Fiddleist

At long last, the return of our friends, Gadan, who Blackstone River Theatre presented a few years back on their first U.S. tour! This dynamic band blends the drive of Irish traditional music and bluegrass with the heart and soul of folk and Appalachian music – spiced up with an Italian seasoning for extra flair! Gadan was created by seasoned Italian musicians from the Irish trad and European folk/ rock scene, all with years of experience performing at major traditional and alternative music festivals across Europe and the US. The band originally featured four members, all Italian, bringing exceptional skill and passion to Irish traditional music and old-time American styles – a distinctive and remarkable combination. In 2024, they were joined by Enda Scahill, a tenor banjo master, award-winner, All-Ireland champion, and founder of We Banjo 3. With Enda, Gadan expanded to a five-member band. Together, Gadan and Enda Scahill performed at all the major Irish festivals across the U.S. during August 2024, marking the start of an exciting collaboration that will continue into the future. Their high-energy repertoire has a powerful live appeal, with a unique identity. With three banjos—tenor and clawhammer—fiddle, mandolin, and guitar, they create a distinctive “strings-only” sound, driven by a powerful rhythmic pulse. In 2025, the band completed its line-up with the addition of Eric Long, a clawhammer banjoist and singer-songwriter originally from the mountainous heart of Pennsylvania—a region deeply rooted in Appalachian tradition—and now based in San Francisco. Eric brings a raw, authentic American folk soul to the group’s transatlantic sound, further expanding their dynamic and diverse musical identity. Also featured are Lorenzo Testa – tenor banjo, mandolin, vocals; Jacopo Ventura – guitars, bass; and Joan Gatti on fiddle, hardanger fiddle. Do NOT miss this band!

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Gadan featuring Enda Scahill of We Banjo 3

Blackstone River Theatre

Gadan is a new band created by four experienced and well-known musicians in the Irish trad and European folk/rock scenes. On this New England debut, Gadan brings a dynamic repertoire with a powerful live appeal and a sound comparable to new-trad acts such as Talisk and WeBanjo3, but with a unique identity thanks to years of experience in folk music, from Traditional Irish & Scottish music to Appalachian & Old Time music, not to mention the deep connection with regional folk ballads of Northern Italy.  Gadan musically and lyrically explores the deep connection between emigrating people from different part of Europe, such as Ireland and Italy, to the United States, through a reinvigorating and modern musical approach.  Two banjos – tenor & clawhammer – fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki and guitar result in a “strings-only” sound with a hint of electronics and driven by a powerful rhythmic pulse. Who said you need drums to groove? Gadan features Andrea Verga: mandolin, banjo, vocals; Jacopo Ventura: guitar, bouzouki, vocals; Joan Gatti: fiddle; and Lorenzo Testa: tenor banjo, mandolin, guitar, vocals. Not to be missed!

Fiddleist

Joan Gatti

Events

Past events

Feb 7, 2026

Gadan featuring Enda Scahill of We Banjo 3 · Blackstone River Theatre

Oct 29, 2022

Gadan · Blackstone River Theatre

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