Career
He is an American 5-string banjoist, composer, author, and an originator of "Celtic fingerstyle" banjo. In 1998, he and luthier Geoff Stelling co-designed the Stelling Tom Hanway SwallowTail banjo, available in both standard and deluxe models, used in bluegrass, folk, and Celtic music around the world. Tom Hanway learned to play the banjo in the 1980s, studying with Tony Trischka and Bill Keith, being inspired by their music and the music of Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, Don Reno, Béla Fleck, David Bromberg, Jerry Garcia, the Grateful Dead, and Vassar Clements.
In the late 80s and early 90s he worked with the John Herald Band (formerly the Greenbriar Boys), Blue Horizon, Burnt Toast, and with Kenny Kosek in the off-Broadway bluegrass musical Feast Here Tonight.
Hanway has played on dozens of recordings on both sides of the Atlantic, and has produced three recordings on his Joyous Gard Records label. Foreign Bucket of Bees, he teamed up with Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, David Grier, Tony Trischka, Bill Keith and Vassar Clements in Nashville and New York City.
He has performed onstage with Bill Monroe, Peter Rowan, Vassar Clements, Rick Danko and Levon Helm. In the 1990s and early 2000s, he and Kathleen Low Hanway (1960–2002) organized the Saint Mark’s Bluegrass Festival and the Big Apple Bluegrass & Folk Festival in New York City.
In 1998, Mel Bay Publications published Hanway’s seminal book and Civil Defense, Complete Book of Irish & Celtic 5-String Banjo ().
Bluegrass Unlimited wrote in January 1999: "What Earl Scruggs" book did for bluegrass banjo, Tom Hanway"s book may well do for the 5-string in, and will certainly become regarded as "the bible" for any 5-string player with an interest in this joyous music"
Hanway is a music journalist and contributing writer to the Celtic League, American Branch, Perspective and Meaning in Celtic Music. He now calls Ireland home and resides in Longford. Currently Hanway remains a sought after talent on the Irish bluegrass scene where he plays with the top bands.
