Carolina Chocolate Drops

If I were giving out awards for "Best New Artist," it would go to the Carolina Chocolate Drops, even though the band has been around for a couple of years—first as Sankofa Strings, and then as the Chocolate Drops. They're one of the tightest, most well-respected groups coming out of the old time revival, and their album, Dona Got A Ramblin' Mind did an excellent job of capturing the group's tight musicianship and infectious energy.