The Carolina Chocolate Drops made their Bonnaroo debut and were included among SPIN's 30 Must-Hear Artists there. Photographer Andrew Pearson was there, capturing all the action both onstage and behind the scenes with the band in photos now available at nonesuch.com/media. The band also played the culminating event of the Spoleto Festival, drawing more than 3,000 people to their set.
The Carolina Chocolate Drops have been on a roll, on the road performing songs from their Nonesuch debut album, Genuine Negro Jig, at festivals and clubs across the United States. The trio made its Bonnaroo debut last Friday, and SPIN magazine included them among the 30 Must-Hear Artists at Bonnaroo. Must-hear indeed and must-see as well. Photographer Andrew Pearson was there, capturing all the action both onstage and behind the scenes with the band in beautiful black-and-white detail. Pictured at left are band members Rhiannon Giddens, Dom Flemons, and Justin Robinson with fellow Bonnaroo artist, Steve Martin, with whom Drops' label mates Punch Brothers have been touring. There are many more of Pearson's images of the Carolina Chocolate Drops in a new photo gallery at nonesuch.com/media.
After Bonnaroo, the band next headed to Athens, Georgia, to perform at the 40 Watt Club, followed by another very special festival set: Sunday night's culminating event of the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina.
In advance of their Spoleto appearance, the band spoke with the Charleston City Paper's Erica Jackson for a feature article about their music. "Calling the Carolina Chocolate Drops an 'old-time string band' might not be the most accurate description of the trio," writes Jackson. "After all, they're not that old. And though the music they play is deeply rooted in the traditional string music of the Carolina mountains, they put a subtly modern spin on it. So we're coining a new term, just for the Drops: 'young-time string band.'" Read the complete article at charlestoncitypaper.com.
The Charleston Post and Courier includes the band among Spoleto's successes this year, reporting that the Carolina Chocolate Drops' festival finale alone drew more than 3,000 people. The paper has posted photos of the jubilant audience members enjoying the Spoleto set at postandcourier.com.
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Following last night's performance at the House of Blues in New Orleans, the Carolina Chocolate Drops begin a three-day tour across Texas, performing in Houston, Dallas, and Austin in the coming days. There's more festival fun to come this weekend when the trio hits the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, where Punch Brothers are performing as well. For more information, head to nonesuch.com/on-tour.
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