Article Contributed by Mike
Published on October 28, 2025
Influential banjo artist Tony Trischka will play his holiday-themed show at Club Passim on Thursday, December 4. The concert is a banjo-driven celebration of the season where Trischka turns his considerable melodic inventiveness loose on Bluegrass and Americana music for the holidays. Tickets are on sale now at passim.org.
A diverse, highly textural seasonal collection, the show also revels in songs long forgotten and little known. Trischka is considered the consummate banjo artist and perhaps the most influential banjo player in the roots music world. For more than fifty years, his stylings have inspired generations of bluegrass and acoustic musicians with the many voices he has brought to the instrument.
Trischka first fell in love with the banjo by way of the Kingston Trio’s 1959 recording of “M.T.A.,” and he experienced the folk revival firsthand by trekking to the Newport Folk Festival in the early to mid-’60s. He later moved to New York City in the early ’70s and hit the ground running. Alongside young masters like mandolinist Andy Statman and fiddler Kenny Kosek, Trischka found his purpose.
Through his tireless efforts as an educator and such divergent projects as his collaborations with longtime friend and fellow banjoist Steve Martin, Trischka continues to influence the roots music world while elevating his instrument’s profile within American culture.
His latest album, Earl Jam: A Tribute to Earl Scruggs, was nominated for a 2025 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album and features some of the biggest names in the genre.
Tony Trischka’s Holiday Show takes place at Club Passim on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $37 and available at passim.org. Club Passim is located at 47 Palmer St., Cambridge, MA 02138.
About Passim
The mission of Passim is to provide truly exceptional and interactive live musical experiences for both performers and audiences, to nurture artists at all stages of their careers, and to build a vibrant, inclusive music community. Passim accomplishes this through its legendary listening venue, music school, artist grants, and community programs.
As a nonprofit since 1994, Passim carries on the heritage of its predecessors — the historic Club 47 (1958–1968) and the for-profit Passim (1969–1994). Located in the heart of Harvard Square, Passim serves Cambridge and the broader region by featuring local, national, and international artists. For a complete schedule, visit Passim’s website.
