DON & CATHARINE BRYAN
CULTURAL SERIES
Inspire, Educate and Challenge
Michael Rix
A Banjo Christmas
Date: December 7, 2025
Time: 4 PM
Location: St. Andrew's By-The-Sea Episcopal Church, Nags Head
Join us for a joyful holiday concert featuring Michael Rix, performing songs from this EP "A Very Banjo Christmas" live with his full band. Hear you favorite Christmas classics and a selection of original tunes that bring the warmth and magic of the season to life.
About the Artist
Michael Rix is a Nashville-based banjo country artist, songwriter, and author whose music combines traditional country, bluegrass, and Americana with powerful, deeply personal storytelling.
Born in Toledo, Ohio — the eldest of nine children — Rix endured a fraught childhood in a controlling religious cult. By age 12, he had fashioned a homemade guitar from a punishment paddle, marking the beginning of a journey that would eventually lead him to rediscover his voice through music.
Today, Rix’s 2024 album I Can See the Sun spotlights his signature banjo-forward sound and honest songwriting — themes of survival, redemption, and hope resonating throughout.
Beyond the studio, he draws on his personal journey in his memoir From Cult to Country: An Asthmatic’s Journey to Find More Air and in live performance — using music to heal, reclaim agency, and bridge divides.
In performance, Rix brings soulful vocals, refined musicianship, and a rare authenticity — giving listeners not just a concert, but a narrative of resilience and the transformative power of song.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Don & Catharine Bryan Cultural Series brings important cultural events to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Our events often involve bringing our performers, our artists together with local students to expand arts education in our area. Other things you should know about the Series:
YOUR SUPPORT
We rely on public support to keep our events coming to the area, to keep our ticket prices low and to maintain our deep engagement with local students. You can donate to the series online.
OUR PARTNERS
We partner with many local nonprofits including the Dare County Arts Council, the Outer Banks forum for the Lively Arts and the Dare County Youth Orchestra among others
OUR BOARD
We are an all volunteer organization, formed in 2012. You can meet our board, read about our finances and other boring stuff here.
