Ben Gagliardi (concertina, whistles, mandolins, vocals)
Ben came across traditional Irish music completely by chance, or perhaps
fate, when he stumbled upon an old cassette of the Connecticut-based Irish
band The Morgans about 3 years ago in his attic. After hearing a rendition
a Robert Burns poem made tune, My Love She's But A Lassie Yet, played on
button accordion he was so fascinated that he bought a concertina online
and things have never been the same. He soon discovered local Irish
sessions in Wallingford at The Old Dublin Pub and in Hartford now at
Mckinnon's Pub and has now become deeply entrenched in the traditional
Irish music scene. He taught himself all he knows by ear and never
received a formal lesson in music. He did attend one concertina workshop
taught by one of his idol players Micheal O'Raghallaigh, which proved very
helpful in improving his style. Concertina remains Ben's main instrument,
but his strong penchant for traditional instruments has expanded his
musical capabilities to include mandolin, whistles, harmonica, bodhran,
ukulele and other gadgets that he carries around in a curious little
treasure chest.
Ben currently attends the University of Connecticut majoring in ecology
and evolutionary biology where he also supplies music for the Celtic
dance club and is a member of the EcoHusky club. Ben looks forward to a
future in the field of ecology, but hopes to always have music a relaxing
hobby and side job. After stumbling into the Irish music subculture of
Connecticut, Ben has had the great pleasure of playing alongside Don
Sineti, Steve Roys, Chris Morgan, Tom Callinan, and Tony Morris, the men
of The Morgans, who sparked his initial interest in music.