Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson have shared “Going to Raleigh” from their upcoming album What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow. Originally released in 1939 by western North Carolina string band The Carolina Playboys, this version (learned by Robinson from Evelyn Shaw) was recorded at the historic former plantation Mill Prong House & Preservation in Red Springs, NC, where they filmed a video as well. You can watch it here.
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Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson have shared “Going to Raleigh” from their upcoming album of North Carolina fiddle and banjo music What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow, out April 18 on Nonesuch, available to pre-order here. Originally released in 1939 by western North Carolina string band The Carolina Playboys, this version (learned by Robinson from Evelyn Shaw) was recorded at the historic former plantation Mill Prong House & Preservation in Red Springs, NC. Giddens says, “Mill Prong is located on a complicated patch of land—once owned by an indigenous farmer subsequently kicked off the land, bought by Gaels (an oppressed population overseas) who then bought African Americans to work it—a microcosm of American history. ‘Going to Raleigh’ was recorded by a nearby stream that has seen it all.” You can watch the video, filmed at Mill Prong House, here:
Produced by Giddens and Joseph "joebass" DeJarnette, What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow finds Giddens and Robinson reuniting to play eighteen of their favorite North Carolina tunes: a mix of instrumentals and tunes with words. Many were learned from their late mentor, the legendary North Carolina Piedmont musician Joe Thompson, one of the last musicians of his era and his community to carry on the southern Black string band tradition; one song is from another musical hero, the late Etta Baker, from whom they also learned by listening to recordings of her playing. Giddens and Robinson recorded outdoors at Thompson’s and Baker’s North Carolina homes. They were accompanied by the sounds of nature, including a roaring chorus of cicadas, creating a unique soundscape. Watch the previously released videos for “Hook and Line” and “Marching Jaybird.”
In further tribute to Giddens’ North Carolina roots, What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow will arrive just a week before Biscuits & Banjos, the inaugural edition of her first festival. Taking place April 25–27 in downtown Durham and curated by Giddens, Biscuits & Banjos highlights the deep roots and enduring legacy of Black music, art, and culture while fostering community and storytelling. The sold-out festival will feature a much-anticipated Carolina Chocolate Drops reunion, their first performance together in more than a decade.
The full festival schedule will be unveiled on April 4 and include a robust offering of free, community programming and a Biscuit Trail activating local restaurants with biscuit-inspired cuisine, alongside musical performances and panel conversations with chefs, authors, artists and scholars alike. The full line up can be viewed now at biscuitsandbanjos.com/lineup.
Earlier this month, Giddens announced a number of new dates on her Rhiannon Giddens & The Old-Time Revue tour–featuring Robinson and four other string musicians, including multi-instrumentalist Dirk Powell. On June 18 they will headline the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, joined by special guests Our Native Daughters—in their first performance since 2022–as well as Steve Martin, Ed Helms, and more. Additional shows in July have been added to the itinerary as well; see below for the full list and visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.
Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson Share 1939 String Band Tune “Going to Raleigh” From 'What Did The Blackbird Say to the Crow'
Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson have shared “Going to Raleigh” from their upcoming album of North Carolina fiddle and banjo music What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow, out April 18 on Nonesuch, available to pre-order here. Originally released in 1939 by western North Carolina string band The Carolina Playboys, this version (learned by Robinson from Evelyn Shaw) was recorded at the historic former plantation Mill Prong House & Preservation in Red Springs, NC. Giddens says, “Mill Prong is located on a complicated patch of land—once owned by an indigenous farmer subsequently kicked off the land, bought by Gaels (an oppressed population overseas) who then bought African Americans to work it—a microcosm of American history. ‘Going to Raleigh’ was recorded by a nearby stream that has seen it all.” You can watch the video, filmed at Mill Prong House, here:
Produced by Giddens and Joseph "joebass" DeJarnette, What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow finds Giddens and Robinson reuniting to play eighteen of their favorite North Carolina tunes: a mix of instrumentals and tunes with words. Many were learned from their late mentor, the legendary North Carolina Piedmont musician Joe Thompson, one of the last musicians of his era and his community to carry on the southern Black string band tradition; one song is from another musical hero, the late Etta Baker, from whom they also learned by listening to recordings of her playing. Giddens and Robinson recorded outdoors at Thompson’s and Baker’s North Carolina homes. They were accompanied by the sounds of nature, including a roaring chorus of cicadas, creating a unique soundscape. Watch the previously released videos for “Hook and Line” and “Marching Jaybird.”
In further tribute to Giddens’ North Carolina roots, What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow will arrive just a week before Biscuits & Banjos, the inaugural edition of her first festival. Taking place April 25–27 in downtown Durham and curated by Giddens, Biscuits & Banjos highlights the deep roots and enduring legacy of Black music, art, and culture while fostering community and storytelling. The sold-out festival will feature a much-anticipated Carolina Chocolate Drops reunion, their first performance together in more than a decade.
