Grooving tunes, heartfelt vocal harmonies, and a sprinkling of fiddle and harmonica magic: a night of fretless fun with Brad’s unique gourd banjo and Alex’s upright bass. These longtime musical friends (and Charm City Junction bandmates) offer a fresh take on traditional tunes and original compositions.

Brad Kolodner, known for his driving and melodic clawhammer banjo playing, is one of the leading young voices in Old-Time music. Alex Lacquement brings his unmatched versatility and groove on upright bass, weaving effortlessly around Brad’s playing. Their years of collaboration have created an intuitive connection that turns duo performances into something much bigger.

Old Growth, Brad Kolodner’s latest solo album, is a meditative exploration of the fretless gourd banjo. It is a testament to his deep reverence for the roots of American traditional music, his connection to this unique instrument, and his commitment to preserving and reimagining its legacy. Kolodner invites listeners into the quiet, resonant world of the gourd banjo — an instrument that speaks volumes in its simplicity and soul.

The gourd banjo is a curious, earthy-sounding instrument with a warm, organic tone and a fretless neck. Kolodner recalls finding one in an acoustic shop years ago: “It smelled like fresh soil. I was instantly hooked.”

His current gourd banjo was hand-crafted by Baltimore luthier Pete Ross. The instrument’s design, particularly its scroll-shaped headstock, draws inspiration from the 19th-century Boucher banjo — a fitting homage to Baltimore’s prominent place in banjo history.

“The gourd banjo is more than just an instrument,” Kolodner notes. “It’s a tool for creative exploration and a prism through which we can better understand the banjo’s complex cultural lineage.”