Gadan

Gadan

Gadan is a storming new band blending the drive of Irish Traditional Music and Celtgrass with the soul of folk and Appalachian music… all spiced with unmistakable Italian seasoning!

Featuring three young yet seasoned Italian folk musicians from the Irish trad and European folk scene, Gadan joined forces in 2024 with Enda Scahill, tenor banjo legend and founder of the acclaimed Irish band We Banjo 3. From 2025, the group also welcomes Eric Long – a talented songwriter and clawhammer banjo player originally from the Appalachian heartland of Pennsylvania and now based in San Francisco – adding a deep, rootsy flavor to the group’s already distinctive transatlantic sound.

With no less than three outrageous, unlawful, and audacious banjos – plus fiddle, mandolin, and guitar – Gadan delivers a powerful “strings-only” sound, driven by a relentless rhythmic pulse. Their high-energy live performances and magnetic stage presence prove you don’t need drums to make people groove.

Over the past three years, Gadan has completed five successful U.S. tours, performing on prestigious stages across the country – from intimate folk venues to major Celtic festivals. They are quickly earning a reputation as one of the “most exciting revelations in the contemporary folk and Celtic music scene”.

With a bold sound, a fresh approach to tradition, and a growing international following, Gadan is redefining the boundaries of folk music – one banjo at a time.

The Band:

• Jacopo Ventura: guitar, bass
• Lorenzo Testa: tenor banjo, mandolin, vocals
• Enda Scahill: tenor banjo, Irish craic
• Eric Long: clawhammer banjo, vocals
• Joan Gatti: fiddle