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Miami Herald
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Rhiannon Giddens & the Old-Time Revue bring American Roots to the bandshell
When a musician of Rhiannon Giddens' stature comes to perform in your town for the first time, a celebration is in order. So, hey, Miami, how about a good, old-fashioned porch party? The MacArthur 'genius grant-,' Pulitzer Prize-, Grammy-winning Giddens proposes just that with her Friday concert at the Miami Beach Bandshell. Rhiannon Giddens & the Old-Time Revue will play the kind of foot-stomping, hand-clapping, heart-lifting music that first brought her to prominence nearly two decades ago as a founding member of the Black string band the Carolina Chocolate Drops. A North Carolina native, Giddens began her career as an opera singer, studying at the Oberlin College and Conservatory. Degree in hand and back in her home state, her musical path took a 90-degree turn when she met 86-year-old Joe Thompson, one of the last living repositories of Carolina Piedmont music. He became her mentor. It wasn't long before Giddens and fellow Thompson acolytes Justin Robinson and Dom Flemons had formed the Chocolate Drops, and a whole genre of American music that had been on life support was revived. In 2011, their second album 'Genuine Negro Jig,' garnered the group a Grammy, and the accolades for Giddens' gifts have not stopped since. If Giddens' musical journey has been full of twists and turns, it may be because her artistic boldness is only matched by her curiosity. The kind of person that says 'yes' first then thinks about it later, every time she has a creative itch, it seems like she can't help but scratch it. For years Giddens has made her home in Ireland, and in the current season of the PBS series 'My Music with Rhiannon Giddens,' she explores the melodies and rhythms of the island, singing in Gaelic on some of the tunes. And although she hasn't taken a single class in composition, a few years back she decided that she would try her hand at composing an opera. Giddens and Michael Abel cowrote 'Omar' about a Muslim African scholar who was enslaved in North Carolina. It garnered its two creators a Pulitzer. She was chosen to succeed Yo-Yo Ma as a director of the Silkroad Ensemble. Under her tutelage, they put out an album in 2024 highlighting the music of the Native American and immigrant groups who built the Transcontinental Railroad. With as many musical miles beneath her feet as those lines of railroad track, Giddens reveals in a telephone interview what brought her back around to her roots in the folk music of the Carolinas. 'Well, I guess kind of thinking back, it's coming on the 20th anniversary of the beginning of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and the Black banjo gathering that kind of brought us together and, you know, I'm thinking about how that's how everything started for me and wanting to kind of pay respect to that,' she says. The style of music Giddens and her band will be playing at the Miami Beach Bandshell emerged from people living through hard times and coming together to create connections, to forge community. If they could do it, Giddens seems to say, so might we. 'It's a very AI world right now and this music, this old-time music, made by people—poor people, you know—and made in community, is kind of like, for me, like anti-AI. I mean it's just about as real as you want to get. So, I thought, 'Man, it'd be really nice to have a tour kind of really leaning into that.'' For the musician, it just felt like time, she says. 'You know, 'Let's give the drums a rest for a second and the electric instruments, let's just let them go and sit down for a second and really just focus on a string band.' ' This tour is her way of sharing a piece of our history that could have been forgotten, and it is that idea, not of grandstanding, but of coming together through music to strengthen the ties that bind us—no matter our ethnicity. Giddens may beguile listeners with her astonishing voice, but she isn't one to hog the limelight. 'I love backing up people,' she says, adding that the banjo is great for that. 'I just, I really love supporting someone else who's like killing it,' she says. She gets to do that with Robinson. 'What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow?,' the pair's first album since recording with the Chocolate Drops, came out on Friday, April 18. Fittingly, it was recorded outdoors, with birdsong included. Giddens is grateful to be once again touring and sharing a stage with a man she calls 'just a pure musician.' 'He's not doing any of it for fame or, you know, any of that stuff. Applause? He does not care,' she says. 