Post Review of LOTR, Garrison, and Ben Folds

Hello everyone! I'm sure many of you cut out of work early today to begin your Memorial Day weekend (and also to avoid the ever-present issue of DC traffic) but I want to quickly draw your attention to this glowing review of Wednesday's Lord of the Rings performance included in the Style section of today's Washington Post written by Mr. Stephen Brookes. Thank you for your kind words, sir!

Next order of business - this weekend, Wolf Trap presents its yearly offering of our favorite Minnesota talk radio personality, Mr. Garrison Keillor with A Prairie Home Companion, followed by our annual Blast Off event on Sunday which will officially kick off the 2008 summer season. Blast Off! is free of charge, so this is your complimentary chance to view our newly constructed main gate area with upgraded concession and bathroom facilities. Come out on Sunday with some wine and cheese, listen to a 90 minute performance by the U.S. Marine Band and watch some spectacular fireworks, all the while reveling in the fact that you don't have to go work the next day. However be advised that the park closes at capacity, so get here sooner than later.

Lastly, I know many of us over here at the Foundation are really looking forward to next Wednesday, which marks the return of pop-piano diety Ben Folds to the Filene Center stage. He's interspersed a few tour dates into his busy recording schedule which should produce a new studio record by September of this year. His last release was the 2006 LP Supersunnyspeedgraphic, a compilation of songs that were originally released on the EPs Sunny 16, Speed Graphic, and Super D. Folds always has a unique show up his sleeve, so we're all eager to see what he has in store. I'm looking forward to a healthy does of new material, with some old favorites mixed in like "Zack and Sara," "The Ascent of Stan," "Landed," etc.

To get you fired up about his show, check out this video from his MySpace broadcast concert on October 24, 2006. Great rendition of his tune "Bastard" from his record, Songs for Silverman.

Talk on Tuesday, have a great weekend!

Graham