Holland Hopson bridges gap between traditional folk and modern technology

A banjo player and composer for the 21st century, Holland Hopson draws upon his Alabama roots to meld traditional old-time clawhammer banjo technique with live, interactive electronics.

Hopson will present a multimedia showcase featuring banjo, voice and electronics on Sunday, Oct. 7, at Barking Legs Theater.

Hopson's production bridges the gap between traditional folk and modern technology with a unique take on Appalachian music that he enhances with live, improvisational dancing from local performers and vivid, abstract video created by Hopson himself.

After the performance, Hopson will hold a question-and-answer session along with a demonstration of his custom-made banjo equipped with pressure sensors, Arduino microcontrollers and photoresistors.

An avid phonographer, Hopson has recorded sounds on five continents and in over a dozen countries. His latest solo recording is "Post & Beam," a collection of traditional and original songs arranged for banjo and live electronics.