Evie Ladin Band – Saturday September 22, 2018 at 8:00pm
Tenacious, innovative string musicians/dancers with a pulsing neo-trad heart, the Evie Ladin Band – Evie Ladin, Keith Terry and Erik Pearson – throws down soulful folk songs with a four-dimensional live show. Grounded in Appalachian old-time repertoire, seasoned in African-diaspora roots, writing from life in modern cities, blurring the lines between music and dance, “I had no idea!” is how audiences describe the ELB’s captivating concerts.
The 2012 eponymous release Evie Ladin Band won Americana Album of the Year from the Independent Music Awards Vox Pop Vote and their 2016 release JUMP THE FIRE reveals the tight trio the band has become – after many miles, and a host of new songs, a truly original sound in new old-time Americana – taking home the silver from 2017 Clifftop’s illustrious Neo-Trad Stringband contest.
The polyrhythmic heat of Evie’s clawhammer banjo, resonant voice, real stories and rhythmic dance have been heard from A Prairie Home Companion to Celtic Connections, Lincoln Center to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. Known as a driving force behind San Francisco’s Stairwell Sisters, Evie is fluid in traditional Appalachian arts, even as she brings an urban edge and contemporary vision to her own stories, deep interpretations of old songs, contemporary percussive dance. Folk music in her family life, early urban hip hop in her teen life, diving deep into the African side of old-time country music and dance…Music, dance and song became inseparable.
Ladin’s voice is sultry, wistful and defiant all at once. She possesses a keen songwriting sense and a stable of strong musicians to back her up. –POP MATTERS
Keith Terry (bass, Body Music, vocals) is a renowned percussionist/rhythm dancer, and the founder of the International Body Music Festival. A pioneer in contemporary Body Music, Keith produces large-scale intercultural collaborations and education. Keith brings a cinematic ear to playing bass as tonal percussion, with bells, box, body and toys.
Erik Pearson (guitar, banjo, vocals) is a musician’s musician with the Crooked Jades, storyteller Diane Ferlatte, and his solo projects. His original banjo tune “Fork & File” was the soundtrack for a rapids rafting scene in Sean Penn’s movie Into the Wild.
“You don’t often hear words like “traditional,” and “authentic” paired with “innovative” and “unique,” but Evie Ladin has brought them together brilliantly in the self-titled, debut album, and the result is truly a high point in new old-time music.” – FOLKWORKS, Los Angeles
“The best example I have seen of a Neo-Trad band’s sound being authentically anchored in old time music but extending it into new and entertaining directions.” – Clifftop Contest Judge