My GRAMMY story from 2010. Back in 2010, the Carolina Chocolate Drops (at that time the original trio, myself, Dom Flemons, and Justin Robinson) were up for a Best Folk Music GRAMMY. It felt like a big deal to us even though I was (and still am) conflicted about the ‘industry’ part of the music industry – but after years of championing homegrown fiddle and banjo music from the Carolinas this felt like the big leagues! We were working class musicians at that time – I remember when Dom used to drive and I would be literally making CDs in the back seat as we went from gig to gig. We were making enough money to live, but barely – and we were young and healthy and lucky. People might not know this, but it’s expensive to go to the GRAMMYs – if you are nominated, you pay for your flight, hotel, hair makeup, dress, food, what have you, yourself. All nominees receive a plus one to the ceremony and after party, and for a lot of non-mainstream folks, win or lose, it’s a moment of a lifetime. I have lots of feels about awards for art, as I’ve mentioned before, but I get the need to celebrate an artform, and a lot of good people are trying to make things better. So we decided to go – I had a nursing toddler by the time the Grammy nomination came, and I brought her and her dad Mike as my plus one. It was a surreal experience – i bought my gown from somewhere, did my own hair and makeup, and we found a holiday inn in the less glitzy part of Los Angeles. We got a car to drop us off at the red carpet interview spot, and I remember clearly that absolutely zero press was interested in us 😂. I liked to say we were old time music spies that day. We filed into the afternoon ceremony, where 99 percent of the categories go and looked nervously in the program for where our category was. It was parked in the middle of the list, so we settled in for a wait. My daughter Aoife would occasionally want to nurse so i went to the restroom the first couple of times and then just gave up and nursed her in the auditorium – it was dark and i had a shawl on for just that purpose, and strapless gowns for the nursing win! (cont.)
One of our absolute favorite moments from #NewportFolk2024. ❤️ @rhiannongiddens @joancbaezofficial @tajmahalblues 🎥: @sopa.productions
Congratulations to all the wonderful artists nominated for Grammys, those who weren’t nominated, those who won, and those who have yet to win. I was honored to represent @nonesuchrecords and @redlightmgmt in my catagories, and delight in the fact that the music world will be chattering about some mighty fine people, including my sister in spirit @allisonrussellmusic, twitter friend @jasonisbell, and so many others. Since I first posted a Grammy win story, i thought I’d post a Grammy lose story today :). Some years ago I was nominated for my first solo record Tomorrow is My Turn, and I was there with my team and long time friend and colleague @dirkpowellofficial. I was all dolled up in gown and professional hair and makeup and feeling very very hollow inside. Those who know me know that while I like wearing fun fancy clothes sometimes, the whole red carpet thing drives me nuts because i hate posing for photos, especially for photographers who are waiting for the real celebrities lol. But I’m a team player! I know that industry awards are also helpful for labels, managers, and everybody who is working behind the scenes. I have always been blessed in who I work with and am grateful for all of them on my road, and so I dress up and go smile. But this day for some reason was really hard. Not because I didn’t win, but I guess I was just feeling the disconnect with why I actually play and sing music. I was really feeling the weirdness of being essentially a banjo playing folk singer walking around in a gown and missing my function. Dirk and I had brought our instruments (just in case) and after the daytime ceremony, I was like – Dirk let’s just set up somewhere and jam!!! Dirk was there for it and so we got our fiddle and banjo, sat outside some pizza joint, and played some tunes. God it felt so good! Nobody paid us any mind, no cameras came, no articles are written about the two folks playing old time music at the GRAMMYs, but as we played we noticed this young boy who was selling candy bars wander by. (Cont.)
Holocaust Remembrance day was a few days ago, January 27, I just found out. The podcast episode linked below is an absolutely must-listen and is from one of the best series out there, Criminal. It’s about the Nuremberg trials and that incredible gentleman there, Benjamin B Ferencz. Give it a listen. We cannot forget about any of it. See the link in stories!
February 4 Mychal the Librarian // @mychal3ts I stumbled over this young man’s instagram a few months ago and was immediately struck with his enthusiasm, kindness, and love for the library. He has been on a bit of a roller coaster, as I am not the only one to admire his work! But he has handled it all with grace, humility and humanity. I was a straight up library kid for most of my childhood – I remember wandering the shelves of the Greensboro Public Library many, many times…checking out my favorite books, over and over…sitting in a child-sized chair and just diving into a book from the top of my stack while my parent roved the adult side… and the current attack on libraries has been awful to witness. Mychal’s account is a breath of fresh air – honest and loving to all, and reminding people daily why the library is so special. And so important to our communities – from the obvious (books) to the non-obvious (important services some people don’t have access to at home). And you know? I see people commenting that they want to go to HIS library cause he’s there (and i know, he’s so cool) but – seems to me he wants you to support YOUR library! Library love, every day! Library kids, Library adults, Library supporters – let’s save our libraries! Read the @nytimes article on him at the link in stories!
