Biscuits & Banjos Music Festival
Rhiannon Giddens, the Grammy and Pulitzer Prize–winning musician, composer, and scholar, is launching a brand-new music festival rooted in history, community, and celebration. Announced today, her inaugural Biscuits & Banjos music festival will take place in Durham, North Carolina, next April, honoring Black music, art, and culture while also commemorating the 20th anniversary of the influential Black Banjo Gathering.
The festival reflects Giddens’ long-standing commitment to reshaping how American musical history is understood and celebrated. Known for her work across folk, blues, bluegrass, classical, and opera, Giddens has spent her career amplifying the Black roots of traditional music, often challenging narratives that have erased or minimized those contributions.
“This festival has been a long-time dream of mine,” Giddens said in a statement. “It’s about honoring the connections that tie Black culture together across time and geography, whether it’s through music, food, or storytelling.” She emphasized that Biscuits & Banjos is meant to be both celebratory and educational, offering space for joy, reflection, and discovery.
The idea for the festival grew directly out of the Black Banjo Gathering, which Giddens co-founded in 2005. That event brought together musicians, scholars, and instrument makers to explore the African origins and Black legacy of the banjo. Over the past two decades, the Gathering has become a cornerstone of cultural reclamation and musical scholarship.
Biscuits & Banjos will serve as a modern continuation of that mission, connecting the past to the present by spotlighting contemporary artists who carry these traditions forward. The festival’s programming reflects Giddens’ belief that music does not exist in isolation but is intertwined with foodways, dance, oral history, and community rituals.
Headlining the festival is a highly anticipated reunion of The Carolina Chocolate Drops, the groundbreaking string band originally formed by Giddens, Dom Flemons, and Justin Robinson. This will mark their first performance together since 2014, making it a rare and historic moment for fans of traditional Black string band music.
During their original run, The Carolina Chocolate Drops helped revive interest in Black Appalachian folk traditions, earning a Grammy Award and influencing a new generation of roots musicians. Their reunion at Biscuits & Banjos underscores the festival’s emphasis on legacy, collaboration, and cultural continuity.
Also performing is Taj Mahal, the legendary blues musician whose career spans more than six decades. Known for blending blues with Caribbean, African, and roots influences, Taj Mahal has long been a bridge between traditional forms and global Black music, making him a natural fit for the festival’s vision.
Leyla McCalla, a former member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, will also take the stage. A Haitian American cellist and songwriter, McCalla’s work weaves together Creole folk songs, protest music, and storytelling, often addressing themes of displacement, history, and resistance.
Country artist Rissi Palmer brings another vital perspective to the lineup. As a leading voice advocating for Black artists in country music, Palmer’s inclusion reflects the festival’s commitment to challenging genre boundaries and reclaiming space for Black musicians across musical traditions.
Emerging acts such as New Dangerfield further highlight the festival’s intergenerational approach. By pairing established legends with rising artists, Biscuits & Banjos creates a dialogue between past and future, emphasizing that Black musical innovation is ongoing and evolving.
Beyond concerts, the festival will feature a wide range of cultural programming. Attendees can participate in lectures, panel discussions, and readings that explore the historical and contemporary dimensions of Black music and art, offering deeper context to the performances on stage.
Food and dance will also play a central role, including a celebrity chef biscuit bake-off, square dances, and community gatherings designed to encourage participation rather than passive consumption. Free banjo lessons will be offered, reinforcing the festival’s educational mission and inviting newcomers into the tradition.
The first Biscuits & Banjos festival will take place April 25–27 in downtown Durham, a city with deep Black cultural and musical roots. Tickets go on sale Friday, October 25, and organizers expect strong interest for what promises to be a landmark event celebrating history, creativity, and community through sound, story, and shared experience.
https://www.biscuitsandbanjos.com
