Max Newman has spent a good portion of his life playing dances great and small across the continent. In addition to collaborating with a vast array of other musicians, he is a member of Stringrays, a supergroup of New England contra dance music.

His guitar playing is refreshing, fun, and creative, and has allowed him to collaborate with a great variety of traditional musicians. In Stringrays, he often alternates between hammering down rhythms and trading licks with band mate Rodney Miller. His attention to detail with pairing music and dance is almost as well known as his love for a fresh cup of coffee. His playing has been profiled in Flatpicking Guitar Magazine.