Tonight at The Barns: Riders In The Sky

Tonight at The Barns is the GRAMMY-Award winning ensemble Riders In The Sky.

Since their first gig at a Nashville bar in 1977, Riders In The Sky have been showcasing hilarious comedy and truly impressive songwriting: the song “The Legend of Palindrome,” for example, is made up entirely of lines that read the same forwards and backwards. Their newest release, America’s Favorite Cowboy Songs, features their most requested ditties and is exclusively available at Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores.

The group consists of lead singer Ranger Doug, fiddle player Woody Paul, bassist and guitarist Too Slim, and “Cowpolka King” accordion player Joey Miskulin.

The group’s collaborations with Pixar have kept their music just as relevant as ever in the 21st century: they penned the score for the Academy Award-winning short film For the Birds and contributed songs to the universally acclaimed hits Toy Story 2 and Monsters, Inc.

In addition to their two GRAMMY Awards, the group has been the Western Music Association’s Entertainers of the Year six times.

“It is refreshing to hear guys sing about the great outdoors, in a moderate volume, in nice harmony, and who play their instruments well and have a sense of camaraderie.”—Ranger Doug

Don't miss this family-friendly cowboy road show tonight Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 8 pm.

Tonight at The Barns: A Tribute to Chrissie Hynde & The Pretenders

Tonight at The Barns is BandHouse Gigs' A Tribute to Chrissie Hynde & The Pretenders. Please enjoy the Producer's Notes below and be sure not to miss the show!

It was an easy choice to tribute the music of Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders. Her songs and her work with the Pretenders helped define the sound of post ’60s guitar pop and are trendsetting classics. Her career after the heyday of the Pretenders initial burst of hits is no less ground breaking and tuneful. Speaking up on social issues while continuing to throw darts from the heart, she dissects personal relationships and reflects on the essence of humankind. There is no one like her.

She encapsulates so many conflicting adjectives: tough, gentle, promiscuous, loving, resentful, forgiving, angry, resolute, and peaceful. But in her world these qualities exist everywhere all the time. There is no simple relationship; there is no reason why all of these emotions cannot exist at the same time. And there is no shame in lust. She makes complexity seem simple—and appropriate.

Her preference for floating jangling guitars on top of a solid drum beat permeate all of her songs, yet they all sound different. We never tired of her style because the themes and the vocal attitude make every song unique. You can drift away on a romantic dream or rock out with an in-your-face proclamation. And she can sing Jimi.

In a world of innocuous pop stars singing about superficial subjects, there are few lasting songwriters who stick around to make sure their voice is heard. Chrissie is not going anywhere until her work is done. She has few peers as a songwriter, singer, and performer.

There was no shortage of great talent willing to help pay tribute and interpret Chrissie’s songs. She speaks to every woman about their rights, their conflicting roles in society, and their power to change the world—and in the process she speaks to us all. We are grateful for her contributions to music and we encourage everyone to become familiar with all of her records. Hopefully by the end of tonight you will.

Artists on tonight's show:
Andrew Hardin
Anita King
Annie and Steve Sidley
Bill Craig
Cal Everett
Caz Gardiner
Chuck Sullivan
Dan Hovey
Deeme Katson
Doug Tull
Ellen Cherry
Evan Pollack
Gina Cocco
Greg Hardin
Janine Wilson
John Jennings
John Penovitch
Jon Carroll
Jeannine Burns
Jim Clatterbuck
Jen & Scott Smith of Naked Blue
John Thomakos
Karen Williamson and Anson Smith
Laura Tsaggaris
Louie Newmyer
Margot MacDonald
Paul Pisciotta
Patty Reese
Ronnie Newmyer
Shep Williams
Spencer Hoopes
Todd Wright

BandHouse Gigs A Tribute to Chrissie Hynde & The Pretenders is at The Barns tonight, Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 7:30 pm.

Time Travel in 3...2...1...

Today's post is from Lee Anne Myslewski, Director, Artistic Administration, Wolf Trap Opera & Classical Programming.

