Banjo player, singer, songwriter, percussive-dancer, choreographer and square-dance caller, Evie Ladin grew up steeped in traditional folk music/dance, and brings a contemporary vision to her compositions and choreography.  Evie’s performances, recordings and teaching reconnect Appalachian music/dance with other African-Diaspora traditions, and have been heard from A Prairie Home Companion to Lincoln Center, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass to Celtic Connections, Brazil to Bali.

Based in Oakland, CA, Evie tours with Keith Terry and the Evie Ladin Band; and has produced 9 CDs and two instructional DVDs. In the percussive dance world, she is Executive Director of the International Body Music Festival, directs the moving choir MoToR/dance, does educational outreach with Crosspulse, and is an ace freestyle flatfooter. In the trad world, Evie teaches clawhammer banjo and harmony singing at the infamous Freight & Salvage, online at Peghead Nation and numerous camps and events. She leads rowdy square dance parties, getting every body easily dancing. In the songwriter world, she writes great songs, subtitling her own band “neo-trad kinetic folk." A highly entertaining performer, Evie enjoys facilitating arts learning in diverse communities. 

“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.”  —Founder, Clifftop Appalachian Stringband Festival