The 2024 Banjo Gathering will be held in Lansing, Michigan from Thursday, October 24 to Sunday, October 27, at the Hilton Garden Inn. In addition to a field trip to Elderly Instruments, we look forward to highlighting Midwestern and Canadian banjo makers, players, stylings, as well as presentations and panels that explore the history, design, and cultural context of the banjo. We will begin accepting panel and presentation proposals in late April.
The Gathering consists of three full days of presentations, exhibitions, and a banjo marketplace for studying, buying, selling, and trading historical and vintage banjos, parts, and related items. We also have banjos from some of the world’s finest instrument makers available to view and buy/trade.
Since 1998, the Banjo Gathering has been the platform for banjo collectors, researchers, instrument builders, and musicians to share new scholarship and findings about the banjo as a historical, cultural, and built object.
The Gathering consists of three full days of presentations, exhibitions, and a banjo marketplace for studying, buying, selling, and trading historical and vintage banjos, parts, and related items. We also have banjos from some of the world’s finest instrument makers available to view and buy/trade.
Since 1998, the Banjo Gathering has been the platform for banjo collectors, researchers, instrument builders, and musicians to share new scholarship and findings about the banjo as a historical, cultural, and built object.
Registration - Now Open!
Registration is now open!
We have both a virtual and in-person option:
Full Access ($200.00) includes live presentations, virtual recordings, special presentations, concerts, and more!
Virtual Access ($75.00) includes access to streaming presentations and recordings of the 2024 Banjo Gathering.
In addition to a field trip to Elderly Instruments and a talk with Bob Carlin about his new book My Memories of John Hartford, we look forward to highlighting Midwestern and Canadian banjo makers, players, stylings, as well as presentations and panels that explore the history, design, and cultural context of the banjo.
The event will be at the Hilton Garden Inn in Lansing. King bed rooms are $129/night with the group rate, double queen bed rooms are $139/night. Please communicate directly with the hotel regarding your reservation.
The Banjo Gathering Concert will be open to the public at Urban Beats in downtown Lansing! Buy tickets and learn more here.
We have both a virtual and in-person option:
Full Access ($200.00) includes live presentations, virtual recordings, special presentations, concerts, and more!
Virtual Access ($75.00) includes access to streaming presentations and recordings of the 2024 Banjo Gathering.
In addition to a field trip to Elderly Instruments and a talk with Bob Carlin about his new book My Memories of John Hartford, we look forward to highlighting Midwestern and Canadian banjo makers, players, stylings, as well as presentations and panels that explore the history, design, and cultural context of the banjo.
The event will be at the Hilton Garden Inn in Lansing. King bed rooms are $129/night with the group rate, double queen bed rooms are $139/night. Please communicate directly with the hotel regarding your reservation.
The Banjo Gathering Concert will be open to the public at Urban Beats in downtown Lansing! Buy tickets and learn more here.
Presentations & Panels
Thursday, October 24, 2024
10:00 AM-1:30 PM -- SET UP @ Hilton Garden Inn
1:45 PM-2:15 PM -- The Collection of Pete Stanley^- by Gérard De Smaele - Gérard will discuss the Musical Instrument Museums (MIM) - Brussels acquisition of Pete Stanley's banjo collection, including highlights from the collection.
2:20 PM-3:05 PM -- Building A Replica of A Boucher Banjo^ - by Finn Goegebeur - In 2023, Finn chose to build a replica of the ca. 1845 Boucher Banjo from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This presentation will be about this building process, the studying of the instrument at the museum and findings and oddities Finn found along this way.
3:10 PM-3:40 PM -- The Tenor Banjo as Used in Old-Time Music in Michigan^ - by Paul Gifford - The tenor banjo was a common instrument played in rural dance orchestras from the 1910s to 1980s, replacing the 5-string banjo, but since the 1980s, the tenor has almost completely disappeared. Although primarily used as a chordal accompaniment instrument, a few players played lead. The presentation explores this rich history and includes some recorded examples.
3:40 PM-4:15 PM -- BREAK / DISPLAY TIME*
4:15 PM-5:00 PM -- The Birth of Banjo Poetry^ - by David Strickler - “The Voice of the Banjo” and “A Banjo Song” are poems written by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906), the first African-American poet to achieve national prominence. Born in Dayton, OH to formerly enslaved parents, Dunbar was acclaimed for writing verse in the dialect of southern African-Americans as well as in standard English. This presentation gives an overview of Dunbar's life, focus on his two banjo poems, and briefly comment on his other poems that mention banjos, fiddles, and lutes.
