Peghead Nation banjo instructor Bill Evans hosted the 2016 California Banjo Extravaganza with guests Joe Newberry and Danny Barnes, headlining six concerts and holding a Banjo Mini-Camp.

During the tour’s stop at the Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse in Berkeley, California, Bill, Joe, and Danny took a few minutes to play this three-banjo version of “The Train That Carried My Girl from Town” in the Freight’s lobby. Later in the evening, they played the song with the Extravaganza’s all-star band, including Peghead Nation instructors Chad Manning and Sharon Gilchrist, along with mandolin great John Reischman and guitar master Jim Nunally. You can see that version of the song here on Peghead Nation as well.

The song dates back to the early 1900’s, with Piedmont blues songwriter and musician Frank Hutchinson recording the track in 1926. Influential versions by Ola Belle Reed, Doc Watson, and Wade Mainer followed, and the song has been a popular selection in bluegrass and old-time circles since.

Learn banjo with Bill Evans in his Beginning Banjo and Bluegrass Banjo courses on Peghead Nation.

Garrison, Gordy, Hargreaves, Walsh: “Sports” Watch a video of an original song from “Bluegrass and the Abstract Truth,” with mandolin from Peghead Nation instructor Joe K. Walsh, and illustration by our banjo instructor Danny Barnes. Read More

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Hawktail: “Annbjørg” Peghead Nation fiddle instructor Brittany Haas and her progressive acoustic band play an original tune from their new album, “Formations.” Read More

Joy Kills Sorrow: “Such Great Heights” Peghead Nation welcomes our two newest instructors, Zoe Guigueno and Wes Corbett, who played together in the influential stringband Joy Kills Sorrow. Read More

Bill Evans, Dan Crary, and Wally Barnick: “Long Journey Home” The Peghead Nation banjo instructor plays the classic bluegrass song with flatpicking guru Dan Crary and singer/bass player Wally Barnick. Read More

Mr. Sun, “A Little Heart’s Ease” Mr. Sun is Peghead Nation mandolin instructor Joe Walsh, Darol Anger, Grant Gordy, and Ethan Jodziewicz. Here they are playing one of Joe's new compositions. Read More

Sam Bush and Wes Corbett: “Tennessee Wagoner” Peghead Nation banjo instructor plays a fiddle tune on “Jammin’ With Sam,” with bluegrass and mandolin legend Sam Bush. Read More

Joe K. Walsh, Jake Howard, Ethan Setiawan, Grant Gordy, and Darol Anger: “Ricochet” Joe K. Walsh gathered mandolin compatriots together with his Mr Sun bandmates for a fun take on David Grisman’s tune “Ricochet” at the Great Lakes Music Camp this fall. Read More

John Reischman and Kenny Smith: “A Prairie Jewel” Peghead Nation mandolin instructor plays an original tune from the album “Walk Along John” with flatpicking guru Kenny Smith, fiddler Nate Lee, and bass player Max Schwartz. Read More