Carolina Chocolate Drops | File photo

Carolina Chocolate Drops, A Grammy-winning North Carolina old-time band, kicks off Theater at Lime Kiln‘s 2012 live music season with a May 20 show at the Lexington area venue. Other highlights for this season include Woody Pines, Yellow Dubmarine, The Greencards, Fishtank Ensemble and The Black Lillies.

It’s a pretty wide-ranging lineup, stylistically, with some really nice regionally based acts such as The Steel Wheels, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge and Sons of Bill. A Mike Seeger Tribute Festival is scheduled for Aug. 18. Plays include “A Kindly Visitation,” a musical biography of old-time fiddler Tommy Jarrell. Playwright/musician James Leva is directing and acting in “A Kindly Visitation,” and the dance-and-clawhammer team of Ira Bernstein and Riley Baugus are in the cast, too.

Watch the video of Carolina Chocolate Drops new single, “Country Girl,” then click on the jump to see the schedule.

May
17 -19 “Lexington’s Letters to the Editor” Play
20 Carolina Chocolate Drops
27 The Steel Wheels

June
3 Woody Pines
9 Fatty Lumpkin & the Love Hogs
17 Yellow Dubmarine
24 Larry Keel & Natural Bridge
30 “A Kindly Visitation” – Musical

July
1 “A Kindly Visitation” – Musical
8 Sons of Bill
12-15 “Ear Rings” – Play
21 Acoustic Blues Festival
28 The Flyin’ A’s

August
4 The Drunk Uncles – Craft Beer Festival
12 “Rattlesnake” – Play
17 Seldom Scene
18 Mike Seeger Tribute Festival
25 The Greencards

September
1 Gary Ruley
9 Fishtank Ensemble
15 Chaise Lounge
22 The Black Lilies
29 American Shakespeare Center’s “Twelfth Night” Play

Get more information on all of the bands, plus ticket prices, at the theater’s website.