As a kid I was infatuated with time travel. The DeLorean in Back to the Future (step aside, Michael J. Fox! I’m in it for the CAR!), The Tardis in Dr. Who, the phone booth in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure...heck, I’d even take The Enterprise’s warp speed in an episode of Star Trek. I loved the daydream of inserting the modern Me into an antiquated scene - the surroundings, the clothes, the food, the music. How incredible would it be to reframe my modern perspective by actually going back in time?

Sadly, I’ve not ever ridden in a DeLorean (not even a non-time-traveling one), and most of the phone booths I’ve been in not only didn’t travel anywhere, most of them didn’t have phones inside, anymore.

But, lest you feel too badly for poor nerdy me, sitting in vacant phone booths, waiting to, well, go somewhere; let me reassure you that I have indeed traveled in time. In fact, the first time I did was as a music student in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I attended a concert where the keyboard instrument was much smaller than our conventional piano, and was covered in gold leaf. The guitar looked more like a lute, but the neck was at least twice as long and I swear there were seven or eight strings on it - five in the conventional position, but there were at least two that were really long. The cellist held her bow in a strange position, not at all like I’d seen in orchestras. And the music, while obviously highly virtuosic, was also unlike anything I’d heard before - intricate, delicate, both passionate and highly intelligent. It was like a puzzle, trying to guess where the harmonies might go, how the soloist might embellish the melody on the da capo.

It was amazingly cool. And while I didn't walk out of the hall in a hoop skirt and a powdered wig, I certainly felt as if I had gone back in time.

That group that mesmerized me those many years ago? They’ll be playing for you tonight. The Chatham Baroque presents Northern Lights, a program of composers with free, highly improvisational styles. Performing this evening are Andrew Fouts, baroque violin, Patricia Halverson, viola da gamba and violone, Scott Pauly, theorbo, and Webb Wiggins on chamber organ. I’ll be joining you for this fantastic program from my perch in the balcony - indulging in both some nostalgia from the first time I heard this ensemble, and in a little aural time travel. I hope you’ll join me.

Chatham Baroque performs at The Barns tonight Friday, March 15, 2013 at 8 pm.

Tonight at The Barns: Tom Paxton

Tonight at The Barns is folk guitarist Tom Paxton.

A New Yorker by way of Chicago and Oklahoma, Tom Paxton became an icon of the 1960s Greenwich Village music scene whose appearance at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival established him as a stalwart of the folk revival.

Paxton has written and sung about the love of family, friends, and country. In his 2008 release, Comedians & Angels, he helps people laugh at the foibles of society, culture, government, and themselves.

In 2011, actor and singer/songwriter Tim Grimm released an album of Tom Paxton covers called Thank You Tom Paxton!

The GRAMMY awards have recognized Paxton with four nominations and a Lifetime Achievement Award in the last decade, speaking to the relevance of his latest material, which is as socially conscious and challenging as ever.

“[Paxton’s] hits like 'The Last Thing On My Mind,' 'Bottle of Wine,' 'Ramblin' Boy,' 'The Marvelous Toy,' and 'Going to the Zoo'...transcended the genre and took root in America's imagination.”—Chicago Sun-Times

Don't miss Tom Paxton at The Barns tonight Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 8 pm.

Tonight at The Barns: Paul Thorn

Playing tonight at The Barns is bluesy rocker Paul Thorn.

Before Paul Thorn discovered his true calling as a powerfully earnest musician with gritty, soulful pipes, the Tupelo, Mississippi native was a professional boxer. In the 1980s he had a televised match with famed middleweight Roberto Duran.

As the son of a Pentecostal preacher, gospel has strongly influenced Thorn’s sound, and the dichotomy of the sacred and the profane is regularly explored through his songwriting. This is especially evident on the 2010 album Pimps and Preachers, which reached No. 12 on Billboard’s Independent Albums Chart and broke into the Billboard 200.

A man of many talents, Thorn designs all his own vibrant album art work and started his own label, Perpetual Obscurity Records.

In 2012 Thorn released the album What the Hell is Goin’ On?, which contains covers of songs by his favorite artists including Allen Toussaint, Lindsey Buckingham, and Ray Wylie Hubbard.

