‘BLACK COWBOYS’ CHARTS FOR 7 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS ON BILLBOARD BLUEGRASS
PERFORMED AND INTERVIEWED ON WORLD CAFÉ AND NPR’S ‘HERE AND NOW’
NPR’s Ann Powers recently did a performance/chat on “The American Songster” Dom Flemons’ new Smithsonian Folkways album ‘Black Cowboys,’ an exploration of the often prominent role that African-American pioneers played in the westward expansion: https://www.npr.org/sections/
Ann Powers said, “The work Dom Flemons is doing on the West is flat-out revolutionary. Take the time to listen to him talk about 'Black Cowboys.'”
Flemons, who appeared at the Grand Ole Opry on Friday May 11, plans to hit the road this year for a series of tour dates. As a founding member of Carolina Chocolate Drops, they were the first all-black string band to perform at the Opry ten years ago. This time he was the only solo performer on a night that celebrated Carrie Underwood as a 10-year Opry member and also showcased Old Crow Medicine Show, Riders in the Sky and others.
‘Black Cowboys’ has spent seven consecutive weeks on Billboard Bluegrass, charted up to #2 on the Folk radio chart, and has garnered other spotlights in Wide Open Country, Cowboys & Indians Magazine, Washington City Paper, American Blues Scene, and American Songwriter.
Dom Flemons Tour Dates:
June 2 – Spirits of Summer Festival – Winston-Salem, NC
June 9 – Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival – Washington, D.C.
June 10 – Sellersville Theater 1894 – Sellersville, PA
June 17 – Birchmere Old Time Banjo Festival – Alexandria, VA
June 23 – Salute! Music and Brew Fest – Greensboro, NC
June 24 – Athfest – Athens, GA
June 29 – OK Theatre – Enterprise, OR
July 6 – Off Broadway – St. Louis, MO
July 7 – Crystal Bridges Museum – Bentonville, AR
July 15 – 3rd & Lindsley – Nashville, TN
July 19 – Ace Hotel – Pittsburgh, PA
July 26 – Eddie’s Attic – Decatur, GA
July 28 – Harvest House Performing Arts Venue – Boone, NC
August 8 – Hopewell Theater – Hopewell, NJ
August 31 – Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival – Woodstown, NJ
September 1 – Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center – Greenfield, MA
September 13 – Americana Music Festival – Nashville, TN
September 15 – Pickin’ in the Pines Bluegrass & Acoustic Music Festival – Flagstaff, AZ
September 22 – The Grand Annex – San Pedro, CA
September 25 – The Side Door @ The Fifth String – Sacramento, CA
September 27 – Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse – Berkeley, CA
February 21 – Oxford American Concert Series – Little Rock, AR
The first album of its kind, 'Black Cowboys' takes the listener on an illuminating journey "from the trails to the rails" of the Old West. The 18-song set traverses a varied soundscape featuring string blues, old-time square dance music, and cowboy poetry. Flemons is joined by a celebrated group of backing musicians throughout the record, such as GRAMMY-winning bluesman Alvin "Youngblood" Hart, Jimbo Mathus (Squirrel Nut Zippers), and decorated folklorist and Folkways' director emeritus Dan Sheehy, who co-produced the album.
