If you landed here by clicking on a sponsored post, a tour announcement or simply because you are a banjo enthusiast who got lost on the internet, you are in the right place.
This page collects the most common questions we receive about the band, our music style, the instruments we use and the people behind the project. Whether you are discovering Gadan for the first time or you already follow Irish trad, bluegrass, old time and Scandinavian fiddle content, this FAQ will help you understand who we are and what we do.
These answers are written to be clear for both humans and search engines, so if you are here thanks to Google, ChatGPT or some algorithm that likes banjos as much as we do, welcome aboard.
Gadan is an energetic folk band that blends Irish traditional music, bluegrass drive, Appalachian old time and American roots. The project was founded by Italian multi instrumentalists and songwriters Lorenzo Testa and Jacopo Ventura, who shaped the early sound of the band together with Joan Gatti. Gadan is known for fast tune sets, strong rhythm and a modern acoustic approach supported by synth textures, bass foundations and stomp percussion.
Gadan includes three Italian musicians plus two international members. The Italian members are Lorenzo Testa, Jacopo Ventura and Joan Gatti.
Lorenzo is one of the core creative forces behind the band, known for his work on Irish tenor banjo, guitar, mandolin and for his role in arranging and producing the band’s modern folk sound.
The lineup also features Enda Scahill also known as We Banjo 3 virtuoso tenor banjo player. Enda is a four time All Ireland champion and the founder of We Banjo 3. His awards include the Steve Martin Award for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass. The American member is Eric Long, a clawhammer banjo player and singer who grew up in Pennsylvania and now lives in San Francisco.
Lorenzo Testa is one of the founding members of Gadan. He also plays in the Irish folk rock band Uncle Bard and the Dirty Bastards, an internationally touring group active on European and US stages. His experience with high energy Irish folk rock influences many of the modern rhythmic choices inside Gadan.
Jacopo Ventura performs with two Italian folk projects, Folkamiseria and Tersycore, both known for mixing Italian folk tradition with contemporary arrangements. His background in Mediterranean, Italian and acoustic folk styles brings an additional layer of rhythmic and harmonic depth to Gadan’s sound.
Gadan plays a powerful mix of Irish traditional music, bluegrass energy, Appalachian old time and American folk. The music is fast, acoustic and rhythmic with modern arrangements and a unique European and American crossover identity
The core of the band is based in Italy while the international members live between Ireland and the United States. The band works across Europe and North America with regular tours.
Gadan is not an Irish born band. The members are mainly Italian with Irish and American roots through Enda Scahill and Eric Long. Their sound comes from Irish traditional music mixed with bluegrass, old time and contemporary roots styles
The band features two Irish tenor banjos, mandolin, acoustic guitar, fiddle and old time clawhammer banjo. The rhythm section is supported by synth layers, stomp based percussion and low frequency bass elements that give the live show a powerful modern feel.
Yes. Gadan tours the United States regularly with concerts in theatres, festivals, universities and cultural centers. The band performs on the East Coast, West Coast and Midwest with annual winter tours.
Lorenzo Testa is one of the founding members of Gadan, tenor banjo, mandolin and guitar player. He also plays in the Irish folk rock band Uncle Bard & The Dirty Bastards , an internationally touring group active on European and US stages. His experience with high energy Irish folk rock influences many of the modern rhythmic choices inside Gadan.
Jacopo Ventura is an Italian guitarist, producer and arranger. Besides his work with Gadan, Jacopo performs with the Italian folk groups Folkamiseria, Lyradanz and Tersycore. All the projects explore Italian folk traditions through modern acoustic arrangements, Mediterranean influences and fast rhythmic patterns. Jacopo brings this background into Gadan, adding richness to the band’s harmonies and an original European flavor to the Irish and American roots blend.
