Carolina Chocolate Drops like "Country Girl"

Monday, May 7, 2012 – Carolina Chocolate Drops' video for Country Girl is now playing on CMT. The song is from the band's new album "Leaving Eden," on Nonesuch Records.

The group is continuing their North American tour throughout the summer including a run of shows with the Dave Matthews Band.

"Leaving Eden," the follow-up to their label debut - 2010's Grammy Award-winning "Genuine Negro Jig" - is a record of original compositions, covers, and traditional songs produced by Buddy Miller.

With "Leaving Eden," the Carolina Chocolate Drops' founding members Dom Flemons and Rhiannon Giddens expand their lineup to include multi-instrumentalist Hubby Jenkins. During their live sets, CCD share singing duties and swap instruments regularly. Cellist Leyla McCalla also joins the band on the record and on tour.

Tour dates are:

May 10 Birchmere Alexandria, VA

May 11 Brown's Island Richmond, VA

May 20 Theater at Lime Kiln Lexington, VA

May 25 Acoustic Café Amphitheater Haleyville, AL

May 26 Comcast Theatre Hartford, CT*

May 28 Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain Scranton, PA*

May 29 Riverbend Music Center Cincinnati, OH*

June 1 Gaves Mountain Festival of Music Syria, VA

June 2 Appel Farm Arts & Music Center Elmer, NJ

June 3 Mountain Jam Hunter, NY

June 5-6 Comcast Center Mansfield, MA*

June 8 Three Rivers Arts Festival Pittsburgh, PA

June 13 OK Mozart Festival Oklahoma City, OK

June 14 OK Mozart Festival Bartlesville, OK

June 17 Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival Palisade, CO

June 23 International Festival of Arts & Ideas New Haven, CT

June 27 Mint Museum Charlotte, NC

June 29 Grand Ole Opry Nashville, TN

June 30 ROMP Bluegrass Festival Owensboro, KY

July 7-8 Winnipeg Folk Festival Winnipeg, MB

July 13 The Handlebar Greenville, SC

July 14 Sugar Grove Festival Sugar Grove, NC

July 15 Paramount Center for the Arts Bristol, TN

July 20 Cain Park Cleveland Heights, OH

July 24 Songs at Mirror Lake Music Series Lake Placid, NY

July 26 Sound Town Music and Camping Festival Somerset, WI

July 28 Interstellar Rodeo Edmonton, AB

July 29 Prescott Park Arts Festival Portsmouth, NH

Aug. 4 L.L. Bean Summer Concert Series Freeport, ME

Aug. 11 Central Park Summerstage New York, NY

Aug. 12 Payomet Performing Arts Center Truro, MA

Sept. 1 Rhythm & Root Festival Charlestown, RI

Sept. 4 UNCG Performing Arts Series Greensboro, NC

Sept. 14 Grand Point North Festival Burlington, VT

* with Dave Matthews Band

More news for Carolina Chocolate Drops

CD reviews for Carolina Chocolate Drops

Leaving Eden

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 »»»

Genuine Negro Jig

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. »»»

Dona Got a Ramblin' Mind

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 »»»

Editorial: Walking the talk – When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»

Concert Review: Music City goes (Boston) Pop(s) – On the face of it, the idea of top shelf country songwriters coming up from Nashville to play with the Boston Pops may seem incongruous. The idea of the venerable Boston institution and fixture on the July 4 scene, playing patriotic songs doesn't have all that much to do with country. The idea isn't without precedent, of course.... »»»

Concert Review: O'Donovan goes home – Aiofe O'Donovan had plenty of reason to be filled with good cheer. This was a hometown gig, after all, and only three days before the release of her first full-length solo debut, "Fossils." Joking that the audience was filled with people she knew from high school and her parents' friends, O'Donovan made it clear that Boston... »»»

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