The full festival schedule will be unveiled on April 4 and include a robust offering of free, community programming and a Biscuit Trail activating local restaurants with biscuit-inspired cuisine, alongside musical performances and panel conversations with chefs, authors, artists and scholars alike. The full line up can be viewed now at biscuitsandbanjos.com/lineup.
Earlier this month, Giddens announced a number of new dates on her Rhiannon Giddens & The Old-Time Revue tour–featuring Robinson and four other string musicians, including multi-instrumentalist Dirk Powell. On June 18 they will headline the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, joined by special guests Our Native Daughters—in their first performance since 2022–as well as Steve Martin, Ed Helms, and more. Additional shows in July have been added to the itinerary as well; see below for the full list and visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.
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Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson Share 1939 String Band Tune “Going to Raleigh” From 'What Did The Blackbird Say to the Crow'
Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson have shared “Going to Raleigh” from their upcoming album of North Carolina fiddle and banjo music What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow, out April 18 on Nonesuch, available to pre-order here. Originally released in 1939 by western North Carolina string band The Carolina Playboys, this version (learned by Robinson from Evelyn Shaw) was recorded at the historic former plantation Mill Prong House & Preservation in Red Springs, NC. Giddens says, “Mill Prong is located on a complicated patch of land—once owned by an indigenous farmer subsequently kicked off the land, bought by Gaels (an oppressed population overseas) who then bought African Americans to work it—a microcosm of American history. ‘Going to Raleigh’ was recorded by a nearby stream that has seen it all.” You can watch the video, filmed at Mill Prong House, here:
Produced by Giddens and Joseph "joebass" DeJarnette, What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow finds Giddens and Robinson reuniting to play eighteen of their favorite North Carolina tunes: a mix of instrumentals and tunes with words. Many were learned from their late mentor, the legendary North Carolina Piedmont musician Joe Thompson, one of the last musicians of his era and his community to carry on the southern Black string band tradition; one song is from another musical hero, the late Etta Baker, from whom they also learned by listening to recordings of her playing. Giddens and Robinson recorded outdoors at Thompson’s and Baker’s North Carolina homes. They were accompanied by the sounds of nature, including a roaring chorus of cicadas, creating a unique soundscape. Watch the previously released videos for “Hook and Line” and “Marching Jaybird.”
In further tribute to Giddens’ North Carolina roots, What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow will arrive just a week before Biscuits & Banjos, the inaugural edition of her first festival. Taking place April 25–27 in downtown Durham and curated by Giddens, Biscuits & Banjos highlights the deep roots and enduring legacy of Black music, art, and culture while fostering community and storytelling. The sold-out festival will feature a much-anticipated Carolina Chocolate Drops reunion, their first performance together in more than a decade.
The full festival schedule will be unveiled on April 4 and include a robust offering of free, community programming and a Biscuit Trail activating local restaurants with biscuit-inspired cuisine, alongside musical performances and panel conversations with chefs, authors, artists and scholars alike. The full line up can be viewed now at biscuitsandbanjos.com/lineup.
Earlier this month, Giddens announced a number of new dates on her Rhiannon Giddens & The Old-Time Revue tour–featuring Robinson and four other string musicians, including multi-instrumentalist Dirk Powell. On June 18 they will headline the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, joined by special guests Our Native Daughters—in their first performance since 2022–as well as Steve Martin, Ed Helms, and more. Additional shows in July have been added to the itinerary as well; see below for the full list and visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.
Congratulations to Darcy James Argue, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Ambrose Akinmusire, Mary Halvorson, and Brad Mehldau on their JJA Jazz Association's 2025 JJA Jazz Awards nominations: Argue for Composer of the Year and Arranger of the Year, which he won last year, and, with Secret Society, Large Ensemble of the Year; Salvant for Female Vocalist of the Year, which she won last year, and, with pianist Sullivan Fortner Duo of the Year; Akinmusire for Trumpeter of the Year, which he won last year; Halvorson for Guitarist of the Year, which she won last year; and Mehldau for Pianist of the Year.
Rhiannon Giddens reunites with her former Carolina Chocolate Drops bandmate Justin Robinson on What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow, out now. Produced by Giddens and Joseph "joebass" DeJarnette, the album features Giddens on banjo and Robinson on fiddle, playing 18 of their favorite North Carolina tunes. Many were learned from their late mentor, legendary North Carolina Piedmont musician Joe Thompson; one is from another musical hero, the late Etta Baker. Giddens and Robinson recorded outdoors at Thompson’s and Baker’s North Carolina homes, as well as the former plantation Mill Prong House, accompanied by the sounds of nature. You can watch eight performance videos from the album here. Giddens leads her first-ever festival, Biscuits & Banjos, in Durham, NC, next weekend, then goes on tour with Robinson.
