Bill Evans’ The Banjo in America with special guest Babi Evans

Banjo player extraordinaire Bill Evans has moved back to his native state of Virginia and the Shady Grove Coffeehouse is proud to present Bill in his first Richmond-area appearance. Bill is the 2022 recipient of the Steve Martin Banjo Prize and is a member of the American Banjo Music Hall of Fame and regional music fans may remember him from his 1980’s progressive bluegrass band Cloud Valley, featuring bassist Missy Raines.

For this concert, Bill is presenting the Banjo In America in addition to playing a mini set of duets with his wife Babi. A duet of them playing “My Favorite Things” can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdJgC_R3x44. With the Banjo in America, Bill takes the listener on a musical adventure, following the banjo from its West African roots to the New World, performing musical examples from the 1700’s to the present day on up to ten vintage instruments. From an 18th century African dance tune to the music of the Civil War, and from early 20th century ragtime to folk and bluegrass banjo styles to Bill’s own original music and arrangements, The Banjo in America illuminates as well as entertains, exposing audiences to over 250 years of American musical traditions.

For the last thirty years, Bill has presented The Banjo in America throughout the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, and Japan, performing with the San Francisco Symphony, on A Prairie Home Companion and The Woodsongs Radio Hour and as an artist-in-residence at many universities. Over a forty-five-year performing career, Bill has appeared with Peter Rowan, David Grisman, David Bromberg, Norman Blake, Dan Crary, Jody Stecher, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Alan Munde and Tony Trischka, among many others. Bill is the author of Banjo For Dummies and Bluegrass Banjo For Dummies. Both are best sellers in the banjo instructional world. To learn more about Bill, visit www.billevansbanjo.com.

More information about the concert is available at www.shadygrovecoffeehouse.com and advance tickets for the performance are available online at http://tiny.cc/SGCH-01-11-2025. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 and the door; they also may be reserved by calling (804) 323-4288 or emailing tickets@shadygrovecoffeehouse.com. Children 12 years of age and under are admitted free of charge; tickets for teenagers 13-19 years of age are offered at half of the adult admission price. Coffee, tea, and baked goods are available at the performance.