Maria Fairchild

Maria Fairchild excels in the traditional Appalachian style of banjo playing known as clawhammer or frailing. She plays 19th century dance tunes, sings ballads and work songs from America’s past, and speaks of the people and times that produced this unforgettable music. Maria is one of those rare performers who really inhabits the stage. She is a splendid instrumentalist, in particular she is a virtuoso clawhammer banjo player and a great singer. Authentic Quebecois songs and Old Time banjo music are tied together by Maria's sly and engaging wit. Her unique ability to make traditional material feel contemporary and accessible along with her sparkling stage presence makes Maria's performances a compelling and memorable experience. She has performed in major folk venues on both coasts as well as in Canada and England. She has previously performed at the Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle, the Portland Folklore Society in Oregon, the Vancouver Folk Song Society in Canada, the Cecil Sharp House in London, England and locally at LITMA and the UU Fellowship of Huntington. In addition to performing as a featured solo artist, Maria is currently working with Larry Moser and Mary Nagin in the contradance band Dance All Night.