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The Carolina Chocolate Drops Bring String Band Music To The Opera House
Napa, CA - Think of traditional African-American music and the genres that come to mind are gospel, blues and jazz; few people think of old-time string band music. But the antebellum combination of banjo and fiddle used to be a tradition in most rural communities in the South. The Carolina Chocolate Drops, a band of three young and talented string band musicians, are recognized as leading the revival of this venerable musical tradition. The trio performs at the Napa Valley Opera House on Friday, October 26 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 and $30.
Recently featured on NPR’s “Fresh Air” and “Prairie Home Companion,” The Carolina Chocolate Drops honed their skills under the tutelage of octogenarian fiddler Joe Thompson, a North Carolinian said to be the last African-American traditional string band player. Thompson, who grew up playing at barn dances, “frolics” and corn shuckings, wound up performing in venues across the country, including Carnegie Hall.
Coming together to carry on the rich tradition of fiddle and banjo music of the Carolinas’ piedmont, The Carolina Chocolate Drops consist of Dom Flemons, whose guitar and jug playing root the band in an infectious rhythm. He plays the harmonica for additional melody. Banjo and fiddle player Rhiannon Giddens, who became inspired by old-time music when she fell into contra dancing after graduation from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Justin Robinson, the band’s primary fiddler. Trained in classical violin, he became interested in bluegrass and old-time fiddle music, as well as the fife and drum tradition of African-Americans in the Deep South.
WHO: Carolina Chocolate Drops
WHAT: String Band
WHEN: Friday, October 26, 8 PM
COST: $35/$30
WHERE: Napa Valley Opera House, 1030 Main Street, Napa, CA 94559
PUBLIC INFO: (707)-226-7372, www.NVOH.ORG
CONTACT: Teri Stevens, teri@nvoh.org, 707-603-2338
Recently featured on NPR’s “Fresh Air” and “Prairie Home Companion,” The Carolina Chocolate Drops honed their skills under the tutelage of octogenarian fiddler Joe Thompson, a North Carolinian said to be the last African-American traditional string band player. Thompson, who grew up playing at barn dances, “frolics” and corn shuckings, wound up performing in venues across the country, including Carnegie Hall.
Coming together to carry on the rich tradition of fiddle and banjo music of the Carolinas’ piedmont, The Carolina Chocolate Drops consist of Dom Flemons, whose guitar and jug playing root the band in an infectious rhythm. He plays the harmonica for additional melody. Banjo and fiddle player Rhiannon Giddens, who became inspired by old-time music when she fell into contra dancing after graduation from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Justin Robinson, the band’s primary fiddler. Trained in classical violin, he became interested in bluegrass and old-time fiddle music, as well as the fife and drum tradition of African-Americans in the Deep South.
WHO: Carolina Chocolate Drops
WHAT: String Band
WHEN: Friday, October 26, 8 PM
COST: $35/$30
WHERE: Napa Valley Opera House, 1030 Main Street, Napa, CA 94559
PUBLIC INFO: (707)-226-7372, www.NVOH.ORG
CONTACT: Teri Stevens, teri@nvoh.org, 707-603-2338
More than 30 years in the making, The Napa Valley Opera House, a national historic landmark, restored the Margrit Biever Mondavi Theatre in June 2003, a second-floor theatre that was originally constructed in 1879. The NVOH 2007 Fall Season marks the fifth year of programming in the intimate 500-seat theatre, the “Jewel of Napa Valley” located in the heart of downtown Napa. Patrons experience an eclectic array of performing arts including theatre, dance, comedy, jazz, blues, world music, and family programming in a world class setting.
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