MAX & OTTO ALLARD

When Max and Otto Allard aren’t bickering like brothers, they make some amazing music together. They play a mix of original tunes and bluegrass/newgrass, jazz/swing, and video game covers. Both Max and Otto are currently living in Oberlin, where Max received his Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory in spring 2025, and where Otto is currently in his fourth of five years of Oberlin’s dual degree program (studying jazz performance in the Conservatory and computer science in the college). At Oberlin, they are/were both members of the Performance Improvisation ensemble led by Jamey Haddad, and they also played in the bluegrass ensemble the Yard Sailors, as well as many other folk and jazz ensembles.

While living in Ohio, Max and Otto have made frequent appearances at Riverdog Retreat, where they opened recently for Showman & Coole. Other hightlights from Riverdog Retreat include opening for Warren & Flick and sharing the stage with The Jacob Joliff Band. They’ve played there as a duo and with their band The Yard Sailors. The Riverdog YouTube channel features many videos of their performances, including the most recent one from September 2025, with special guest Abby Goodman.

Max and Otto practically grew up in the halls of the Old Town School of Folk Music In Chicago, and it was there that they had the thrill of opening to a sold out house for Sam Bush in February 2020. They have returned to play other shows at the Old Town School, including opening for Nora Brown and Stephanie Coleman in June 2024. They have played the Oberlin Folk Festival in Oberlin, Ohio; Unplugged Brewing in Elyria, Ohio; the White Oak Folk Festival in Dodeville, Wisconsin; and in Chicago: the Banjo After Dark series at Borelli’s, Bluegrass Brunch at Hey Nonny, and the Square Roots Festival in Lincoln Square. Other Chicagoland venues include The Northbrook Library, The Beat Kitchen, Uncommon Ground, The Grafton, Schubas, Wishbone, and the Sidebar Supper Club.