Wolf Trap News and Notes: June 29, 2012

Today's post was written by Victoria Lightfoot, Wolf Trap's summer PR Intern.

June at Wolf Trap has been exciting! It’s almost too hard to keep up, but you’re in luck because I’ll recap some highlights for you in this week’s News and Notes!

Wolf Trap’s President and CEO, Terrence Jones, was awarded the prestigious NOVAFoward Award by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce on June 20. Brush up on Terre’s accomplishments in this press release pickup from Yahoo! News.

School is finally out and there is tons of fun to be had, and your summer wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods! The Connection and the Manassas Park Patch recommend Theatre-in-the-Woods as a must-go for children of all ages. Several Theatre-in-the-Woods performers will also be featured in the July issue of D.C. Magazine, so make sure to pick up a copy at your local newsstand.

Thursday night, the co-bill of Brandi Carlile and Josh Ritter catered to a different crowd with their eclectic Americana/folk styles. Carlile introduced songs from her latest album, Bear Creek, and played a few of her previous hits. Get a feel for Carlile’s Bear Creek in her interview with Stephen M. Deusner for Expressnightout.com.

If you are a fan of The B-52s, then there is a must read interview with Fred Schneider in this week’s MetroWeekly. Schneider and the rest of the group will appear at the Filene Center in July along with UK new wave sensations Squeeze. Tickets are flying out the door, so make sure to get yours before they sell out!

As the month of June comes to a close, it’s time to start filling up your July/August calendar. The Washington Blade previews a few of Wolf Trap’s upcoming acts, including two of the National Symphony Orchestra’s concerts Broadway Rocks! (July 6) and The Wizard of Oz (July 14), The B-52s (July 19), Rufus Wainwright and Ingrid Michaelson (July 24) and David Koz (August 22) in their Summer Sizzle.

Album Review: Brandi Carlile's Bear Creek

If you plan on checking out Brandi Carlile's new album, Bear Creek, I highly recommend you go about it like I did, driving along on the weekend through back roads with the windows down and the speakers turned (way) up. It has that perfect folk-y sound that pairs great with good weather and a nice breeze (and being on your way to a BBQ doesn't hurt either, if you're able to swing it).

The lead single, "That Wasn't Me," has a bit of a gospel influence on Carlile's more traditionally folk sound, and that combination shows up a few more times on the album on tracks such as "What Did I Ever Come Here For" and "In the Morrow." Other tracks are more classic folk/Americana, with some great upbeat and more lighthearted tracks like "Keep Your Heart Young" and "Save Part of Yourself" (both of which are my personal favorites). She slows it down and gets more serious on tracks such as "Hard Way Home" and "A Promise to Keep," with the slower tracks being reminiscent of her most popular single (thus far), "The Story."

Overall, this album definitely continues Carlile's trend of delivering folk/Americana sound with great guitar sounds and lyrics. The sound is definitely perfect for listening to while kicking back outside on a summer day, like oh, maybe at Wolf Trap (with Josh Ritter also performing) this Thursday the 28th?

Top tracks:
"Save Part of Yourself"
"Keep Your Heart Young"
"100"
"Heart's Content"

This Week at Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods

Hey there little kids, big kids, young kids and old(er) kids!

I am head over haunches excited because the summer 2012 season of Wolf Trap Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods is officially here! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the park rangers are whistling because 16 local, national, international, and GRAMMY-nominated artists are gearing up for 34 family friendly performances at America’s only National Park for the Performing Arts, and I am calling on all fun-loving, toe tapping, head bobbing boys and girls to join me for the fun!  

Whew. That was a mouthful…but not to worry, it was a vegetarian mouthful. For the first week of the season I am going all leafy greens! I was inspired by Theatre-in-the-Woods artist Eric Brace after talking to him about his eating habits. He’s trying to be an herbivore! Yep, Eric is “learning that a vegan diet can be just as delicious as one with meat,” and his singing partner, Peter Cooper, “doesn't like to eat anything cute, so no ducks or sheep or many other critters.” After hearing this, I thought I had to try it too! After all, Eric Brace and Peter Cooper really know a lot about animals. The 2 masterful musicians from Nashville recently produced I Love: Tom T. Hall’s Songs of Fox Hollow, a GRAMMY nominated album that celebrates all kinds of critters in the woods from a sneaky snake to a one-legged chicken. 