“Like Paul Thorn’s original works, gospel, rock, blues, soul, and Americana all blend seamlessly on What the Hell is Goin’ On? and Paul Thorn sounds like he’s having the time of his life paying tribute to his heroes both past and present.”—Examiner.com

Don't miss Paul Thorn at The Barns tonight, Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 8 pm.

Just Announced for Summer 2013: Classic Rock

Today's post is by Joe LaCroix, Wolf Trap's Communications and Marketing Coordinator

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While I may be one of the youngest people on staff here at Wolf Trap, the value of the classics is not lost on me. Just like my sports allegiances, my taste in music was (at least initially) inherited. So as my children will grow up listening to more ’90s alt-rock than they’ll be able to stand, I grew up listening to many of the classic rock staples that I’m very excited to highlight in this entry:

Steve Miller Band on July 23rd:

Steve Miller Band holds a special place in my heart, being literally the first band that I can remember listening to as a child. While time might be slipping into the future, I for one am glad that classic acts such as this held steady. Steve Miller’s tried and true, no-frills, blues laden songwriting helped shape my love for rock ‘n’ roll back before I even knew what a midnight toker really was.

If you’re into Steve Miller, you might also be on-board for:

Doobie Brothers on July 6th:

The nostalgia will be palpable on August 9th when the man behind one of the most iconic and enjoyable of American Tunes, Don McLean takes the stage. He’ll be sharing the spotlight under a starry-nights sky with the classically eclectic styling’s of the lovely Judy Collins.



Frankie Valli is one of those classic artists whose songs are so ubiquitously known that they really do take on a life of their own. I was fortunate enough to see Frankie and the Four seasons last time they played at Wolf Trap and was honestly astounded at how many of their songs I not only recognized, but knew nearly every word to.


While my time in elementary school band was fairly short lived, I give full credit to Chicago for helping me realize just how cool a band can sound with a full brass accompaniment. Unfortunately, our band did not play such awesome songs.


This really is just the tip of the iceberg that is Wolf Trap’s classic-rock lineup for 2013. With acts such as Gordon Lightfoot, Huey Lewis & The News and even an awe-inspiring double-bill featuring Peter Frampton and B.B. King, anyone with an affinity for the golden-years of Rock and Roll will find something that pleases.

Tonight at The Barns: Enter The Haggis

Tonight at The Barns are indie, roots-rock stalwarts Enter The Haggis.

Melding crafty storytelling and bagpipe blasting with roots-rock and jig-punk, this group likes to “experiment musically, pushing the boundaries of what people think of as Celtic music,” says vocalist and guitarist Trevor Lewington.

Their 2009 genre-crossing album, Gutter Anthems, which embraced African drumbeats and even a fiddle with a distortion pedal, reached No. 13 on Billboard’s World Albums chart and also hit No. 2 on the iTunes World Music chart.

Their 2011 album, Whitelake and their upcoming album, The Modest Revolution, was funded entirely through an online fan fundraiser. The songs on the new album will be entirely based on news stories published in the March 30, 2012 edition of The Globe and Mail newspaper and released exactly one year after the newspaper’s publication date.

Mastering a wide range of instruments including fiddle, accordion, whistles, and ukulele, Enter The Haggis’s line-up includes Trevor Lewington, Brian Buchanan, Craig Downie, Mark Abraham, and Bruce McCarthy.

“Enter The Haggis does for Celtic music what Nickel Creek does for bluegrass.” —Playback magazine

Enter the Haggis performs at The Barns tonight, Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 7:30 pm.

Just Announced for Summer 2013: NSO@Wolf Trap

As an oboist, there are few things I love more than listening to a good orchestra. Here at Wolf Trap, we’re lucky enough be the summer home of not just any good orchestra, but one of the world’s finest ensembles: the National Symphony Orchestra. Festival Conductor Emil de Cou and the NSO return this summer with a new set of musical offerings that appeal to all types of audiences.

My favorite part of the NSO@Wolf Trap season is that you don’t have to be a classical music guru to enjoy these performances. It features opera, classical and pop soloists, crossover collaborations, films, cartoons, and video games, making classical music accessible to everyone.