5:05 PM-5:50 PM - The Subversive Sisters of Smith College's Banjo Club^ - by Kristina Gaddy - While attention has been given to male Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar clubs, this presentation will be a deep dive into the women of Smith College's Banjo Club. As a prominent woman's college, Smith was both seen as a place where families could send their young women in the late 1800s for an education and as a place where young women who did not want to fit into traditional gender roles could go to school. One result of this was the banjo club, where young women used the instrument as a way to be a little wild. This will feature images of the club, as well as profiles of some of the members.
6:00PM - 7:30PM - DINNER on your own / DISPLAY TIME*
7:30PM-8:00PM - Ragtime Banjo Revival 2024^ - Aaron Jonah Lewis - Aaron will share an update of her project, Ragtime Banjo Revival. They share this rare banjo material with the general public in live settings, seeing the immediate impact this history has on the audience. Aaron will also offer reflections on her arrangements, performances, banjo set up and how they've arrived at the sound palette they’ve cultivated.
8:00PM-10:00PM - SOCIAL*
10:00 AM-1:30 PM -- SET UP @ Hilton Garden Inn
1:45 PM-2:15 PM -- The Collection of Pete Stanley^- by Gérard De Smaele - Gérard will discuss the Musical Instrument Museums (MIM) - Brussels acquisition of Pete Stanley's banjo collection, including highlights from the collection.
2:20 PM-3:05 PM -- Building A Replica of A Boucher Banjo^ - by Finn Goegebeur - In 2023, Finn chose to build a replica of the ca. 1845 Boucher Banjo from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This presentation will be about this building process, the studying of the instrument at the museum and findings and oddities Finn found along this way.
3:10 PM-3:40 PM -- The Tenor Banjo as Used in Old-Time Music in Michigan^ - by Paul Gifford - The tenor banjo was a common instrument played in rural dance orchestras from the 1910s to 1980s, replacing the 5-string banjo, but since the 1980s, the tenor has almost completely disappeared. Although primarily used as a chordal accompaniment instrument, a few players played lead. The presentation explores this rich history and includes some recorded examples.
3:40 PM-4:15 PM -- BREAK / DISPLAY TIME*
4:15 PM-5:00 PM -- The Birth of Banjo Poetry^ - by David Strickler - “The Voice of the Banjo” and “A Banjo Song” are poems written by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906), the first African-American poet to achieve national prominence. Born in Dayton, OH to formerly enslaved parents, Dunbar was acclaimed for writing verse in the dialect of southern African-Americans as well as in standard English. This presentation gives an overview of Dunbar's life, focus on his two banjo poems, and briefly comment on his other poems that mention banjos, fiddles, and lutes.
5:05 PM-5:50 PM - The Subversive Sisters of Smith College's Banjo Club^ - by Kristina Gaddy - While attention has been given to male Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar clubs, this presentation will be a deep dive into the women of Smith College's Banjo Club. As a prominent woman's college, Smith was both seen as a place where families could send their young women in the late 1800s for an education and as a place where young women who did not want to fit into traditional gender roles could go to school. One result of this was the banjo club, where young women used the instrument as a way to be a little wild. This will feature images of the club, as well as profiles of some of the members.
6:00PM - 7:30PM - DINNER on your own / DISPLAY TIME*
7:30PM-8:00PM - Ragtime Banjo Revival 2024^ - Aaron Jonah Lewis - Aaron will share an update of her project, Ragtime Banjo Revival. They share this rare banjo material with the general public in live settings, seeing the immediate impact this history has on the audience. Aaron will also offer reflections on her arrangements, performances, banjo set up and how they've arrived at the sound palette they’ve cultivated.
8:00PM-10:00PM - SOCIAL*
Friday, October 25, 2024
10:00 AM-10:45 AM -- Martin Banjos^- by Greig Hutton - An expert on all things Martin, Greig will offer new information about Martin and Martin Vega banjos.
10:50 AM-11:40 AM -- An Overview of Banjo Construction History through Stan Werbin's Collection^- with Stan Werbin and Pete Ross - Using instruments from Stan's collection, Pete Ross will discuss major developments in banjo construction-- from single-ply to multi-ply wooden rims, frets, hardware, etc., while Stan will offer stories of his many years of collection.
11:45 AM-1:00 PM -- LUNCH / DISPLAY TIME*
1:00 PM-3:30 PM -- FIELD TRIP to Elderly Instruments (bus will be provided)
3:30 PM-4:15 PM -- My Memories of John Hartford book event with Bob Carlin - Bob will share his new book and copies will be available for purchase at Elderly Instruments.
