Max Wareham at Nick-A-Nees 2025-09-03T20:30:00
Whether on archaeological digs or translating medieval poetry, the past has always been a north star for banjo player, songwriter, and author Max Wareham. Max, who learned his trade from banjo masters Bill Keith and Tony Trischka, is a member of the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band and was featured on the Grammy-nominated album “Calling You From My Mountain.”
After two years of touring nationally with Peter, Max recorded his debut album, Daggomit!. The album features Chris Eldridge and David Grier on guitar, Laura Orshaw on fiddle, Chris Henry on mandolin, Mike Bub on bass, Larry Atamanuik on snare drum, and guest singer and producer Peter Rowan. Recorded by multi-Grammy winning engineer Sean Sullivan, Wareham’s commitment to early innovators of the instrument shines on this forthcoming record of soulful original songs, highlighted by the hard-driving chemistry of Nashville’s preeminent bluegrass stars.
Wareham’s interest in history extends also to his writing. His first book, “Rudy Lyle: The Unsung Hero of the Five String Banjo” chronicles the life and music of early bluegrass banjo master Rudy Lyle by presenting exhaustive and largely never-before-published transcriptions and analyses of every break Lyle recorded with Bill Monroe, the “father of bluegrass.” Lyle’s historical significance is explored in interviews with banjo legends and members of Rudy’s family. Portraits of each interviewee are included alongside several never-before- published photos of Lyle himself.