Okay folks I’m departing a little from the usual this year. The usual historical posts take me upwards of two hours a day to do, and I have some intense writing deadlines that I have to use that time for – so this year I would love to focus on some contemporary folx who are mixing and matching the arts, history, and activism in creative ways. February 1: Republic of Yarnia @republic_of_yarnia So, a literary historian who specializes in the Middle Ages settles in Ireland and hand dyes yarn with color ways inspired by portraits of Black Europeans in Medieval portraiture. Who quotes Audre Lord…and is herself a woman of color. I mean, come ON!!!!! Check out her page, her instagram, her gorgeous yarn, and her story. I’m hoping we meet someday soon! Link in stories!
Thank you so much to @newportfolkfest for having me and the band! We had an amazing time performing along with @tajmahalblues, @joancbaezofficial, and @newdangerfield. It was also great joining @edhelms, @noampikelny, and friends at @thebluegrasssituation show. What a weekend!
Surprise! I finally launched my very own TikTok account, and I can’t wait for you to see what we have in store! Head on over to the link in bio if you want to check it out for yourself. #MountainBanjo #RhiannonGiddens
As we begin a new year, the voice of artists has never been more important or needed… We are a collective; we do not speak with one voice, but we do share one aim – humanity, peace, and love for all. By any metric what has been happening around the world is horrific and it has forced us to confront who we are as an organization, and who we want to be. We all grieve for the terrible things happening to innocent people but also must recognize that the systemic issues in place allowing and encouraging violence against our fellow humans is large, complicated, interconnected, and needs so much more than we can do alone. We are artists, we lead with art, and we hope to continue to inspire, challenge, and confront the best and worst of our species with the talents and creative beauty we have been given. There are many ways of speaking – and we must speak – with every note, every sound, every beat we have within us, as we come beautifully and musically together despite distance, different languages, approaches, trainings and expectations – what Silkroad does is radical and shall remain radical; and art, in its purest sense, rejects the inhumanity of violence and demands that we see each other as we see ourselves. That way, and that way only, is the path to transformative change – and we stand for nothing less. @silkroadproject
As we begin a new year, the voice of artists has never been more important or needed… We are a collective; we do not speak with one voice, but we do share one aim – humanity, peace, and love for all. By any metric what has been happening around the world is horrific and it has forced us to confront who we are as an organization, and who we want to be. We all grieve for the terrible things happening to innocent people but also must recognize that the systemic issues in place allowing and encouraging violence against our fellow humans is large, complicated, interconnected, and needs so much more than we can do alone. We are artists, we lead with art, and we hope to continue to inspire, challenge, and confront the best and worst of our species with the talents and creative beauty we have been given. There are many ways of speaking – and we must speak – with every note, every sound, every beat we have within us, as we come beautifully and musically together despite distance, different languages, approaches, trainings and expectations – what Silkroad does is radical and shall remain radical; and art, in its purest sense, rejects the inhumanity of violence and demands that we see each other as we see ourselves. That way, and that way only, is the path to transformative change – and we stand for nothing less. @silkroadproject
February 2 Stephen Satterfield, Whetstone Media @isawstephen @whetstonemedia A few years ago I was made completely breathless by a fantastic documentary called High on the Hog on the origins of American cuisine, with the focus being on the food that started within the Black community. It was beautifully done and made me quite emotional, and I’ve been following what Stephen has been up to ever since. Season two came out not long ago and it’s on the top of my list to watch. if you haven’t seen High on the Hog (It’s only a two seasons, a few episodes each, well worth your time!) He also runs Whetstone Media, where you can find a magazine, podcasts, and more. “Since 2016 Whetstone has used food as a means of better understanding humans and the world. To date, we’ve worked with a team of global creatives representing over 80 countries. We believe that diversity isn’t just noteworthy, it’s what makes our work so essential. When the gatekeepers are diverse, so too are the stories, its tellers, and their experiences. This diversity accelerates our collective knowledge and empathy. Whetstone is unequivocally and gratefully a better company because of it.” Link in stories!
February 3 Jacqueline Woodson / @jacqueline_woodson I first met this fellow MacArthur Fellow at a literary event and I was immediately struck by her ease in her skin and the lovely way she looks out at the world. She has blessed us with so many beautiful books, from picture books to teenage to adult, and has so many left to write! The bio on her page is gorgeous so I will just put it below. Buy her books – give them to someone you love (but read them first). Start with brown girl dreaming. From her website: “I wrote on everything and everywhere. I remember my uncle catching me writing my name in graffiti on the side of a building. (It was not pretty for me when my mother found out.) I wrote on paper bags and my shoes and denim binders. I chalked stories across sidewalks and penciled tiny tales in notebook margins. I loved and still love watching words flower into sentences and sentences blossom into stories. I also told a lot of stories as a child. Not “Once upon a time” stories but basically, outright lies. I loved lying and getting away with it! There was something about telling the lie-story and seeing your friends’ eyes grow wide with wonder. Of course I got in trouble for lying but I didn’t stop until fifth grade. That year, I wrote a story and my teacher said “This is really good.” Before that I had written a poem about Martin Luther King that was, I guess, so good no one believed I wrote it. After lots of brouhaha, it was believed finally that I had indeed penned the poem which went on to win me a Scrabble game and local acclaim. So by the time the story rolled around and the words “This is really good” came out of the otherwise down-turned lips of my fifth-grade teacher, I was well on my way to understanding that a lie on the page was a whole different animal — one that won you prizes and got surly teachers to smile. A lie on the page meant lots of independent time to create your stories and the freedom to sit hunched over the pages of your notebook without people thinking you were strange. (cont.)
