Gadan

A storming new band, blending 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 is a fresh project 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 US 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.  

Gadan’s performances build momentum, sweeping the audience into ecstasy with their refreshing yet  deeply rooted traditional sound.  

LINE UP:  
Enda Scahill: tenor banjo, Irish craic  
Lorenzo Testa: tenor banjo, mandolin, vocals  
Jacopo Ventura: guitars, bass  
Eric Long: clawhammer banjo, mandolin, vocals  
Joan Gatti: fiddle, hardanger