The fiery Michigan fiddler from Traverse City is doing double-duty — balancing touring and performances with both bands. The Elders play the Boat & Canoe Club in Grand Rapids on Saturday night.
Frantic But Lucky: Diana Ladio, at right, is now a member of The Elders.
Diana Ladio is doubling up and enjoying every minute of it.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
When the Traverse City fiddler recently was invited to join widely respected Kansas City Celtic ensemble The Elders, she knew it would mean a significant jump in her national and international touring, especially because she’s still a member of Michigan’s popular acoustic trio The Moxie Strings.
Diana Ladio (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
But she also realized the experience would be life-changing.
“I’ve been a longtime fan of these guys, so it was an offer I knew I had to make work,” said Ladio. “Off stage, they are some of the kindest people you’ll meet and I feel so lucky to have been welcomed so quickly into the family. Our connection was instant and I treasure them as my dear friend in addition to admiring them so much as musician, performers and arrangers.”
As a result, Ladio is now juggling membership in two bands – The Elders and The Moxie Strings – and relishing it all.
“Both bands are finding an awesome way to coexist. Moxie teaches school clinics quite a bit during the week and The Elders play mostly on the weekends,” said Ladio, who moved to Traverse City from Kalamazoo about a year ago. “I’ll spend a few weekends a month traveling with The Elders and a few weekends a month with Moxie. It means double-duty for me and not much down time, but I love it.”
PLAYING GRAND RAPIDS ON SATURDAY, UNCORKING STORIES AND AMAZING VOCALS
The Elders, with Ladio, play the Boat and Canoe Club at 401 North Park St. NE in Grand Rapids at 8 p.m. Saturday as part of a fundraiser for God’s Kitchen, sponsored by The Ancient Order of Hibernians. Tickets are $25. Get details and ticket links online here. Or call Bill Quinn at 616-481-2244.
(The band also plays InsideOut Gallery in Traverse City at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets for that show are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Advance tickets are available at InsideOut Gallery, Oryana Natural Foods, Brilliant Books and the Silver Swan. Call 929-3254 for details.)
‘Dream Come True’: Diana Ladio now performs regularly with The Elders.
Formed in 1998, The Elders are led by singer and Ireland native Ian Byrne, who also plays bodhran and percussion. The six-piece band – which plays a blend of Irish music, folk-rock and Americana – has releases seven studio albums over the years and toured extensively in the United States and Europe.
Ladio, who co-founded The Moxie Strings with cellist Alison Lynn a decade ago, said she “crossed paths” with The Elders in 2014 and got a chance to perform with them on stage.
“It was a dream come true at the time,” she said. “So, when they were in the market for a new fiddle player, I was flattered that they remembered that sit-in experience and asked if I was interested.”
Ladio described The Elders as “long-established masters of songwriting and putting on a good show,” with story-telling tunes, an infectious stage presence, “amazing” vocals by Byrne and five-part harmonies.
Balancing Act: Ladio also performs with The Moxie Strings. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
“There’s always dancing, singing along and everywhere we go, the band tends to have amazing fans and loyal followers,” Ladio said. “I’m so excited to have them in two towns that I consider home. It should be a great time.”
Between the two bands, Ladio estimated she plays anywhere from 12 to 30 shows month, sometimes two shows in a single day.
“The fact that the two (bands) are working together so seamlessly is a dream come true and speaks so highly of the cast of characters in both bands,” she said. “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a little frantic feeling at times, but when I am home for more than a few days at a time, I am always itching to get back on the road. Ultimately, I acknowledge that I’m one of the lucky ones to be traveling and playing full-time and I’d never complain about it.”
Copyright 2016, Spins on Music LLC
