Our new CD, Lift Up This Old World is finally released to the world!! Check it out on bandcamp or on all streaming platforms! 11 songs, 9 are original with a full band featuring Ross Martin on guitar, Camie Howes on fiddle and Max Johnson on bass as well as many special guests! Jacob Jolliff on mandolin, Damon Daunno and Ruth Merenda on harmonies and more!

Lift Up This Old World is a raw and honest album in the style of bluegrass and old-time music, exploring themes of self-belief, resilience, and reconnecting with your roots. Released July 11th on Adhyaropa Records!

We couldn’t be more thrilled!

“Without doubt, ‘Lift Up This Old World’ is an album that is guaranteed not only to make many end of year “Best of” lists, but should top them”- Gerry McNally (Folk&tumble.com)

The second single from my new album just dropped! It’s called ‘All I’ve Ever Known’

I wrote 'All I've Ever Known' about a feeling I think many of us know well—the quiet struggle of working hard just to stay afloat. I’m honored to have @jacob.jolliff featured on mandolin for this track!

The best way to support artists is by checking it out on Bandcamp! You can receive the single and pre-order the album here! Of course you can also check it out on all streaming platforms as well :)

BANDCAMP

We just released the latest single from the new album! It’s called NYC Waltz!!!

I wrote this song because there are many amazing things about NYC but if you stay here long enough, you really see people come and go.  When writing this song, I was really singing to people that I’ve loved, good friends, and people you meet that you know aren’t meant to stay.  The song is about saying goodbye to people and letting them go.  NYC is really where my heart is. Also, I wanted it to be reminiscent of those other two classic waltzes, Tennessee and Kentucky. 

To hear it the new single go to:

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

On May 21st I was so grateful to be a guest on Jimmy Fallon with rising pop country star, Dasha! We had a blast and I really enjoyed playing some fun fast banjo and singing harmonies!! The banjo actually kicks the song off! I will admit, it was a different scene for me, especially with the dancers and drumset, but I loved it!! Hope you enjoy it too! Check it out on youtube here!!

The kickstarter for the new album, Lift Up This Old World has been 100% fully funded!

Doing a crowdfunding campaign has been a rollercoaster of emotions over the past month and I am so grateful for the support from people near and far. Thank you so much for believing in my work as an artist!! Me and the band are super excited for you to hear this!

For those that donated-your rewards will be coming after the release date on July 11th on Adhyaropa Records!

Thank you again!! We’re doing it!

The podcast is up! This is my own podcast where I record, mix, research the guests and host. Super pumped to be interviewing some people that I have been admiring for a long time. Some are good friends, and some guests I’ve never met in person. Check it out for a great perspective on banjo players and how they view their music!

On all podcast platforms, or go to https://banjochat.podbean.com

So so so massively thrilled to announce that I just launched my Clawhammer banjo courses online! It’s a complete curriculum that you can access at any time of day. The library of tunes will be ever expanding and as a subscriber you will have input on what content I continue to upload. I am so so excited about this, and really want to make this a special course for anyone wanting to learn banjo. Right now, I am starting with clawhammer and will eventually add fingerpicking! The logo that you are seeing for all of the courses was designed by Austin Hughes who is an amazing artist and my bandmate in M Shanghai Stringband. Site will include short video lessons for beginner and intermediate clawhammer players so you can track your own progress, and not have to wait for a new video to be released! Also, if you want to take a look at some customized merch go to my redbubble store to pick something up. Check it out!

I just returned from an amazing time with the folks at the New England Conservatory in Boston for a week of music with the Silkroad Project’s Global Musician workshop. With 26 countries represented I heard and played music I never dreamed I would be playing! From Guzheng music from China to to Balafon music from Mali, Africa–my mind was definitely stretched! The Silkroad Project was originally founded cellist, by Yo-Yo Ma and now is under the artistic direction of banjoist, vocalist Rhiannon Giddens. I can’t tell you how honored I was to be a part of this wonderful organization!I’m so excited about the music I was able to make and look forward to some of these videos being available online. In the meantime, here is a fun video of some of us playing with Balafon player, Balla Kouyate and getting everyone dancing!

