Give us that banjo!

November 4, 2011 Erik Ernst Leave a Comment

Watch PBS Arts from the Blue Ridge Mountains — Give Me That Banjo at 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 on Wisconsin Public Television.

Everyone has their own thoughts and understanding of the banjo. Some folks write it off as that quirky instrument that shows up in country music. Others celebrate its role as the heart of Bluegrass. Still others equate it with the traditional folk music. In fact, the banjo has been used in almost all forms of American music.

This installment of the PBS Arts Festival invites you to follow the path of this influential instrument through the past century. Along the way, narrator Steve Martin — an amazingly talented banjoist in his own right — introduces us to performances from Pete Seeger, Bela Fleck, Earl Scruggs and 30-Minute Music Hour alumni the Carolina Chocolate Drops.

Watch a preview performance by legendary blues innovator Taj Mahal below and tune in to WPT to catch the full film.

Watch Give Me the Banjo: Taj Mahal Performs Slow Drag on PBS. See more from PBS.

Program Documentary 30-Minute Music Hour Film Concerts Earl Scruggs Carolina Chocolate Drops PBS PBS Arts Festival public television Pete Seeger Wisconsin Public Television Steve Martin Wisconsin Public Television

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