Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Carolina Chocolate Drops to reunite for inaugural Biscuits & Banjos festival
Rhiannon Giddens has announced the reformation of Carolina Chocolate Drops as part of a new cultural arts festival taking place in her home state of North Carolina.
Rhiannon Giddens (photo by Ebru Yildiz)
In celebration of Black music, art and culture, the inaugural Biscuits and Banjos festival will take place in the town of Durham, North Carolina on April 25-27, 2025. Rhiannon Giddens is the event's creative director; she has created the festival to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Black Banjo Gathering, an event that launched the formation of Giddens’ Grammy-winning band Carolina Chocolate Drops.
The festival’s initial lineup features Taj Mahal, Leyla McCalla, Christian McBride, Rissi Palmer, The Legendary Ingramettes, New Dangerfield and a reformed Carolina Chocolate Drops – the group's Giddens and Dom Flemons will also be performing separately. Biscuits and Banjos will not be limited to musical performances, as Giddens hopes to additionally feature visual arts, literary expositions and a "celebrity chef biscuit bake-off," with more performers, authors and chefs to be announced soon.
Following the devastating toll of Hurricane Helene on North Carolina, Giddens hopes to dedicate a portion of the event's proceeds to relief efforts. “This festival has been a long-time dream of mine,” says Giddens. “It’s about honoring the connections that tie Black culture together across time and geography, whether it's through music, food, or storytelling.”
Tickets for Biscuits and Banjos are currently on sale. For tickets and further details visit biscuitsandbanjos.com
