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With The Beatles and “Hee Haw” as defining inspiration, Virginia-born banjo player Bill Evans is bringing his bluegrass style to Bellingham. He and Nashville-based fiddler Megan Lynch will perform at Nancy’s Farm. He answered a few questions before the show.

Question: How did you get into the banjo?

Answer: I’ve been playing music for 35 years, and I think the event that really changed my life was seeing The Beatles on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964. I knew from that point on I wanted to be a musician. I heard the banjo on a show called “Hee Haw.” I heard the melodies and I thought I could probably play that. I was a teen and it took a while to convince my parents to get a banjo. The moment I got it I was totally hooked.

Q: What should people expect from this performance?

A: I was there at Nancy’s Farm I think in the fall of 2005. It was a sold-out show. This time I’m coming up as a part of duo, playing fiddle and banjo duets from traditional music to country, bluegrass, some swing and folk ... Nancy’s Farm is one of my favorite places to play in the whole world. She’s just created a very wonderful atmosphere to hear music in an intimate setting. There’s that direct communication with the audience.

Q: What about the banjo keeps you interested?

A: I do a lot of teaching, and it has really kept my interest in it in a big way. There’s a whole new generation of players that is phenomenal. It’s really exciting for me to see this new generation coming up, just to know that I can pass something along to younger generations. I’m just as excited about playing today as I ever have been.

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