Speaking of eating more green, the season kicks off with performances from Hot Peas ‘N Butter! This 3-time winner of the Parents’ Choice Award will be serving up some lean, mean, rhythm cuisine as they perform songs from around the world in English and Spanish. After that, we'll travel straight to Ireland with the Culkin School of Traditional Irish Dance! I cannot wait to continue to be inspired by these fantastic artists! I hope you are excited to meet them too. So be sure to eat your veggies and give me a big ‘ol hug when you visit Theatre-in-the-Woods this summer! 

Your pen pal with paws, Wolfie

 

Wolf Trap Interns Pick Their Favorite Summer Shows

We asked our interns what they're most excited about at The Filene Center this summer during their internships, and here's what they had to say!

Arianna Zell, Advertising & Group Sales Intern

Demi Lovato & Hot Chelle Rae, June 28

Demi Lovato has pipes and knows how to use ‘em! This girl can really sing. In fact, she’ll blow you away both on her record and live. Demi’s edgy rocker voice and endless amount of energy adds even more to her fun pop rock/R&B-styled songs. If you aren’t hooked – you will be. And what’s better? Demi has a blast on stage and is able to get everyone excited about her music. She really portrays the fact that she is a just a regular girl (with an incredible voice) which makes her very relatable to her audiences. Look out, Hannah Montana. 

Still not sold? Three words: Hot Chelle Rae. Now this band will get you ready for the summer. Hot Chelle Rae’s feel-good, upbeat songs are ones that will stick in your head all season (in a good way). It’s hard to resist the temptation of rolling the windows down and turning the radio up when their hit, “Tonight Tonight” comes on, so I can only imagine how awesome their concert is going to be. Hot Chelle Rae is “hot”: The band has it all – the rock band feel, the pop anthems, and an undying energy to keep an audience on their feet for hours. Tickets are selling out fast, but I hope to see you guys out there for one of the best pop concerts of the summer on June 24 at 7pm!

Matisyahu & Dirty Heads, July 8

Matisyahu has helped re-popularize the reggae music of today. Incorporating pop and rap elements into his songs, the Hasidic Jewish rapper is known for his originality and inspirational lyrics. The best part about him is that he is known for his killer live performances (come to the concert to see for yourself!). What else makes him so cool? Matisyahu is a crazy talented beat-boxer. For those of you who don’t know – beatboxing is vocal percussion (see link here: Matisyahu Beatboxing) and the rapper incorporates it into a lot of his music. Another reason to get excited for this concert? It’s at 3pm!  Watch the sunset, eat a late snack out on the lawn, get a nice tan while it’s still light – what’s not to love? To get a feel for Matisyahu’s music, I would look up his album, “Light.” Don’t miss Matisyahu on Sunday, July 8^th at 3pm!

Matisyahu will also be joined on stage by The Dirty Heads! No, I’m not lying, they will be right here at Wolf Trap with Matisyahu playing your favorites: “Lay Me Down” and “Spread Too Thin.” They’ll be taking the stage with their reggae/rock sound all afternoon and you don’t want to miss it.  

Victoria Lightfoot, Public Relations Intern

Wilco, July 17 & 18

This summer, Wolf Trap will have some of the hottest acts performing right here at the Filene Center! My new found favorite, Wilco, will be here July 17 & 18 to give off some great summer vibes. Hailing from Chicago (my hometown!), Wilco has made a name for themselves through energetic live performances and constant experimentation with different genres of music that helps their music remain fresh and relevant. Their latest album The Whole Love mixes alternative rock undertones with upbeat pop lyrics, making it the perfect summer album! Check them out on Spotify so that you can be ready to sing along this July!

Lindsay Sheridan, Marketing Intern

Rufus Wainwright & Ingrid Michaelson, July 24

Ingrid Michaelson came to my little Iowa college a few years ago for a concert in our gym. It was SUCH a good show. She wore glasses, her hair was thrown back in a messy ponytail, and she interacted with the audience a ton. Basically, she just seemed incredibly normal and down to earth – except that she also makes some very fun and beautiful music. So at this concert I’m sure we can expect rockin’, refreshing music and an attitude that makes you feel you’ve walked into Ingrid’s living room for a cup of coffee. 

