What is that rhythmic whomp that makes clawhammer banjo so funky?  Evie Ladin marries melody, harmony & rhythm in a distinctive style that drives tunes along, and gives depth to songs. Emphasizing ear training, syncopations, and achieving better tone, we’ll take a look at what makes versions of tunes unique, and how to capture that on your instrument.  A patient and experienced teacher, Evie aims to give all levels of players something to chew on.  Students should have the basic bum-diddy and be ready to learn some tunes and licks.

A Bit More About Evie Ladin:
Banjo player, singer, songwriter, percussive-dancer, choreographer and square-dance caller, Evie grew up steeped in traditional folk music/dance, and brings a contemporary vision to her compositions and choreography.  Evie’s performances, recordings and teaching reconnect Appalachian music/dance with other African-Diaspora traditions, and have been heard from A Prairie Home Companion to Lincoln Center, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass to Celtic Connections. She has taken home ribbons in folk song from Mt Airy, NC Fiddler’s Convention, and Neo-Trad Band from the Appalachian Stringband Festival, Clifftop, WV. Based in Oakland, CA, Evie tours with Keith Terry and the Evie Ladin Band; and has produced 6 CDs and two instructional DVDs. In the percussive dance world, she is Executive Director of the International Body Music Festival, directs the moving choir MoToR/dance and is an ace freestyle flatfooter. In the trad world, Evie teaches banjo and harmony singing at the infamous Freight & Salvage, online at Peghead Nation and numerous camps. In the songwriter world, she just writes great songs. A highly entertaining performer, Evie enjoys facilitating arts learning in diverse communities.

This workshop is part of the 12th Annual Mike Seeger Commemorative Old Time Banjo Festival Concert:
with Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Dom Flemons, Ken & Brad Kolodner Quartet with Rachel Eddy
Sunday, June 17th, 7:30pm
The Birchmere, Alexandria VA
Tickets & info: http://www.birchmere.com/events/the-mike-seeger-commemorative-12th-annual-old-time-banjo-festival/

Visit Evie's website at evieladin.com.

Evie Ladin performs a solo banjo version of the tune “Trouble On My Mind” by Kentucky fiddler John Morgan Salyer in the Peghead Nation video studio.