Big Weekend Headed Your Way

One thing that has and will always remain consistent with the worldwide listening public is that we all have our individual musical preferences that we should feel free to express and defend in the face of controversy or adversity. I for one flock to country-rock, alt-country, and top-notch jam bands, which is why I'm particularly excited about this weekend's lineup at Wolf Trap which includes Nitty Gritty Dirt Band w/Poco on Friday, moe. w/Rusted Root (!) on Saturday, and Louisiana Swamp Romp on Sunday (doesn't represent the aforementioned genres, but who can argue with Cajun music?)

Not a bad last few years for Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, let's see...starting in 2005 the quartet won a Grammy for Best Country Instrumental for the tune "Earl's Breakdown," collaborated with Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Jerry Douglas and Vassar Clements, toured North America in support of their album Welcome to Woody Creek, and celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2007. Not too shabby. McEuen and company are sounding better than ever based on recent live Mp3s I've heard. Don't miss these guys, they don't come around to Wolf Trap too often...

Make sure to check in with me after the moe./Rusted Root show on Saturday night. I've been given clearance to pop backstage to take some video and still photo footage of the Rusted Root members before and during their performance. On Monday, I hope to have the footage posted for your enjoyment. My goal is to capture them in their pre-show routine -eating, drinking, practicing, hanging out backstage, hopefully coupled with some candid comments from their front man Michael Glabicki. I will handle the video, while our house photographer Eleena Fikhman will capture the still shots given her expertise that far exceeds my own. The show itself should be fantastic, as both Rusted Root and moe. are touring in support of new material. New songs aside, I've waited a long time to hear "Ecstasy" and "Send me on my Way" live, so I'll be jamming along backstage.

If you can make it out Sunday, I highly recommend checking out Pine Leaf Boys' set, one of the younger up and coming acts in the Cajun/Creole world. All band members are under 30, and bring a youthful element that adds a whole new toe-tappin' dimension to the high energy that Louisiana infused music inevitably provides. This is undoubtedly a great lawn show...more room to spread out and dance!

Game 1 of Celtics/Lakers tonight. So classic.

Talk soon,

Graham