I was first introduced to Rufus Wainwright through his version of “Hallelujah” on the Shrek soundtrack as I would dance my way through the album back in elementary school. His CD Poses then became a staple in my music library during high school. Since then he’s sort of fallen off my radar a bit, but I’m looking forward to hearing his unique pop-rock style with a poignant, dramatic flair at Wolf Trap. It’s sort of hard to explain his unique voice and style…check him out on YouTube or Spotify!

Club 66 Kicks off Summer 2012 at Wolf Trap!

This post was written by Penny Ford, a member of Club 66's Steering Committee.

Club 66 kicked off our summer event season Brighter Than the Sun on a packed lawn for the Colbie Caillat and Gavin DeGraw show this past Saturday night! If this is any indication as to how the season is going to play out, then be sure to buy your tickets now for our upcoming summer shows. The lawn was sold out, but we were Lucky that Club 66 rushed the lawn and claimed the perfect spot for our guests to enjoy a gorgeous evening under the stars! 

Justin Young, the apparent love interest of Colbie Caillat, set the tone for a bubbly, relaxing evening with friends. The night continued on as Colbie Caillat danced barefooted across the stage and kept the crowd relaxed and enjoying the show. The evening concluded with Gavin DeGraw taking the stage which made for the perfect night cap to a fun night with Club 66. If you think this sounds like a great time, then join us for the Barenaked Ladies, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, and Cracker show on July 11th or the Train with Special Guests Mat Kearney show on August 21st. Both performances are SOLD OUT, but you can still get a ticket package through Club 66!

Wolf Trap's News and Notes: Riverdance, Get the Led Out, Pirates of Penzance and Theatre-in-the-Woods

Today's post is written by Victoria Lightfoot, Wolf Trap's summer public relations intern.

Well folks, summer at Wolf Trap is really taking off!

In this week’s news and notes, The Washington Times reviewed last week’s Get The Led Out concert. The Times praised the tribute band’s spot on imitation and called the concert a “nostalgia trip worth taking.”

Check out this fine Washington Post piece on Riverdance written by our friend Lisa Traiger, which previews the final five performances of the Irish dance phenomenon here in the U.S. Appearing at Wolf Trap since 1997, over 490,000 people have seen Riverdance strut their stuff! You don’t want to miss out this weekend; be here to bid them farewell!

Upcoming Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods artist Elizabeth Mitchell’s newest album, Little Seed: Songs for Children by Woody Guthrie comes out July 10. Get familiar with Mitchell and her new album at Top40Charts.com before her performance in July.

Are you dying to see Gilbert & Sullivan’s comic opera, The Pirates of Penzance this month? WMAL-AM has got you covered! Enter the Unwrap Wolf Trap: The Pirates of Penzance contest and you and a friend could be enjoying a gourmet meal from Meals Beneath The Moon while watching the iconic production.

What We're Listening To: June

It’s that time again; once a month we give you a taste of what your humble blog team has pumping through their ear buds. With summer upon us, we have included a few Top 40 hits like Train’s wildly popular “Drive By” and Carly Rae Jepsen’s infectious “Call Me Maybe” mixed in with a few additional tracks from artists appearing at Wolf Trap this summer, as well as our favorite non-Wolf Trap songs of the moment. Let us know what you're listening to as well - not everything can hit our radar and we're looking to you to help us pick up the slack!

Why We Love Swamp Romp

If you've ever attended one of our Swamp Romp performances, you've without a doubt seen many Wolf Trap staff members among the fans enjoying the festive food and music that the "Romp" has to offer—many of whom make it a point to attend regularly. But don't take my word for it, take theirs! We asked a few of our staff members what they enjoy most about Swamp Romp so you can get an idea of what you're in for this Sunday.

Heather Flynn, Assistant Director, Advertising Sales & Business Development

My husband and I went to Swamp Romp last year for the first time and had a blast. The festive vibe at the Filene Center that day reminded us of Jazz Fest in New Orleans – complete with a second line parade and Cajun two step dancing in the aisles! Our favorite performance that day was put on by Trombone Shorty – amazing! We had such a great time, we’re planning on going again this year and very much looking forward to hearing all of the bands, especially Dirty Dozen Brass Band. We’ve seen them a few times (once in New Orleans) and they never disappoint.

