Carolina Chocolate Drops announce new CD, tour
The group returns with a record of original compositions, covers and traditional songs produced by Buddy Miller (Emmylou Harris, Robert Plant, Patty Griffin, Solomon Burke). The album is available for pre-order now at nonesuch.com and carolinachocolatedrops.com, where a download of the track Country Girl is included and the first 300 CDs will be signed by the band. Carolina Chocolate Drops will tour the US throughout the winter and spring.
Carolina Chocolate Drops formed after founding members Dom Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens, and Justin Robinson met at a roots festival in 2005, and discovered a shared interest in traditional African-American string band music of the Piedmont region. In 2011, multi-instrumentalist Hubby Jenkins joined Flemons and Giddens in the group upon Robinson's departure. The members share singing duties and swap instruments throughout their sets. (Cellist Leyla McCalla also joins the band on the record and on their upcoming tour.)
Tour dates are:
Jan. 26 Music Hall Portsmouth, NH
Jan. 27 Flynn Center for the Performing Arts Burlington, VT
Jan. 28 Calvin Theater Northampton, NH
Jan. 29 The Egg Albany, NY
Jan. 31 Jefferson Theater Charlottesville, VA
Feb. 2 Georgia Theatre Athens, GA
Feb. 3 University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC
Feb. 7 Butcher Auditorium Madisonville, TN
Feb. 9 Henderson Fine Arts Center Henderson, KY
Feb. 17 Monmouth University West Long Branch, NJ
Feb. 18 Library of Congress Washington, DC
Feb. 19-20 Ruby Diamond Auditorium Tallahassee, FL
Feb. 23 Clifton Center Louisville, KY
Feb. 24 Buskirk-Chumley Theater Bloomington, IN
Feb. 25 Earlham College Richmond, IN
Feb. 26 Stuart's Opera House Nelsonville, OH
Feb. 28 Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center York, PA
March 2 Schimmel Center for the Arts New York
March 3 Berklee Performance Center Boston
March 4 Narrows Center for the Arts Fall River, MA
March 7 Infinity Hall Norfolk, CT
March 8 Strand Theatre Rockland, ME
March 9 Stone Mountain Arts Center Brownfield, ME
March 10 Stone Mountain Arts Center Brownfield, ME
April 3 Vagabond Blues Palmer, AK
April 4 Wendy Williamson Auditorium Anchorage, AK
April 6 UCLA Live Los Angeles
April 11 Simms Auditorium Albuquerque, NM
April 15 McDowell Mountain Music Phoenix, AZ
April 28 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest New Orleans
June 17 Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Palisade, CO
More news for Carolina Chocolate Drops
- 03/03/16: Avett Brothers, Pickler, Giddens to join N.C. Hall of Fame
- 05/07/12: Carolina Chocolate Drops like "Country Girl"
- 02/13/11: Carolina Chocolate Drops win Traditional Folk Grammy
- 02/07/11: Carolina Chocolate Drops line-up changes
- 01/28/11: Carolina Chocolate Drops release EP
CD reviews for Carolina Chocolate Drops
When Rhiannon Giddens urgently sings the autobiographical Country Girl, which rocks with a distinctly acoustic thump, it's a clear sign that Carolina Chocolate Drops is much more than just an old time music revival band. Granted, this act incorporates a lot of sounds you won't likely hear too often on contemporary radio, such as the hand clap backed gospel rhythm section supporting Read 'Em John.
But to flippantly suggest CCD is somehow lost in the past, would gravely ...
Authenticity is a loaded subject when it comes to roots music. While the Carolina Chocolate Drops certainly could pass for the real thing at times, theirs is thankfully not a slavish devotion to the black banjo players and string band music that has inspired them. That freedom to improvise and innovate within their chosen style has resulted in this wonderful set of both traditional and contemporary tunes that all share one thing - the enthusiastic performances of the players. ...
For those who believe old time string music to only be the domain of Appalachian Scotch Irish heritage, the Carolina Chocolate Drops convincingly refute the misconception. After studying under the great Joe Thompson, the Chocolate Drops, an African-American trio, are poised to preserve their musical past.
The collection by Dom Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson ranges from string band tunes to mournful ballads. Interpretations of songs such as "Tom Dula" and "Georgie ...
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