4:30 PM-7:00 PM -- DINNER on your own
7:30 PM-9:00 PM - BANJO CONCERT - In downtown Lansing - More details soon!
9:30PM - Bus returns to hotel & SOCIAL*
10:00 AM-10:45 AM -- Martin Banjos^- by Greig Hutton - An expert on all things Martin, Greig will offer new information about Martin and Martin Vega banjos.
10:50 AM-11:40 AM -- An Overview of Banjo Construction History through Stan Werbin's Collection^- with Stan Werbin and Pete Ross - Using instruments from Stan's collection, Pete Ross will discuss major developments in banjo construction-- from single-ply to multi-ply wooden rims, frets, hardware, etc., while Stan will offer stories of his many years of collection.
11:45 AM-1:00 PM -- LUNCH / DISPLAY TIME*
1:00 PM-3:30 PM -- FIELD TRIP to Elderly Instruments (bus will be provided)
3:30 PM-4:15 PM -- My Memories of John Hartford book event with Bob Carlin - Bob will share his new book and copies will be available for purchase at Elderly Instruments.
4:30 PM-7:00 PM -- DINNER on your own
7:30 PM-9:00 PM - BANJO CONCERT - In downtown Lansing - More details soon!
9:30PM - Bus returns to hotel & SOCIAL*
Saturday, October 26, 2024
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM -- Why Two-Finger Banjo Matters^ - with Matt Brown - Banjo teacher Matt Brown, author of the 2023 tablature book Thumb Lead Two-Finger Banjo, highlights the importance of two-finger banjo in the recorded history and vibrant present of old-time music. With recorded examples and live demonstration, Brown will paint an idyllic picture for the future of this versatile style.
10:50 AM-11:35 AM -- The History of Harvey: Ben Eldridge’s Iconic Banjo^- with Randy Barrett - Ben Eldridge played a rare 1928 Gibson Royal Plectrum Tenor banjo in all the early Seldom Scene recordings. He purchased it from another bluegrass legend, Bill Emerson, who used the banjo on several groundbreaking records with Jimmy Martin in the early 1960s. Randy will explore the background of the model, the history of this instrument, and why it’s called Harvey. The coolest part? Harvey will attend the Gathering, on loan from the Eldridge family.
11:35 AM-2:15 PM -- LUNCH / DISPLAY TIME*
2:15 PM-2:45 PM -- Talmadge Banjos: Creative Uses of Nickel in Cincinnati^- with R. Blakeslee Gilpin - This presentations explores the small maker H.C. Talmadge of Cincinnati, distinguished by his use of innovative hardware, coordinator rods in lieu of dowel sticks and distinctive nickel silver inlay work.
2:50 PM-3:35 PM -- J.L French Banjos of Cleveland, Ohio^ - with Andy FitzGibbon - Andy will give an overview of J. French's banjos and some recently discovered information regarding the disreputable character of he and his family.
3:35 PM-4:15 PM -- BREAK / DISPLAY TIME*
4:15 PM-5:00 PM -- Henning and the Banjo of the Future^- with Derrick Doty - This presentation explores the life and work of John Henning, and his time in the midwest as a banjo teacher, composer, performer, and innovator. We'll take a look at examples and variations of Henning's banjos and be able to view one of his Grand Solo Banjos in person. We'll hear a sampling of Henning's compositions played on his banjo, and have some of his original sheet music on display as well. We'll also learn about his talented wife Meta, who performed with him, and we'll talk about other contributions Henning made to the history as well as posterity of the banjo.
5:05 PM-5:50 PM -- More Key Concepts of Banjo History^ - with Tony Thomas - Crucial to the banjo's development and survival even among African Americans or even in the Caribbean where the banjo was born, was the adoption, redesign and never stopping transformation and commercialization of the banjo launched in the late 1830s by North American white show business entertainers, artisan instrument builders, and commercial banjo manufacturers. The resulting general replacement of the gourd banjo with the frame-headed banjo starting around 1840 was decisive for the continued development and diversification of the banjo, not only for show business and parlor banjoists, but also for vernacular African American banjoists in and out of show business, for banjo traditions across the Americas and even for those who adapted banjos to the needs of indigenous African cultures.
