I can't remember the last solo banjo concert I went to. In fact, I'm not sure I've ever attended one. And that's what Noam Pikelny is banking on. Noam is a Chicago native whose "day job," if you will, is the banjo specialist with The Punch Brothers, but during the stretches when the band isn't recording or touring, Noam has found time to record a new album. But it's not just solo banjo.

Universal Favorite not only features Pikelny's great sense of humor and banjo playing, it also presents his skills as a guitarist and his wonderful baritone singing voice on a few tunes. The album is half original compositions and half covers.

Noam Pikelny was in the Twin Cities for a solo show at the Cedar Cultural Center when he stopped in the Radio Heartland studio.

Songs Performed

"Waveland"
"Old Banjo"
"Redbud"
"Folk Bloodbath"
All songs from Noam Pikelny's 2017 album, Universal Favorite, available on Rounder Records.

Hosted and produced by Mike Pengra
Engineered by Cameron Wiley
Photos by Nate Ryan

Resources

Noam Pikelny - official site

Gallery

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Related

• Punch Brothers perform in The Current studio (2015)
• Noam Pikelny and Stuart Duncan perform in the Radio Heartland studio (2014)