Mark Summers, Assistant Director, Ticket Services

Perhaps more than any other event, the Louisiana Swamp Romp serves as Wolf Trap’s most festive “experience.”  The great music and abundance of food and drink combine with an enthusiastic audience to create a playful(and slightly mischievous) environment for people of all ages to enjoy. Who wouldn’t want to spend an afternoon eating, drinking and dancing?  It also makes for great people watching. Plus there are beads. Did I mention drinking?

Kip Edmonds, Office Manager, Communications & Marketing

One of my favorite parts of Swamp Romp is the crowd. There are a lot of different kinds of concerts out there that yield a lot of different crowds, but Swamp Romp is definitely one of the most fun. Everyone’s gathered to eat great food, listen to great music, and definitely to dance. People walk into the Filene Center knowing they’re going to have a great time, and they’re never disappointed. If anything, the only thing the crowd gets disappointed with is when the music stops!

Jackie Dolan, Program Coordinator, Special Events

Three words: crawfish and cornbread. In addition to the swinging tunes of New Orleans style funk and jazz and some fabulous people watching, my taste buds were mighty happy with a basket full of steaming creole inspired crawfish and a heaping portion of delicious cornbread. It’s an event not to miss!

Oh, and doesn't everyone love a few good visuals?

Rock of Ages - The Movie Review

Barbara Parker, Director, Operations & Artistic Initiatives, saw a prescreening of the movie Rock of Ages and graciously agreed to give us all the inside scoop. Should we expect lots of leg warmers? What hit songs make it into the movie? Who are the cameos? Is this the best movie we will ever see? If these are your burning questions, Barbara's got you covered.

(http://rockofagesmovie.warnerbros.com)

When you think of the 80s, what immediately comes to mind? The announcement of the first female nominee for Vice-President? The fall of the Berlin Wall? Nah, me neither. When I think of the 80s the first things that come to mind are the fashion and the music.

In anticipation of our performance of the musical ROCK OF AGES on September 9, I caught a prescreening of the movie on Thursday night. My first words upon leaving the theatre: “Man, I want to sing karaoke now!”

(http://rockofagesmovie.warnerbros.com)

I think it’s fair to say that Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand, just to name a few, would not have all signed onto a movie they didn’t think was going to be awesome. Tom Cruise plays the perfect washed up rocker, Brett Michaels meets Tommy Lee. Catherine Zeta-Jones takes a turn as the mayor’s wife, determined to clean up the strip by killing rock and roll. Think Tipper Gore there. Alex Baldwin and Russell Brand are probably the funniest part of the movie. Of course, you may wonder- can they really sing? Eh, not so much. There are also a million and one cameos. I saw Debbie Gibson and Sebastian Bach in one scene together even though I’m fairly certain their paths didn’t often cross in the 80s.

The plot is thin. “Just a small town girl” moves to LA with dreams of being a singer and meets a boy. The backdrop is The Bourbon, a club that is a heavy-metal haven. The fashion is perfection- leg warmers, shoulder pads, jelly bracelets, and neon. The music is killer- Journey, REO Speedwagon, Poison, Guns and Roses and many, many more. My personal favorite thing about the movie- the choreography. There is a scene where the good church women pull off Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” music video move for move.

The best dialogue in the movie:

Sherrie: I’m a stripper.
Drew: I’m in a boy band.
Sherrie: You win.

If you’re looking for a deep, meaningful plot, best to skip this movie. However, if you want to rock and roll all night the Rock of Ages movie opens in theatres on June 15 and the musical plays Wolf Trap for one night only on Sunday, September 9.

This movie goes to show, even if you lived through the 80s, once is not enough.

Wolf Trap Has You Covered

Now that we're in the swing of things with our season, we took a moment to look at our schedule and we realized—we have a lot of artists with some pretty famous covers! We decided to do the leg work for you all and present some highlights for our 2012 Filene Center season, so enjoy!


k.d. lang (June 6)
"Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen

Get The Led Out - The American Led Zeppelin (June 7)
"Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin

Counting Crows (June 20)
"You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" by Bob Dylan

RAIN - A Tribute to The Beatles (June 22 & 23)
"Let It Be" by The Beatles (music starts at 2:20)

Seal (July 10)
"Lean On Me" by Bill Withers

Rufus Wainwright (July 24 with Ingrid Michaelson)
"Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen

Idina Menzel (August 3 with the National Symphony Orchestra)
"Poker Face" by Lady Gaga

Il Divo (August 9) **only lawn tickets are left for this show**
"Unbreak My Heart" by Toni Braxton (Spanish version)

Straight No Chaser (August 26)
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight"

There you have it! If you love a good cover as much as we do, feel free to check out any of these artists coming to the Filene Center. And feel free to sound off on some of your own favorite covers out there in the comments below.