6:00 PM-8:00 PM - DINNER on your own
8:00PM - 8:45 PM - The Design of Seeders Instruments #125, A Seven-String Classic Banjo^ with Michael Nix - In 2022, Michael commissioned Will Seeders-Mosheim to create an instrument designed for a folk/jazz/classical crossover playing style Michael had spent twenty years developing. With the instrument in hand, several commissioned pieces and new compositions, Michael recorded Aperçu, an album of New Classic Banjo Project solo works for seven-string banjo. In this presentation, Michael will explore building of the instrument and its use in his music, including the elements it needed to have to achieve a sound that would accommodate performance of modern music in a concert situation, and give musical samplings from the Seeders #125.
8:45PM - SOCIAL*
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM -- Why Two-Finger Banjo Matters^ - with Matt Brown - Banjo teacher Matt Brown, author of the 2023 tablature book Thumb Lead Two-Finger Banjo, highlights the importance of two-finger banjo in the recorded history and vibrant present of old-time music. With recorded examples and live demonstration, Brown will paint an idyllic picture for the future of this versatile style.
10:50 AM-11:35 AM -- The History of Harvey: Ben Eldridge’s Iconic Banjo^- with Randy Barrett - Ben Eldridge played a rare 1928 Gibson Royal Plectrum Tenor banjo in all the early Seldom Scene recordings. He purchased it from another bluegrass legend, Bill Emerson, who used the banjo on several groundbreaking records with Jimmy Martin in the early 1960s. Randy will explore the background of the model, the history of this instrument, and why it’s called Harvey. The coolest part? Harvey will attend the Gathering, on loan from the Eldridge family.
11:35 AM-2:15 PM -- LUNCH / DISPLAY TIME*
2:15 PM-2:45 PM -- Talmadge Banjos: Creative Uses of Nickel in Cincinnati^- with R. Blakeslee Gilpin - This presentations explores the small maker H.C. Talmadge of Cincinnati, distinguished by his use of innovative hardware, coordinator rods in lieu of dowel sticks and distinctive nickel silver inlay work.
2:50 PM-3:35 PM -- J.L French Banjos of Cleveland, Ohio^ - with Andy FitzGibbon - Andy will give an overview of J. French's banjos and some recently discovered information regarding the disreputable character of he and his family.
3:35 PM-4:15 PM -- BREAK / DISPLAY TIME*
4:15 PM-5:00 PM -- Henning and the Banjo of the Future^- with Derrick Doty - This presentation explores the life and work of John Henning, and his time in the midwest as a banjo teacher, composer, performer, and innovator. We'll take a look at examples and variations of Henning's banjos and be able to view one of his Grand Solo Banjos in person. We'll hear a sampling of Henning's compositions played on his banjo, and have some of his original sheet music on display as well. We'll also learn about his talented wife Meta, who performed with him, and we'll talk about other contributions Henning made to the history as well as posterity of the banjo.
5:05 PM-5:50 PM -- More Key Concepts of Banjo History^ - with Tony Thomas - Crucial to the banjo's development and survival even among African Americans or even in the Caribbean where the banjo was born, was the adoption, redesign and never stopping transformation and commercialization of the banjo launched in the late 1830s by North American white show business entertainers, artisan instrument builders, and commercial banjo manufacturers. The resulting general replacement of the gourd banjo with the frame-headed banjo starting around 1840 was decisive for the continued development and diversification of the banjo, not only for show business and parlor banjoists, but also for vernacular African American banjoists in and out of show business, for banjo traditions across the Americas and even for those who adapted banjos to the needs of indigenous African cultures.
6:00 PM-8:00 PM - DINNER on your own
8:00PM - 8:45 PM - The Design of Seeders Instruments #125, A Seven-String Classic Banjo^ with Michael Nix - In 2022, Michael commissioned Will Seeders-Mosheim to create an instrument designed for a folk/jazz/classical crossover playing style Michael had spent twenty years developing. With the instrument in hand, several commissioned pieces and new compositions, Michael recorded Aperçu, an album of New Classic Banjo Project solo works for seven-string banjo. In this presentation, Michael will explore building of the instrument and its use in his music, including the elements it needed to have to achieve a sound that would accommodate performance of modern music in a concert situation, and give musical samplings from the Seeders #125.
8:45PM - SOCIAL*
Sunday, October 27, 2024
10:00 AM- NOON -- Clean Up @ Hotel
11:00 AM - 2:00PM -- Brunch & Jam
^Presentation will be available virtually
*Throughout the event, participants can display, buy, trade, and sell banjos and banjo ephemera, or just hang out and look at and play all the banjos.
10:00 AM- NOON -- Clean Up @ Hotel
11:00 AM - 2:00PM -- Brunch & Jam
^Presentation will be available virtually
*Throughout the event, participants can display, buy, trade, and sell banjos and banjo ephemera, or just hang out and look at and play all the banjos.
