Hilary Hawke is a genre-blending banjoist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist originally from upstate New York and now a longtime staple of the NYC music scene.

She will be releasing the album Lift Up This Old World on July 11, 2025 on Adhyâropa Records. Featuring contributions from Ross Martin, Max Johnson, Jacob Jolliff, Camille Howes and Bobby Hawk, the album combines Bluegrass and Old-Time traditions, exploring themes of “self-belief, resilience, and reconnecting with your roots.”

The album is about “trusting your path and creating genuine connections through both traditional and original music.”

The album’s first single “NYC Waltz,” out now is an ode to Hilary Hawke’s locality, written and performed by Hawke on banjo, and featuring Ross Martin on guitar, Max Johnson on bass, Bobby Hawk on fiddle, and harmonies by Ruth Merenda. 

Hilary Hawke’s current live project features a trio, rounded out by guitarist Ross Martin and fiddle innovator Camille Howes. Since forming in 2023, the group has built its identity around “improvisation, original songwriting, and a shared reverence for bluegrass and old-time traditions, while never being afraid to stretch the genre’s boundaries.”

Hawke says of her new album:

I stopped trying to fit into a box. Instead, I just followed the music I could hear in my head and feel in my hands.

Live Shows:

July 24, 2025
Brooklyn, NY – Sunny’s Bar 
Hilary Hawke – Album Release Party

August 5, 2025
Ridgefield, CT – Ballard Park
The Brigideens

August 10, 2025
St. Paul, MN – Irish Fair of Minnesota
The Brigideens

September 24, 2025
Weybridge, VT – Valley Stage Productions
Hilary Hawke

September 25, 2025
Rumford, ME – 49 Franklin Mystic Theatre
Hilary Hawke

October 5, 2025
Saratoga Springs, NY – Caffe Lena
The Brigideens