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This week, join us for a very special episode of Deering Live as we reveal the 2021 Steve Martin Banjo Prize winners. In partnership with the Freshgrass Foundation and Compass Records.

Bill Evans is an internationally recognized five-string banjo life force. As a performer, teacher, writer and composer, he brings a deep knowledge, intense virtuosity and contagious passion to all things banjo, with thousands of music fans and banjo students from all over the world in a music career that now spans over thirty-five years. Join us to hear him play, tell some stories, and give some banjo playing tips!

Clinton Davis is a 5th generation Kentuckian, now based in San Diego. He is a master old-time banjo player and long-time friend of Deering. His work has been described by many as carrying the torch of traditional American Music. An accomplished fiddle, guitar, mandolin and piano player, Davis recently released his new album "If I Live and I Don’t Get Killed” on Tiki Parlour Recordings.

Today, Clint will play us a selection of tunes from the album, and chat a little about his banjo journey so far.

We are excited to feature musician and author Stephen Wade to Deering Live this week. Stephen is a true scholar of American folk music, having written the critically acclaimed book on American field recordings, The Beautiful Music All Around Us. Wade, a Grammy-nominated recording artist, is also a critically acclaimed playwright most known for his hit one-man show Banjo Dancing.

This week on Deering Live we welcome master old-time banjoist Riley Baugus. Riley plays in the Round Peak style which is a style that comes from his home county in North Carolina, Surry County. Riley has recorded with Robert Plant, Willie Nelson, Alison Kraus, and many more. He also sang on the Academy Award-nominated soundtrack for the movie Cold Mountain.

In this episode we welcome bluegrass rising star and banjo player for the Sam Bush Band, Wes Corbett to Deering Live. As a founding member of the popular American roots string band, 'Joy Kills Sorrow', and a former instructor at the Berklee School of Music, Wes brings with him a huge depth of musical background and experience to share with the world.

We welcome our friend, and bluegrass legend Greg Cahill to Deering Live this week. After founding The Special Consensus in 1975, Greg has blazed a bright trail of banjo playing for over 45 years.

If you haven't heard Nora Brown, then be sure to take a listen to her this week. Nora is only 15 years old but she is an old soul who plays old time banjo with an incredible feel. Nora started learning music at the age of 6, specializing in old-time and traditional banjo music. She plays with a level of confidence rarely found in most adults, all the while weaving together stories of music history into her performances to create a beautifully rich tapestry for the listener. She has played at numerous venues and festivals on the East Coast and has been featured on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts and TED Talks.

We are honored to feature Bruce Molsky on Deering Live. Bruce is a true master of old time Appalachian music. He is equally strong on both the banjo and the fiddle and has received high praise from diverse fans and collaborators like Linda Ronstadt, Mark Knopfler, Celtic giants Donal Lunny and Andy Irvine, jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, and dobro master Jerry Douglas.

Don is a master of traditional New Orleans jazz on the tenor banjo. He is an incredible entertainer and a great storyteller and educator. Watch this episode to learn from one of the very best in traditional New Orleans jazz.

We are very excited to welcome Terry and Cindy Baucom to Deering Live, just a few days after the 42nd anniversary of the formation of the original Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver!

We are very excited to feature Rhiannon Giddens on Deering Live. Rhiannon has been a longtime Deering banjo artist and was a founding member of the Grammy Award winning Carolina Chocolate Drops. She since has forged a very successful solo career. Her latest album "There Is No Other" featuring Italian multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi was produced by iconic producer Joe Henry and is an astounding work.

We're excited to feature Mark Johnson, the father of Clawgrass banjo playing on Deering Live this week! If you aren't familiar with what Clawgrass is, it is a unique way of playing clawhammer banjo that utilizes "rolls" similar to the 3 fingerstyles. Mark's unique style doesn't really fit into a strict category. It's very bluegrass but has overtones of traditional folk, progressive acoustic, new-grass, and old-time all mixed into one.