George Jackson and Brad Kolodner are a fiddle and banjo duo whose music is deeply rooted in the Old Time tradition while bursting with creative energy and adventurous spirit. Jackson, born in New Zealand and now based in Nashville, is one of the most respected fiddlers in today's Old Time and Bluegrass scene known for his original compositions and his work in the Jacob Jolliff Band. Kolodner, a Baltimore native, is one of today’s most influential clawhammer banjo players and a founding member of the acclaimed roots quartet Charm City Junction. Sprinkle in harmony singing, twin fiddles and double banjo duets, their live performances are eclectic, dynamic and full of groove. 

Their debut album Shady Lane landed at #4 on the Billboard Bluegrass Charts. Bluegrass Today writes, “This accomplished duo really makes the sparks fly... Jackson and Kolodner make this old-timey music sound new all over again.”

George and Brad met nearly ten years ago in a late-night jam session at the hallowed Appalachian String Band Music Festival in Clifftop, West Virginia and have since formed a special musical bond that runs deep, across continents and through a number of recorded projects. George and Brad first formally collaborated on George’s 2019 record Time & Place, a collection of original fiddle tunes also featuring Andrew Marlin (Watchhouse), Mark Kilianski (Golden Shoals), Andrew Small (Alum Ridge Boys) and Ashlee Watkins (Alum Ridge Boys).

Flash forward to the spring of 2024 when the two of them were on tour in George's native New Zealand. They traversed the country playing rec halls, community centers, living rooms and bluegrass clubs. Upon returning to the States, they made the impulsive decision to go immediately into the studio to record a full-length album of banjo and fiddle duets. Much of the repertoire was worked up between their gigs, hikes to remote mountain huts, swims on driftwood-lined ocean beaches and hearty meals of fresh fish and chips. They released their debut duo album Shady Lane in October 2024 and are already building repertoire for their next project.

In addition to performing, both George and Brad are renowned instructors, maintaining robust online teaching platforms with hundreds of students around the world.

Explore George’s Fiddle Lessons HERE

Explore Brad’s Banjo Lessons HERE