Rhiannon Giddens Gave Us a Banjo History Lesson Ahead of Her NC Music Festival

Rhiannon Giddens Gave Us a Banjo History Lesson Ahead of Her NC Music Festival

Rhiannon Giddens is a flame-keeper. At any given moment, she is keeping history alive. Music alive. Stories alive. Authenticity alive. But she does all this in a way that bridges academic prestige with pop culture sensibilities. After all, she earned a Pulitzer Prize and has been featured prominently on Beyoncé songs. Who does that? VICE caught up with the Grammy Award-winning musician to learn about the instrument she loves: the banjo. And to g…

Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson (Carolina Chocolate Drops) Reunite for Traditional Fiddle-Banjo Duets on 'What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow' (ALBUM REVIEW) - Glide Magazine

The fiddle-banjo duets of Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson in “What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow is a statement of defiance, a reunion, and a bold assertion of freedom all at once, without being the least bit overt. The two former members of the trio Carolina Chocolate Drops haven’t played together on record since Robinson left the group in 2011. They carry on the Southern Black String Band tradition at a time when DEI has been dissolve…