A Lesson in Lawn Rushing

It's that time of year again! The sun is out, the Filene Center is open, and people will be taking up prime real estate on the lawn faster than you can say "picnic." We're getting in boy scout mode and making sure that YOU'RE prepared for your favorite shows this summer!

While many people think that lawn rushing is only for the hardcore concert-goers, it really should be a priority for all. Getting the right spot on the lawn, the one place where your seat is not reserved before the show, can have a larger impact on your concert experience than you think. To help you out, we’ve laid out some tried and true Dos and Don’ts for the Wolf Trap lawn that we've learned from experience.

DO:

1. Show up on time

• This is one of the most important rules to follow if you want a good spot on the lawn. Better to be early than on time. The lawn opens 90 minutes prior to the show, and, depending on the performance, people start to arrive about 30 to 60 minutes prior to the gates opening.

2. Pack your picnic

• Unlike most venues, at Wolf Trap you can bring food. And not just a backpack of chips and water, but an entire spread. Bring your favorite wine, gourmet cheeses, pasta salad, but stick to things that can be served cold and are easy to eat. If you don’t have time or you forget to pack, that’s fine too—we have plenty of options, including wine and liquor, at our on-site concessions stand.

3. Pick your spot ahead of time

• Many people rush in and grab up the first place they find that’s closest to the stage, but you should be more strategic about it. Next time you’re on the lawn, walk around and decide where you think the best place is for sights and sounds, and plan to rush to that spot in the future. You’ll be surprised; the best spots might not be the closest.

4. Think about the experience you want to have

• How important is it to see the stage? How close do you want to be to concessions, restrooms, or the exit? Do you plan to do a little dancing or would you rather lay back, close your eyes, and enjoy the music and the breeze? For some, live music is simply about the sound (though some acts put on a pretty phenomenal spectacle—Cirque Dreams, anyone?)
  

5. Bring a blanket/tarp or rent a comfy cushion

• Bringing a blanket might seem like a no-brainer, but it needs to be said. Having a blanket out—even if you brought a chair—ensures that you have a comfortable amount of room for you and your friends. And speaking of blankets, have yours out BEFORE you go through the gates so you can throw it on the ground quickly. Pulling your blanket out of your bag in a rush and seeing all the other contents fly out onto the lawn with it is not fun (been there, done that). And did you know you can also rent cushions for a small fee and extra comfort?

DON’T

1. Wait for your friends

• Ok, this sounds mean, but let us elaborate. If you’re there early with your blanket and tickets and your friend is running late, go alone, stake out your spot, and have them call you when they arrive. You can always leave your blanket later and deliver their ticket to them at the gate. Better to get a good spot on your own than a bad spot because you waited!

2. Wear shoes that are hard to run in

• Let’s be honest. You’re not running on solid level pavement—you’re running on a grassy hill. It’s not flat, but your shoes should be. Wear sandals, sneakers, or something sturdy, and you won’t have a problem. You’re on the lawn, not at the ball—stilettos need not apply.

3. Dress up

• While I’m not saying you should bank on getting dirty, we will admit that it’s more likely than if you were sitting at home. You don’t have to dress like a slob, but be conscious and wear something that’s cool and comfortable (and easy to move in—they don’t call it “rushing” for nothing!). I think we can all agree that we’d rather look casual and be happy than get heat stroke because we decided to layer for the sake of fashion. Additionally, it might rain! While we all wish summer was full of 90 days of sunny, 75 degree weather, it’s not. Check the forecast that morning, and if it might rain, bring a jacket, umbrella, or a tarp. If tickets are available, you can also upgrade your lawn tickets to in-house free of fees—you simply have to pay the difference in price from the lawn ticket to the in-house ticket.

Now that you know all the secrets of rushing, get out there and start making the most of your lawn experience. There’s really nothing else like it!