Allison de Groot is a celebrated clawhammer banjoist recognized as one of the leading instrumentalists in the North American folk music scene. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada, de Groot combines her deep connection to traditional old-time music with a fresh, innovative approach to the banjo. Her signature style seamlessly combines intricate, masterful melodic phrasing with dynamic rhythm.
De Groot is a frequent collaborator with prominent roots musicians, most notably fiddler Tatiana Hargreaves. Together, they have achieved significant acclaim, including two Canadian Folk Music Awards and a Juno nomination for their collaborative work. Their sophomore album, Hurricane Clarice (2022), was nominated for the Juno Award for “Traditional Roots Album of the Year” and earned the duo Canadian Folk Music Awards for “Best Instrumental Group of the Year” and “Best Traditional Album of the Year.”
Beyond her performance career, de Groot is deeply committed to education. She launched an online banjo teaching platform on ArtistWorks, continuing her mission to inspire the next generation of musicians.
Reflecting on her relationship with the banjo, she notes, “It still feels just as exciting as it did the first day I picked it up… I feel like I could live 100 lifetimes and explore the banjo.”
Allison de Groot’s accomplishments include collaborations with Bruce Molsky and a 2023 nomination for “Instrumentalist of the Year” by the Americana Music Association.
In 2024, de Groot earned one of the highest honors in the banjo world: the Steve Martin Banjo Prize.
Discography:
Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves (Free Dirt Records, 2019)
Hurricane Clarice, with Tatiana Hargreaves (Free Dirt Records, 2022)
The Thrill, with Nic Gareiss (2022)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.