A musical offering from the Silkroad Ensemble. These lullabies belong to Palestinian and Levantine Arab folk repertoire, traditionally transmitted orally for generations in the whole region of the Arab Levant. The first lullaby is a free form, where the singer follows a simple melodic contour and instrumentalists improvise variations and melismas around the poetry. See the full video on our YouTube channel. Lullaby 1 – Khet el Sobeh – Thread of the morning His eyes are full of sleep O thread of the morning O separator between him and I His eyes are full of sleep If only morning did not start appearing His eyes are full of sleep Artists/Instrumentation Layale Chaker – Voice, Violin Rhiannon Giddens – Voice Francesco Turrisi – Accordion, Riqq Shawn Conley – Bass Kaoru Watanabe – Shinobue, Taiko Hadi Eldebek – Oud Kinan Azmeh – Clarinet Haruka Fujii – Percussion Shane Shanahan – Darbuka Karen Ouzounian – Cello Mike Block – Cello Mario Gotoh – Viola Reylon Yount – Yangqin Nora Fischer – Voice Shaw Pong Liu – Erhu Mazz Swift – Violin Maeve Gilchrist – Harp Michi Wiancko – Violin Visuals Kevork Mourad
There were some real special moments at The Bluegrass Situation’s @newportfolkfest set, but this one was especially fun! 👏🏼🪕 We love a good banjo breakdown to kick off the weekend! See a photo recap of the show at the link in bio ⚓ 🎶: “Cluck Old Hen” // #BGS #rootscultureredefined #NewportFolkFest
While we are talking about the plight of the working class musician I wanted to highlight a new and exciting organization called www.thefanalliance.org – on their front page they say: “Music needs fans and fans need music. Music, like all art, is essential for a healthy democracy and a healthy nation. It connects us to each other, to our common history and, as Rosanne Cash says, music is “the premier service industry for the heart and soul. We cannot survive without music.” I know some of the folks behind this and they are awesome. You will find concrete ways to help, and also ways to think about how the problem is systemic and also individual. Folks in power do what folks in power do, which is to often continue skewing the system to concentrate wealth more and more at the top, and those problems have to be handled on levels that involve larger systems that need input from everybody. But we make many individual choices every day that impact the lives of working musicians, and it’s good to look at what we can do in the concrete and short term as well as the idealistic and long term. Knowing what the problems are is the beginning. Spread the word. Change starts with us. Pic (for engagement, naturally) is from the day of Aoife’s first gig as an aware being – headphones for noise levels, and lanyard for cuteness. We had no nanny and lived on one income (my wonky income as a musician at the beginning of her career) so that Mike could come on tour with us. And this was still a blessing and a privilege because he was willing and able to do it, and we were healthy. Still, they were the hardest years of my life – but I wouldn’t change a thing.
Cats be hidin everywhere
I had a lovely time at the @gatetosouthwellfestival earlier this month! 📷 @ak.beastall
I had a lovely time at the @gatetosouthwellfestival earlier this month! 📷 @ak.beastall
I had a lovely time at the @gatetosouthwellfestival earlier this month! 📷 @ak.beastall
I can be conflicted about art awards and still be happy for people who receive them, knowing what they can mean for a career, witness exhibit A: This is SO exciting! My illustrative partner for this book, We Could Fly (based on the song by me and Dirk Powell which was inspired by the story collected by Virginia Hamilton ) has been given some special recognition for her incredible images- Briana Mukodiri Uchendu @mukodiri has been given the CSK John Steptoe Award for New Talent in Illustration at the Coretta Scott King awards. Her illustrations for this very special-to-me story are transcendent and I’m so happy for her! Check out more of her work here: https://www.mukoart.com/ @candlewickpress
Here are some photos from the making of #MyMusicPBS The show is now available to stream in the UK on @primevideo. It’s also airing on the PBS channel across the US – including 12:30am Sundays in LA, 10pm Saturdays in Boston (starting July 13), and more. Check your local listings!
Now that’s a headline 😏 You can find me on the cover of the newest issue of @pollstar_official – on stands now! Read the feature online at the link in stories! Photo by @rosiecohe
#MyMusicPBS is now available to stream on @primevideo in Canada and Ireland! Check it out!
Pulitzer Prize winner @rhiannongiddens breaks down her Grammy-nominated song “You Louisiana Man,” and how her path to making it involved heartache, a love of Jane Austen, and combining two bands from two different musical worlds. Out now on the Song Exploder feed! · · · [ illustration by @thatlerms ]
