'm in the hot seat on the I Want You To Meet podcast with Jasmine Faulk Dickerson

Make sure to check out Jasmine's other shows https://www.jasminfaulkdickerson.com/iwantyoutomeet

Part of PAntheon Podcasts

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Episode 23: Kieran Hanrahan Feb 07, 2022

The last from the American Banjo Museum series, the Superfluous Fifth String is banjo supernova Kieran Hanrahan. Broadcaster, radio host and tenor banjo player, Kieran is a renowned musician and founder of famed Irish band Stockton's Wing. Hanrahan is also an assistant lecturer at the Conservatory of Music and Drama at Dublin Institute of Technology where he works in the Traditional Music program

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Episode 22: Pauline Conneely Jan 24, 2022

Pauline was born in Bedford, England, the daughter of Irish parents from Connemara and Longford, raised in a family steeped in Irish music, dance and culture. As a young girl she achieved great success, becoming a champion Irish step dancer before turning her focus to music. Under the tutelage of legendary musician Brendan Mulkere, Pauline honed her love of the banjo, eventually earning her status as renowned banjo player.

She founded the band Chicago Reel, who feature regularly at Irish festivals around the Midwest and East Coast. She frequently shares the stage with Grammy-nominated fiddler Liz Carroll, as well as many respected artists performing on the world stage today, including John Doyle, The Chieftains, Cherish the Ladies, Sean Keane, and Mick McGoldrick.

Part odf Pantheon Podcast

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Episode 21: Damien O'Kane Jan 10, 2022

Damien O'Kane is a brilliant banjo player. And a fine guitarist. And an ingenious arranger. Not to mention an accomplished tunemaker, researcher, bandleader and accompanist of rich imagination and fearless vision. Hailing from Coleraine in Northern Ireland, Damien now lives in the UK with his wife, folk singer Kate Rusby and their two children.

Part of Pantheon Podcasts

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Episode 20: Martin Howley Dec 27, 2021

Holder of 7 “All Ireland” titles and the first Irish banjo player to play the hallowed Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Martin grew up on a steady diet of Irish and American folk, love of music passed down by his father, Martin, a great folk singer. He has performed with the Chieftains, Carlos Nunez, Mumford and Sons, Ricky Skaggs, and Steve Earle amongst others. He once asked president Obama to hold his banjo, Barrack politely declined, most likely as the banjo is quite heavy. Martin, alongside Enda, has forged a new path in Irish banjo and together they've pioneered a new arena of technical skills. With We Banjo 3, he's been afforded the opportunity to hone his stagecraft and legendary banter - he knows all the sports teams and regularly attempts local language lore, often to clumsy mirth-making results. Martin believes that folk music is an antidote to social ills

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Episode 19: Seamus Egan Dec 13, 2021

It’s hard to think of an artist in traditional Irish music more influential than Seamus Egan. From his beginnings as a teen prodigy, to his groundbreaking solo work with Shanachie Records, to his founding of Irish-American powerhouse band Solas, to his current work as one of the leading composers and interpreters of the tradition, Egan has inspired multiple generations of musicians and helped define the sound of Irish music today. His instantly recognisable banjo sound has been a huge influence on many generations of banjo players worldwide. Part of Pantheon Podcasts.

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Episode 18: Theresa O'Grady - The Banjoista Nov 29, 2021

All Ireland champion, renowned teacher, brilliant Irish tenor banjo player and hugely entertaining story teller, Theresa O'Grady has it all! Theresa and I go way back and have even competed against each other in banjo competitions (she won, I'm not a little bit sore about it 25 years later!!!) This was a hugely enjoyable interview. Special thanks to the American Banjo Museum in OK for permission to rebroadcast this interview from their Superfluous Fifth String series.

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Episode 17: Daniel Neely - banjo player, ethnomusicologist, music writer Nov 15, 2021

I've known Dan a long time now, we first met in Galway when I brought him salmon fishing. Fishing, not catching it must be said, but we've become firm friends over the years. Dan is a banjo player and ethnomusicologist, a protegé of Professor Mick Moloney, a music writer for the Irish Echo and also picks his way through the oft murky maze of organising some of New York's most famous Irish music sessions!! We have a great conversation about the session scene in NY, Dan's interest in Jamaican mento music and the role of the banjo in that tradition.

www.danieltneely.com/

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Episode 16: Nora Brown - clawhammer banjo Nov 01, 2021

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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Episode 15: John Carty - Irish fiddle and banjo Oct 18, 2021

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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Episode 14: Alison Brown Oct 04, 2021

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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Episode 13: Joanne O'Connor - Irish Tenor Banjo Sep 20, 2021

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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Episode 12: Tony Trischka Sep 06, 2021

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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Episode 11: Abigail Washburn Aug 23, 2021

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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Episode 10: Lisa Canny - Irish Tenor Banjo, Harp, Singer, Songwriter Aug 09, 2021

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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Episode 9: Ron Block Jul 26, 2021

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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Episode 8: Béla Fleck Jul 12, 2021

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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Episode 7: Natalie McMaster - Cape Breton Fiddling Legend May 24, 2021

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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Episode 6: Sierra Hull May 10, 2021

Grammy nominee, mind-melting mandolin playing, singer, songwriter, child prodigy...... what more can be said of Sierra Hull? Oh right, she's incredibly kind and friendly too!