Last week, we learned about six new additions to the NSO@Wolf Trap schedule. I’ll briefly explain what these are but I encourage you to listen to the Spotify playlist pasted at the end of this post. Even though these tracks are not performed by the NSO, they will give you an idea of what to expect—and you might even recognize some of the pieces!

Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration Featuring Warren Haynes – the NSO will team up with vocalist/guitarist Warren Haynes to celebrate the life and musical contributions of Jerry Garcia, best known as a founding member of the rock band Grateful Dead.

Frozen Planet in Concert – this performance will feature an original score by Emmy Award-winning composer and conductor George Fenton, as well as images of the Arctic and Antarctic regions, from BBC’s Earth series.

Carmina Burana – the NSO will perform Carl Orff’s famous cantata, alongside The Choral Arts Society of Washington and soloists from the Wolf Trap Opera Company.

La traviata – Verdi’s famous opera about love (and scandal!) makes its way to the Filene Center stage for the first time since the ’70s. The NSO and the Wolf Trap Opera Company join forces in this new Operascape production, featuring a video projection-based scenic design.  

America the Beautiful – the NSO pays tribute to American artists with a performance of Chris and Dave Brubeck’s “Ansel Adams: America,” paired with photos of or by photographer and environmentalist Ansel Adams himself. Listen to an excerpt from this work here.

Wicked Divas – singers Julia Murney and Stephanie J. Block will perform songs from Broadway shows and Hollywood films, such as Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Titanic, Wicked, and more.

These NSO@Wolf trap performances go on sale in a little over a week, so make your picks now and head over to the Box Office (or purchase online) starting Saturday, March 16 at 10 am.

Just Announced for Summer 2013: Don't Miss (Part 2)

To pick up where I left off, here are more shows to not miss this summer with some fun facts and reasons to get excited.

She & Him
Special Guest:
Camera Obscura
July 11, 2013

- This headlining duo is a special concoction made with equal parts Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. Deschanel, if you don’t already know her, was the actress who sung in the movie Elf with Will Ferrell, and you may also know her from her more recent work starring in the FOX hit show New Girl.

- M.Ward who hails from Portland, Oregon is most well known for his solo work as a singer/songwriter and also for his presence in She & Him and Monsters of Folk. He performed at Wolf Trap in 2011 opening the show for Bright Eyes and Dawes and we’re very excited to have him return.

- Now if She & Him isn’t reason enough for you to be excited, then please consider the Special Guest Camera Obscura. This indie pop band, originally from Glasgow, Scotland, has been making a big splash in the American music scene. Both She & Him and Camera Obscura are scheduled to release new albums this year, She & Him in May and Camera Obscura in June, so be on the lookout for those but make sure to get your tickets first!

An Evening with
Gipsy Kings
August 8, 2013

- There is a reason that the Gipsy Kings keep returning to Wolf Trap. Their contemporary flamenco music will you have you on your feet and dancing on the lawn. The Gipsy Kings always put on a great show and this year will be even better.

- The Gipsy Kings consist of two groups of brothers, the Reyes and the Baliardos, who grew up wandering southern France working and making music. (Hence the gypsy reference.)

- So here’s the skinny on this year’s Gipsy Kings performance, we usually have them for two back to back nights. However, this year there is only one date so all the people who normally come to two performances will all be trying to get tickets for the same night. All I’m saying is you should really think about getting your tickets as soon as possible.

Frampton’s Guitar Circus
Featuring
Peter Frampton
B.B. King
August 11, 2013

- Peter Frampton is nothing short of a legend. In 2011 Frampton played at Wolf Trap on his Frampton Comes Alive! tour and it was an incredible three hours of non-stop rocking. Seriously, his set was three hours with one intermission.

- B.B. King’s reign as The King of Blues has been monumental and it still stands strong. If you've never seen B.B. King live on stage with his love Lucille, you don’t know what you’re missing.

- These two guitar greats playing one evening together is something that doesn't come along very often and likely won’t happen again soon or perhaps ever. If you are a guitar enthusiast this is definitely a show to put on your calendar.

