New connections await at the Banjo Gathering

Lillian Werbin’s connection with the banjo didn’t begin with a song — it began with a map.

“I was at a presentation about uncovering old banjo factories using insurance maps,” Werbin, the second-generation owner of Lansing music store Elderly Instruments, recalled. “I found it so interesting.”

That moment sparked a deeper curiosity for an instrument that had long been a part of her life, thanks to her father’s annual treks to the Banjo Collectors Gathering. This weekend, Werbin will bring the Banjo Gathering to Lansing for the first time, hoping others will discover their own unexpected connections with the instrument.

The event, running Thursday (Oct. 24) through Sunday (Oct. 27) at the Hilton Garden Inn on the city’s west side, will feature a wide array of activities, from jam sessions and a banjo marketplace to hands-on workshops and historical presentations. Attendees will also explore local banjo culture with a field trip to Elderly Instruments. For those who can’t attend in person, a virtual option is available.

For Werbin, this event is a unique opportunity to introduce Lansing’s music community to the deep history and modern relevance of the banjo.

“It feels great to bring something so close to my heart to the city I love,” she said.

Photo by Julianne Lindsey Aaron Jonah Lewis, a featured speaker at this year’s gathering, will offer insights into her exploration of rare and historic banjo material through her musical project Ragtime Banjo Revival.

Julianne Lindsey

For more than 25 years, the Banjo Gathering has brought together banjo enthusiasts, historians, musicians and curious newcomers. Historically held on the East Coast, this year marks its Midwestern debut, and Lansing is an ideal host city given its deep ties to folk and acoustic music through concert series hosted by organizations like Ten Pound Fiddle and Woldumar Nature Center. But while the location is new, the mission remains the same: to deepen attendees’ understanding and appreciation of the banjo through stories, music and connections that transcend generations.

At its core, the Banjo Gathering has always been about discovery — how the banjo hooks people in unexpected ways. Kristina Gaddy, co-leader of the event and author of “Well of Souls: Uncovering the Banjo’s Hidden History,” recalled her first connection with the instrument was through her family.

“I grew up playing classical violin,” she shared, “but my real introduction to the banjo came when my aunt started playing bluegrass, and we attended the fiddlers’ convention in Galax, Virginia. That’s when it clicked for me.”

Aaron Jonah Lewis, a featured speaker at this year’s gathering, was introduced to the banjo at a bluegrass concert in Ohio.

“I was starstruck,” Lewis said. “I just knew I had to make that sound!”

Since then, Lewis’ passion for ragtime banjo has grown. Her presentation at the gathering will offer insights into her musical journey and her exploration of rare and historic banjo material through her musical project Ragtime Banjo Revival.

“The energy of ragtime really grabs people,” she said. “Even if they’ve never heard it before, there’s something about the rhythm that feels familiar.”

For Werbin, Gaddy and Lewis, that first connection with the banjo set them on life-changing paths. Their hope is that the Banjo Gathering will offer attendees a similar spark of discovery, whether through the music, history or the welcoming community surrounding the instrument.

For Gaddy, one of the event’s highlights will be sharing the true cultural history of the banjo, a history that’s often misunderstood.

“People tend to think of the banjo as solely an American creation,” Gaddy said. “But it was actually created by people of African descent in the Caribbean. It represents a blending of African cultures into a new African American instrument.”

This year’s gathering will continue the tradition of exploring these underrepresented histories with presentations on topics like gourd banjos, African influence and regional contributions from the Midwest and Canada.

“There’s so much rich history, even recently uncovered history, about the banjo,” Werbin said. I hope attendees experience a bit of what I did — a new interest in something they thought they already knew.”

Gaddy emphasized that the gathering has always been a space for research and discoveries about the banjo’s origins.

“My book wouldn’t exist without this community of researchers and enthusiasts who attend the gathering every year,” she said.

Perhaps one of the most rewarding aspects of the gathering is the strong sense of community it fosters. Often described as a family reunion for banjo enthusiasts, the event brings together people from around the world, offering a space to connect and share a love for the instrument.

“Honestly, we just want people to have a good time and connect with other banjo nerds,” Gaddy said with a smile.

As the gathering continues to grow, both Werbin and Gaddy see it as a place where the future of banjo culture can take shape.

“We’re always looking for ways to engage younger musicians and those new to the banjo,” Werbin said. “It’s more than just a look back — it’s also about moving forward.”

Gaddy hopes the gathering will continue to foster new research, particularly focusing on underrepresented voices in the banjo’s history.

“The gathering has always been a place where new research is shared, and I hope that legacy continues,” she said.