Rhiannon Giddens Launches Biscuits & Banjos Festival to Celebrate Black Culture

Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning artist Rhiannon Giddens has announced the launch of her inaugural festival, Biscuits & Banjos, set to take place April 25-27, 2025, in downtown Durham, North Carolina. As Artistic Director, Giddens aims to celebrate the rich legacy of Black music, art, and culture, marking the 20th anniversary of the Black Banjo Gathering, a pivotal event that sparked her career and led to the formation of her Grammy-winning band, Carolina Chocolate Drops.

The festival will feature an exclusive reunion of the original Carolina Chocolate Drops lineup, performing together for the first time since 2014. Other artists scheduled to perform include renowned musicians like Taj Mahal, Leyla McCalla, Christian McBride, Rissi Palmer, The Legendary Ingramettes, and New Dangerfield. Additional performers, authors, and chefs will be announced closer to the event.

Biscuits & Banjos will unfold across various indoor and outdoor venues, offering festivalgoers the freedom to explore performances, discussions, and interactive sessions dedicated to the diversity of Black culture. Giddens notes that “Black culture is not a monolith,” aiming to create a platform for underrepresented voices to thrive.

Special events will include a celebrity chef biscuit bake-off, square dances, and complimentary banjo lessons. Giddens herself will appear in multiple formats, including a revue-style performance with special guests.

In addition to the cultural celebrations, Biscuits & Banjos will contribute to Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in North Carolina, dedicating a portion of ticket and merchandise revenue to support ongoing relief projects in the region.

Rhiannon Giddens shared: “This festival has been a long-time dream of mine. It’s about honoring the connections that tie Black culture together across time and geography, whether it’s through music, food, or storytelling. The Black Banjo Gathering was such an important milestone for me personally, and I want Biscuits & Banjos to bring that same spirit of discovery and community to today’s generation of artists and fans.”

Rhiannon selected Durham as the festival’s home due to her deep personal connection to the city and its thriving contemporary culture, rooted in a rich Black heritage. “Durham is the perfect place to launch Biscuits & Banjos,” Giddens explains. “It has a vibrant community, an incredible artistic scene, and a history that aligns with the festival’s mission to uplift and honor Black culture.”

Biscuits & Banjos is a non-profit, community responsive festival. More information and tickets here: biscuitsandbanjos.com