Press Kit
Stage Plot
Charm City Junction Stage Plot 2024 |
Short Bio
From dance inducing Old Time rhythms and foot stomping Irish melodies to hard-driving Bluegrass, Baltimore-based acoustic roots quartet Charm City Junction creates a fresh soundscape that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats wondering where they'll go next. Featuring fiddle, clawhammer banjo, button accordion and upright bass, this quartet isn’t afraid to take roots music to new places — but always with an eye on tradition.
Long Bio
From dance inducing Old Time rhythms and foot stomping Irish melodies to hard-driving Bluegrass, Baltimore-based acoustic roots quartet Charm City Junction creates a fresh soundscape that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats wondering where they'll go next. Featuring fiddle, clawhammer banjo, button accordion and upright bass, this quartet isn’t afraid to take roots music to new places — but always with an eye on tradition.
Formed in 2014, Charm City Junction has taken the acoustic music scene by storm performing around the country gaining high praise along the way for their high-energy, captivating and dynamic performances. Patrick McAvinue, 2017 IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year, takes charge with his virtuosic, powerful and musical approach to the fiddle. Clawhammer banjo wizard Brad Kolodner adds his playful, driving, melodic and groovy Old-Time touch. Sean McComiskey, soars through the tunes and fills the gaps with his soulful button accordion playing. The versatile bassist Alex Lacquement drives the train, locking everything together with his commanding and tasteful choices. Drawing from separate musical backgrounds, the four members have found a common ground on which to develop their unique approach. They have performed prestigious festivals including Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, The National Folk Festival, Old Songs Festival, the American Folk Festival and the Kennedy Center. Their second full-length album Duckpin (2018) debuted at #6 on the Billboard Bluegrass charts. Their most recent studio album Salt Box (2024) was released on Fenchurch Music in February.
Formed in 2014, Charm City Junction has taken the acoustic music scene by storm performing around the country gaining high praise along the way for their high-energy, captivating and dynamic performances. Patrick McAvinue, 2017 IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year, takes charge with his virtuosic, powerful and musical approach to the fiddle. Clawhammer banjo wizard Brad Kolodner adds his playful, driving, melodic and groovy Old-Time touch. Sean McComiskey, soars through the tunes and fills the gaps with his soulful button accordion playing. The versatile bassist Alex Lacquement drives the train, locking everything together with his commanding and tasteful choices. Drawing from separate musical backgrounds, the four members have found a common ground on which to develop their unique approach. They have performed prestigious festivals including Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, The National Folk Festival, Old Songs Festival, the American Folk Festival and the Kennedy Center. Their second full-length album Duckpin (2018) debuted at #6 on the Billboard Bluegrass charts. Their most recent studio album Salt Box (2024) was released on Fenchurch Music in February.
Press Quotes
"Baltimore-based roots group Charm City Junction puts a new spin on old-timey music, carrying the torch of fast-picking bluegrass and toe-tapping Celtic music. Featuring fiddle, clawhammer banjo, the button accordion and upright bass, this quartet isn’t afraid to take roots music to new places — but always with an eye on tradition." - Washington Post
"Together they create an energetic amalgam that demonstrates their pure love of all these venerable musical idioms, but with a twist likely to satisfy anyone who appreciates traditional string music, expertly played...Charm City Junction is a marvelous recording from an exciting new band. Don’t let this one slip by you." - Bluegrass Today
"The group has an accomplished sound that's well beyond the players' years. At times, the songs are pure backwoods Americana, straight-up Appalachian mountain music, or the kind of boot-scootin' stomp heard at a country dance. At others, they're old-timey and Irish, evoking the plucky ditties of a cozy pub or some seaside ballad from the shores of Galway Bay." - Baltimore Magazine
"Together they create an energetic amalgam that demonstrates their pure love of all these venerable musical idioms, but with a twist likely to satisfy anyone who appreciates traditional string music, expertly played...Charm City Junction is a marvelous recording from an exciting new band. Don’t let this one slip by you." - Bluegrass Today
"The group has an accomplished sound that's well beyond the players' years. At times, the songs are pure backwoods Americana, straight-up Appalachian mountain music, or the kind of boot-scootin' stomp heard at a country dance. At others, they're old-timey and Irish, evoking the plucky ditties of a cozy pub or some seaside ballad from the shores of Galway Bay." - Baltimore Magazine