In this episode of banjo chat I sit down with Hannah Mayree — musician, cultural worker, and founder of the Black Banjo Reclamation Project. Hannah shares the origins of the project, born from a deep need and desire to reconnect Black communities with the banjo’s African roots and reclaim its history, sound, and spirit.
We talk about growing a healing community around the banjo, putting instruments in people's hands, and reshaping how we understand the banjo's place in American music and Black culture.
Hannah also reflects on her early days of train-hopping and hitchhiking across the country, discovering fellow travelers and banjo players along the way. We talk about the intersection of music, spirituality, and belonging, and how audience participation, songwriting, and collaboration shape her creative process in her own music.
This is one of the most enlightening conversations I’ve had about the banjo, excited to share with you!
To learn more:
https://www.blackbanjoreclamationproject.org/
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302 Wes Corbett
In this episode, we dive into the making of Wes Corbett’s new album Drift. The inspirations behind the music, the collaborators who brought it to life, and insights into the recording process. We listen to a couple of my favorite tracks from the album!
We chat about musical influences like Car Talk, Earl Scruggs, and Béla Fleck, and reflect on his upbringing on the West Coast. He shares the subtle complexities of performing with the Sam Bush Band and offers a thoughtful look at his approach to the banjo and composition.
And of course, we settle the age-old debate: how do you pronounce “salmon”? (I have my own theories.) Plus, we test his knowledge on the life cycle of salmon—you might be surprised by what he knows.
www.wescorbett.bandcamp.com
www.wescorbett.com
www.hilaryhawkemusic.com
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Dueling Banjos Podcasts! Live from Ashokan feat. Hilary Hawke, Keith Billik, BB Bowness, Scott Hopkins, Maggie Shar
I’m super excited to present a special collaboration with Keith Billik from the Picky Fingers Podcast! Enjoy a special live episode of the “Dueling Banjos Podcasts” hosted by Hilary Hawke and Keith Billik at the Ashokan Center in Ashokan, NY!
Get the inside scoop on what’s happening in the lives of banjoists Maggie Shar, Scott Hopkins, BB Bowness, Hilary Hawke and Keith Billick. Stick around for the earth shattering banjo duel at the end of the episode.
Featuring the live audience of students at the Banjo Weekend 2024! Sound and recording by Connor Wenke.
BB’s New Album
https://bbbowness.bandcamp.com/album/goodtime-revival
Maggie Shar
https://www.maggieshar.com/
Scott Hopkins
https://scotthopkinsbanjo.com
Keith Billik
https://www.banjopodcast.com/meet-the-host/
Hilary Hawke's new album
https://hilaryhawke.bandcamp.com/album/lift-up-this-old-world-2
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211 Season Finale with Alison Brown!
This is the Season Finale! And my mind is blown hearing Alison Brown talk about her banjos and what she’s playing on the road. We chat about her music, making records, producing, re-issuing records and the vision for her band. We nerd out about how we like the piano and banjo combo.
What she likes to convey with her music, and how she goes beyond how the banjo is usually portrayed. We listen to her track Sweet Sixteenths with Sierra Hull on mandolin, and the Alison Brown Quartet.
We talk about Compass records and why it started and she gives advice for getting over your nerves.
“The banjo is a conduit for connecting with other people”
https://www.alisonbrown.com
https://alisonbrown.bandcamp.com/album/on-banjo
patreon.com/banjochat
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Pickenchickenbooks for Kustom Koozies
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210 Lukas Poole
This week on the chat we have Lukas Pool!
A fun one where we talk about the ins and outs of the Ozark Banjo Shop, how it all started and when he was was making banjos just to pay the rent!
Apprentices, banjo making, balancing having kids with performing music, horses, and his dad working over at Mountain View Music.
He tells us why he decided to make a living playing music and we get specific about repairs, wood selection, and what he looks for in a banjo.
Also how he approaches arranging a fiddle tune for banjo, and advice for people learning and making banjos.
https://ozarkbanjo.com/
https://www.patreon.com/BanjoChat
Season 3 is coming soon! We are returning mid-October with a bunch of new inspiring guests in all styles of banjo playing! Thanks everyone for your patience! Banjo Chat is a music podcast where Musician/Professional banjoist, Hilary Hawke interviews cutting edge and inspiring banjo players every week. They talk about their lives in and out of the music industry; reflecting on stories and ideas that inspire their performing, writing and their albums.
Ireland