Aaron’s obsession with the banjo started over 20 years ago when his parents rented the dvd “O Brother Where Art Thou”. The archaic sounds of this early country music called to him and after much insistence, his parents finally gave in and purchased him a banjo. Growing up in the upper Midwest, he spent his summers going to local bluegrass jams, festivals and studied Clawhammer and banjo building with his mentor Dave Holzer.
In 2011, Aaron moved out to Redwing MN to partake in luthier courses at the community college. Making new friends who also had a hunger for Old-time fiddle music, Aaron really cut his teeth playing the banjo and exploring the variety of old time banjo styles. These buddies went on to form the band Steam Machine. During this time he settled on the likes of playing banjo with a three finger roll as he heard in classic Missouri fiddle records and records that featured Kyle Creed playing fiddle. Aaron continues today to play both Clawhammer and three finger styles, just trying to make sound as “grassy” as he can to keep the music feeling party.