'There's something about me and Justin starting our journey together in our 20s, you know, 20 years ago… Playing fiddle and banjo together, it just feels really great,' she says. 'He and I play together like we don't play together with anybody else.' As with Robinson, her ties with the other musicians in the Old-Time Revue—multi-instrumentalist Dirk Powell, his daughter, guitarist Amelia Powell, bassist Jason Sypher, and Giddens' nephew, bones player and rapper Demeanor—have developed over years of playing together. 'These are blood family and chosen family, and it felt really important to tour this music with that kind of group…. I feel like we represent a lot of where American music came from,' says Giddens. The tunes they will play in concert honor the diversity of their heritages: Cajun and Creole, Blues, four-part harmony and, of course, old-time Carolina string music. 'Oh, it's going to be all the things,' she says. 'It'll be like working class acoustic music, basically… That's what we're going to be playing.' If you go: WHAT: Rhiannon Giddens & the Old-Time Revue, presented by the Rhythm Foundation. Opening set by Quiana Major. WHERE: Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday; doors open at 7 p.m. COST: $53.46, general admission; $496.46, club level (includes up to 6 tickets) INFORMATION: is a nonprofit media source for the arts featuring fresh and original stories by writers dedicated to theater, dance, visual arts, film, music, and more. Don't miss a story at
Miami Herald
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Find fun in Miami Beach on and off the sand
Beyond spending the day on the sands of Miami Beach, there's no better place to immerse yourself in renowned art events, experience world-class cuisine, relax at a spa or enjoy a family day at one of the city's parks. There's so much more to this subtropical paradise than the beach alone that makes for a one-of-a-kind staycation, day trip or weekend escape. You can start with the largest concentration of art deco buildings in the United States — and one of the largest anywhere in the world. Experience the colorful pastel hotels and shops along Ocean Drive as you and your family are transported back to the 1930s and '40s. It's truly the perfect setting for a stroll or an Instagram-worthy photo. It's also a great place for people-watching at one of the many outdoor cafes. The Art Deco Museum and Welcome Center can give you a crash course in the Art Deco District's architectural significance, where you can participate in guided tours and exhibitions that celebrate the city's cultural heritage. Miami Beach is also a thriving mecca of the arts thanks in part to a 2022 $159 million voter-approved General Obligation Bond Program for Arts and Culture as well as the city's more than 20-year partnership with Art Basel Miami Beach. Each December, the prestigious contemporary art fair transforms the island into the epicenter of the global art world. You'll find artists, collectors and enthusiasts from around the world at the weeklong event, part of Art Week Miami Beach, which showcases a mix of visual arts, performance art and cultural happenings. The Miami Beach Bandshell, New World Symphony, Miami City Ballet and Miami New Drama at The Colony Theater host a wide range of live performances ranging from dance and theater to classical music, Latin rhythms and salsa, contemporary dance and ballet. The Bass Museum of Art and the Wolfsonian–FIU offer diverse collections of artwork and other artifacts that make them must-see stops while visiting in the city. The Miami Beach Botanical Garden located across the street from the Miami Beach Convention Center, offers an intimate 3-acre tropical oasis in the heart of the city to reconnect with nature. You'll find flowering trees, orchids, philodendrons and more than 100 palm species. Special features include a koi pond, fountains, Japanese garden, native garden, edible garden and Collins Canal promenade. The central great lawn provides plenty of open space to relax and play. There is something for everyone in Miami Beach, including more than 40 parks and open spaces. For the athletes in your group, Miami Beach has two golf courses, two tennis centers, volleyball courts and multiple public swimming pools in addition to the pool day passes available at many of the larger hotels. In addition to being a coastal paradise with breathtaking views of the Atlantic and Biscayne Bay, Miami Beach is also a shopper's paradise — from the boutiques lining Collins Avenue to the eclectic shops and restaurants along Lincoln Road and nearby. The open-air shopping area also represents a cultural landmark, with an impressive variety of galleries, theaters and restaurants serving up a taste of the city's diverse flavors. Washington Avenue is another hub for unique shopping experiences