May 24th, 2022 LilyGild will be officially released! Recorded in Floyd, Virginia by Joe (Bass) DeJarnette and accompanied by Reed Stutz on guitar. LilyGild is 7 songs of original and traditional banjo music. To be honest, I couldn’t help myself and I am actually singing one song on the album. Jack of Diamonds, which is one of my favorite tunes. It’s hard to believe I have never recorded a banjo album before, but it’s true! All of these years playing music in NYC, I’ve made some wonderful albums of my own songs, music with the Wild Goats, with M Shanghai, and many other bands. I’ve just never had the time to sit and think about, what would I want to make a banjo album about. Well I finally did it! I’m so psyched to put this album out into the world and can’t wait for you to hear it!

I finally finished the Intermediate banjo book! It took me a couple years to get myself disciplined enough to sit down and figure out what songs I would imagine would help someone get to an intermediate level. But I think I found some good ones, and hopefully you find it helpful! There are 18 banjo tabs with lyrics and warm-ups and chord chart! I am working on getting all the songs on youtube right now (via a secret link in the book ;) So proud of this and hope you can check it out, or share it with a banjo player in your life :) Available in digital and physical form!
Also-check out my youtube channel for more tunes and songs!
www.youtube.com/hilarybanjo

I am so honored and excited to accept an artist residency at the Rensing Center in Pickens, SC!
I will be working on 10 short stories that are within the creative non-fiction genre and setting the stories to traditional and not so traditional folk tunes! These pieces will be meant to be read and performed together creating a soundscape to enhance the stories meaning and help the listener become immersed in the material through song, tune and words.

I am also excited because they have live animals at the Rensing Center, so excited to be around some farm life and get away a little from the city! (I love the city, but you know!)

So excited to finally announce the Wild Goats are releasing our debut album on January 1, 2021 ! ONLY available on bandcamp for now. You will be able to stream the music AND it will be available for purchase.
Our single tunes, Right Here in Your Eyes will be released Monday Dec 21, and Big Eyed Rabbit on Mon Dec 28th to promote the album release!
We hope it gives you the holiday spirit to hear our tunes! Have a wonderful holiday season! Looking forward to 2021!!!

The cast album is out! I’m playing banjo on 100% of the album and am totally thrilled! This is my first cast album and it definitely was a blast to make! AND I just found out that it charted at #2 on Broadway Billboard charts right under Hamilton! I have to admit, it sounds fantastic!

Recorded at Kilgore Studios, NYC

So excited and honored to be featured in the August issue of Banjo Newsletter! The Banjo Newsletter is the premiere newsletter for all things banjo, and has been a go-to resource for myself and for banjo players around the world for tab, forums, articles, and all of things you could dream up! I am so thrilled to be including on this month’s cover!

I had the opportunity to be interviewed by one of my role models and banjo heroes, Cathy Fink. We go in depth about my creative process and how I view practicing and my role in Oklahoma!

An early morning with the entire company of Oklahoma! in Bryant Park this morning performing live for the NBC Today Show! Ali Stroker and Damon Daunno talked about what to expect from the energetic show! We played a medley of Cain’t Say No and Oklahoma!

Oklahoma! took home best revival of a musical at the 2019 Tony Awards! I have never ever played to an audience that big before! Over 5,000 people packed Radio City Music Hall and it was such a rush! Dancers, costumes, sets, lighting and having all the broadway shows represented was a highlight of my life so far! There was so much happening all at once, but I have to confess, Oklahoma company killed it! And to see our Ali Stroker take home the TONY for best featured actress in a musical was over the top! Big love to Ali for being such a major force in acting, singing, and as a role model!