As the Philadelphia Folk Festival gears up for its 61st annual event this August, I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with legendary banjo player Tony Trischka.
Tony is set to perform on the Martin Guitar Main Stage at 7:45 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18, and he shared some fascinating insights into his career, his latest project Earl Jam, and his deep connection to the Philadelphia Folk Festival.
Tony Trischka’s journey in music started with folk influences like Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan before he discovered his true calling with the banjo. Throughout the podcast, Tony reflects on his early visits to the Philadelphia Folk Festival and performing folk music throughout the 1960s.
One of the highlights of our conversation was Tony’s discussion of “Earl Jam,” a tribute project to the legendary Earl Scruggs. The album features a stellar lineup of bluegrass musicians, including Billy Strings, Del McCoury, Molly Tuttle, and Vince Gill. Tony shared stories about his personal interactions with Earl Scruggs, offering listeners a rare glimpse into the life of a bluegrass icon.
In addition to his performance at the festival, Tony also talked about his dedication to teaching banjo through ArtistWorks, an online platform where he mentors students from around the globe. His commitment to passing on his knowledge and inspiring the next generation of musicians is truly admirable.
Whether you’re a long-time fan of Tony Trischka or new to the world of bluegrass, this podcast episode is packed with stories, insights, and a deep love for the music that has defined Tony’s remarkable career. Be sure to tune in and catch Tony live at the Philadelphia Folk Festival.
Subscribe to The High Note podcast anywhere you subscribe to podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Stitcher, TuneIn and Google Podcasts.
Follow @HighNoteBlog anywhere you go on social media including TikTok, X, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Subscribe to The High Note E-Zine.
The intro and outro music was written, composed and recorded by Paul “Dawg” Dixon. The voices you hear at the end are Graeme Armstrong, Steve Poltz and Keller Williams.