while 41 Street in Mid Beach provides a mix of local shops and international brands, perfect for a leisurely day out on the town. When it comes to dining, Miami Beach always delivers. Boasting casual beachside eateries along with many fine dining options, Miami Beach is home to a variety of culinary experiences. Choose from sushi, Italian, Greek, French, Lebanese, Mexican as well as several Michelin-starred restaurants. No matter if you're craving stone crab claws at the iconic Joe's Stone Crab, waterfront dining or gourmet dishes at one of the many fine dining options, you'll have plenty of choices to satisfy every palate. Eight new restaurants have opened or are in the process of opening on pedestrian-friendly Lincoln Road ahead of the planned Grand Hyatt Miami Beach, an 800-room, 17-story property adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center. The culinary offerings on Lincoln Road include rooftop dining at Mila, which reported $52 million in revenue last year and Colombia's Andrés Carne de Res. New York's famed Prince Street Pizza will soon open its first Florida location while celebrity chef José Andrés brings a touch of Mediterranean magic to Zaytinya at The Ritz-Carlton, both located on Lincoln. Stay tuned for West Coast favorites Negroni Caffe & Sushi Bar and The Nice Guy opening soon. Miami Beach is more than just a destination for adults — it's an ideal spot to bring your children. Start your family adventure with a trip to one of the city's parks and open spaces, where kids can play on the beach, ride bikes or take part in fun outdoor activities like the pirate ship-themed playground at Altos del Mar Park in North Beach or the recently expanded Maurice Gibb Memorial Park in Sunset Harbour that features a music-themed playground, dog park and breathtaking views of Biscayne Bay. Lummus Park also provides convenient access to the Beachwalk, the city's more than 8-mile oceanfront promenade that begins in South Pointe Park and winds its way up to the northern boundary of the city. It's a great way to experience all three of the city's neighborhoods — South Beach, Mid Beach and North Beach — on foot or by bicycle. Didn't bring your own bike? No problem. Citi Bike rental kiosks are located throughout Miami Beach. Miami Beach has some of the most exciting cultural events in the country, making it a world-class destination for art lovers, creatives and families. Memorial Day Weekend: Miami Beach hosts the Hyundai Air & Sea Show every year over Memorial Day weekend. The free, one-of-a-kind event features a patriotic display of U.S. military power, bravery, technology and precision. In addition, the event highlights the contribution of first (American Black Film Festival): This celebrated event brings together filmmakers, actors and enthusiasts to celebrate the best in Black cinema. With screenings, panels and networking events, ABFF is a key cultural event in Miami Beach, promoting diverse voices in Week Miami Beach: Held annually in December, this weeklong celebration of contemporary art is one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year. It includes Art Basel and a host of satellite events showcasing the latest in visual arts, performances and Beach Pride: One of the largest LGBTQIA+ pride celebrations in the country, Miami Beach Pride is a colorful and joyous event celebrating inclusivity, love and diversity. The festivities feature a grand parade, live performances, art exhibitions and more, all set against the backdrop of Miami Beach's beautiful coastline. Miami Beach is committed to making sure everyone can enjoy its beautiful beaches and amazing activities. The city has wheelchair-accessible beach access at several locations, making it easier for those with mobility challenges to experience the sand and sea. Additionally, Miami Beach's attractions and public spaces are designed to accommodate all visitors, ensuring a welcoming experience for everyone. Miami Beach is known for its wide range of top-notch hotels. Beachfront resorts and boutique hotels are abundant and visitors can choose from a selection of top-tier accommodations that promise comfort and style simultaneously. Miami Beach also offers LGBTQIA+ friendly hotels, creating an inclusive environment for all guests to feel at home. Miami Beach isn't just a destination; it's an open invitation to express yourself, explore freely and soak in every moment. Whether you're drawn to world-class art, five-star dining or adventures in the sun, this city offers endless ways to be your most vibrant self. In a world where many places ask you to blend in, Miami Beach dares you to stand out — and welcomes you with open arms. Your perfect wave is waiting. Discover events, shopping, dining, accommodations, and more at MBFindYourWave.