Josh Groban
August 16, 2013

- Josh Groban is more than just a singer. Groban is a singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and record producer who has performed with Idina Menzel, Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman, and Luciano Pavarotti just to name a few.

- Groban's crystal clear tone and wide vocal range is what makes him such a remarkable artist. His "You Raise Me Up" earned him a GRAMMY nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 2005 and  he has sold over 25 million records worldwide.

- This is Josh Groban’s first time performing at Wolf Trap and who knows when he’ll be back again? This show will sell out so don't let it pass you by.

Tonight at The Barns: Helen Reddy

Tonight and tomorrow at The Barns is "I am Woman" legend Helen Reddy.

Born into a prominent showbiz family in Australia, Helen Reddy was a child performer who moved to the United States in 1966. Her first studio album, I Don’t Know How to Love Him, was released in 1970.

Reddy was the first Australian to win a GRAMMY, which she won in 1972 for “I am Woman.”

Reddy has also shared her talent on stage and screen, starring in musicals on Broadway and in London’s West End and acting in films such as Disney’s whimsical classic, Pete’s Dragon (1977).

After retiring from show business in 2002 to focus on her clinical hypnotherapy practice, Reddy decided to return to performing after singing at her sister’s 80th birthday party.

“One of the reasons that I'm coming back to singing is...I’m doing the songs that I always loved. So many are album cuts that never got any airplay, and they're gorgeous songs.”—Helen Reddy on CBSnews.com

Don't miss this pop diva in her back to back performances at The Barns tonight, Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 8 pm and tomorrow, Friday, March 8, 2013 at 8 pm.

Just Announced for Summer 2013: Don't Miss (Part 1)

The weather might not be leading on but the truth is that summer is right around the corner. Here are some of the just announced shows that you won't want to miss with a  few fun facts and reasons to get excited about them.

The Tenors
June 21, 2013

- The Tenors, formerly known as the Canadian Tenors, are a quartet that has been gaining rapid recognition around the world. The members are Fraser Walters, Clifton Murray, Victor Micallef, and Remigio Pereira. Some interesting facts about these four: Walters like to surf, Murray practices yoga, Micallef always travels with a hat box (which is actually a snare drum case), and Pereira produces hip hop music.

- The Tenors have traveled all over North America and Europe and have performed with artists like Céline Dion, Sarah McLachlan, Neil Young, Paul Anka, Justin Bieber, Paul McCartney, and Natalie Cole.

- This is an example of a group that knows no boundaries. If you like shows like last year's Straight No Chaser or IL DIVO then you need to check out The Tenors. They are crossover stars that sing straight from the heart.

Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers
Featuring Edie Brickell
June 24, 2013

- This show is a debut that you definitely don’t want to miss. If you've only ever thought of Steve Martin as a staple of American comedy, well you're in for a treat. Steve Martin is also a highly acclaimed banjo player who will be taking the stage with GRAMMY-winning bluegrass band The Steep Canyon Rangers as well as singer/songwriter Edie Brickell.

- Martin and Brickell are releasing a collaborative album titled Love Has Come for You in April 2013 (next month!).

- The album features 13 co-written songs with instrumental assistance from The Steep Canyon Rangers as well as Esperanza Spalding, Waddy Wachtel, and former Nickel Creek members Sara and Sean Watkins. This is going to be a show for the books so make sure to buy your tickets!

Golden Dragon Acrobats from China
July 7, 2013

- This show is one of the most unique of the summer and is perfect for the whole family so bring the kids (plus it's a matinee so you don't have to worry about keeping them out too late).

- Golden Dragon Acrobats have been touring in America for 28 years making appearances in each of the 50 states. They are considered to be one of the premiere Chinese acrobatic touring companies around today.

- If you haven't seen the Golden Dragon Acrobats before, you should really give it a shot. The show is a beautiful blending of award-winning acrobatics, visually stimulating costumes, traditional and contemporary dance, and energizing music that creates a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

Just Announced for Summer 2013: Strong Female

Today's post comes from Ava Jackson, Assistant, Executive Office.

The first time I saw Joan Baez perform live was in San Francisco. I had skipped school to attend a political rally and she was a surprise guest, guitar in hand, singing out to me and the hundreds of thousands of protestors all around. I felt like a part of history. This memory could have easily been from 1967, but it was 2003. And now you have the chance to make your own major memory in 2013 when she plays with folk rock duo and fellow activists, the Indigo Girls, here at Wolf Trap.

If after that you still haven’t had your fill of awesome women playing guitars (I, personally, could never get my fill), the next two nights you will not want to miss 1980s superstars The Go-Go’s and raspy rock legend Melissa Etheridge. Other strong female artists to follow are GRAMMY-award winner Anita Baker, whose 2012 cover of Tyrese’s 1998 hit “Lately” is smooth perfection, and Nickelodeon powerhouse Victoria Justice – for the younger strong female in your life.

To get you in the mood for some seriously good music under the stars, here is a Spotify playlist of my favorites from these outrageously talented women. 

Tonight at The Barns: Buskin & Batteau

Tonight returning to The Barns with concert virtuoso chops, clever folk farces and intimate acoustic balladry is Buskin & Batteau.

David Buskin and Robin Batteau began making music together in the 1970s and became a local Boston-area hit as part of the Cambridge folk scene.

Some of their first gigs took place at an intimate Harvard Square venue once known as Club 47, a folk club that booked Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Richie Havens, and Tom Rush in the ’60s.

The duo cut their advertising teeth in the ’80s, penning jingles for companies like Burger King, Budweiser, and Amtrak, while also writing songs for other artists such as Judy Collins, Bette Midler, and Peter, Paul and Mary.

Buskin and Batteau’s current project, Love Remembered, Love Forgot, is the follow-up to the 2010 album Nouveau Retro.

“We complement each other so well, each of us has as much fun accompanying the other as we do singing our own songs.”—Robin Batteau

Don't miss this amazing duo at The Barns tonight, Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 7:30 pm.

Parker String Quartet Returns to The Barns

Today's post is from Lee Anne Myslewski, Director, Artistic Administration, Wolf Trap Opera & Classical Programming.

They’re baaaaack! (But it’s not a scary thing - it’s a good thing!)

The Parker Quartet - a foursome of extremely talented string players - were featured as The Discovery Series Debut Artists in 2006. Selecting the Debut Artist for the series is one of the most difficult and most exciting programming prospects. You see, there are jillions of talented young musicians who make their professional debuts each year. We comb through legions of worthy, talented, hard-working artists and ensembles to try to find someone that we want to support. Trying to suss out which groups and artists are both prodigiously talented and will also have career momentum is more than a little like gazing into a crystal ball. In this particular case, however, the vision in that crystal ball became a reality. The Parker was awarded a GRAMMY in 2011 for their recording of Ligeti’s String Quartets!

I have a Google Alert set up to notify me when someone writes about the Parker. Imagine my delight when the headline that popped up for a recent concert review read “Yes, the Parker Quartet really is that good.” It’s something that we've known for years, but the secret is, most happily, out!

Now, for those of you who were hoping to hear some of the repertoire from their GRAMMY-winning album, I’m sorry to disappoint. Here’s the rub: we've already heard Ligeti on The Discovery Series this season. (And while I’m a fan, we do have a radio series, Center Stage from Wolf Trap, to populate... so no repertoire repeats are allowed!) In light of that, the Parker will be taking a different tack with their evening, featuring works of Mozart, Dvořák, and Britten. I’m especially looking forward to the Britten, as it’ll be the first time the work has been performed at The Barns!

You can learn a little bit more about the quartet in this interview. I love how cellist Kee-Hyun Kim likens time in the practice room to running - the inherent discipline in each is something that resonates quite strongly for me. You can bet that I’ll be asking him a question about it during the audience Q&A at intermission tonight! You’ll also be able to pick up a CD of their award-winning performance - chances are they’ll sign it for you, too!

The Parker String Quartet performs at The Barns tonight, Friday, March 1, 2013 at 8 pm.