Monty Python Invades Wolf Trap!

For music lovers who represent a younger age demographic, I'm sure many would concede that it is more common than not to gloss over symphony performances in favor of the energy and excitement inherent in raucous pop/rock shows. Well hold on to your cellos, because Wolf Trap has the perfect bridge for this generational chasm. When perusing our 2008 summer schedule in anticipation of tomorrow's box office opening day, I encourage you to give special consideration to NSO @ Wolf Trap's presentation of Not the Messiah! (He's a Very Naughty Boy) starring none other than Monty Python's Eric Idle.

Folks from 20-70 will recognize Idle from his critically lauded work as a member of the internationally renowned British comedy group Monty Python. The majority of his fame is derived from his portrayal as Sir Robin in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and Mr. Cheeky and Harry the Haggler from Monty Python's Life of Brian. A respected guitarist and musician, Idle is responsible for the composition of the group's most famous musical numbers, most notably "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," the closing number from Life of Brian which has grown to become a Python signature tune.

Not the Messiah! is the brainchild of Idle and his Spamalot co-composer John Du Prez, and features a comic oratorio inspired by Monty Python's Life of Brian and Handel's Messiah. Similar to the concept behind the wildly successful Spamalot featuring a musical retelling of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, patrons will witness Idle perform as a soloist and narrator alongside the NSO, a full chorus, bagpipers in British 19th-century army regalia, and a sheep! It's completely loaded with Python-esque craziness. I've heard the show concludes with a full sing along of "Look on the Bright Side of Life," giving audience members the chance to fully immerse themselves in the Monty Python phenomenon. Could it be better than Spamalot?? I can't wait to find out.

For what to expect from the NSO and Idle's performance on July 24, check out this week's video below.

Have a great weekend,

Graham

2008 Summer Performance On-Sale This Saturday! Free Food, Drink and Airtime on 94.7 The Globe with Cerpe!

Tomorrow night when you're sitting around wondering what to do with your evening, make sure it's something that will get you into bed at a reasonable hour, because 1) it's been a long week and you need your rest:) and 2) we expect to see you out bright and early the next day at Wolf Trap as Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. marks the official on-sale for our first batch of summer 2008 performances at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts! (Click on this link for address)

You're probably asking yourself - why would I come out to Wolf Trap at an early hour to buy tickets at the box office when I can purchase them online from the comfort of my own home? While this is certainly a viable option, your home lacks several crucial elements that make this day a special one for area residents and Wolf Trap staff alike.

Upon leaving your house on Saturday morning, there's no need to make the obligatory stop at your local Starbucks, for we have taken your needs into account with a Starbucks booth set up for your convenience while you wait in line for your choice of tickets (while supplies last…) And if you want a little something to nibble on while waiting, feel free to choose from the assorted cookies and brownies offered courtesy of Capital Restaurants Group.

An avid listener of 94.7 The Globe? Well this is your chance to meet and hang out with Cerphe, The Globe personality that dominates the airwaves every weekday from 2-6. Cerphe will broadcast live from 9:30 am - 11:30 a.m. on-site at Wolf Trap's box office, featuring discussions with patrons live on-the-air.

Plenty of Wolf Trap staff will be on-hand as well to help clarify any artist related questions, or if you've recently moved to the area, what you can expect from a season under the stars at Wolf Trap. It should be a great time, please come out and visit us! As an added incentive, it is predicted to be 55 degrees by 9 am.

Hope to see you on Saturday. And come say hi – I’ll be the guy in a Wolf Trap shirt without the bullhorn :)

Graham

Terre Jones and Marvin Hamlisch at the National Press Club

For those of you celebrating, Happy Easter!

I suspect many of you are out of the office today in anticipation of the holiday weekend and won't read this post for a few days, but I assure you, this one is worth the watch even if you don't get to it until next week. As you all know, our President & CEO, Terre Jones announced our summer season this past Monday at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. alongside world-renowned conductor and composer, Marvin Hamlisch. I do have to mention that Chris and I picked Marvin and his wife up at the airport on Sunday night, and I could not imagine a friendlier and more down to earth couple, especially for a man who has won Tonys, Grammys, Oscars, and the Pulitzer Prize.

So for today's video of the week, I have included a link to video coverage of Terre and Marvin's remarks at the NPC. I recommend viewing it via Windows Media, as it is easier to scroll throughout the recording allowing you to view different segments of the broadcast. Terre's speech is very inspiring, as it encourages us to re-evaluate the role of the arts as a tool for worldwide connectivity in today's ever-evolving and often overwhelming matrix of information. Marvin is downright hysterical, particularly in the opening minutes of his appearance while performing interpretations of "Happy Birthday" from Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven for the NPC in honor of its 100th anniversary.

The link is included here, enjoy! Also, if you haven't already, make sure to check out our website at http://www.wolftrap.org/ for our list of summer shows booked thus far.

Have a great weekend!

Graham

March Madness, iTunes, and Chicago City Limits

While noodling today's blog topic, I felt compelled to point out some sort of relationship between our nation's beloved NCAA tournament (which started this afternoon) and the music industry. I then began wondering if for any purpose, and how we could use our handy dandy iTunes to keep track of any games we might have missed. Sure enough, following an announcement on Tuesday, iTunes is offering condensed versions of all tournament games which will go on sale a day after they take place for $1.99 apiece, or $19.99 for a "season pass." This is a convenient and cheap solution for folks who don't have time to stream the games live on their computer at work, and for those who don't have DVR or TiVO capabilities. It's a great way to catch up any games you may have missed, as long as you're able to avoid contact with your friend Dave, the b-ball fiend who will undoubtedly share with you the outcome of every game. Check out the full story from CNET here.

There's a little more than a month left of Barns shows for 2008 leading into a brief lull before our Filene Center kicks off on May 23. Excited by our summer schedule? I know I am! Some highlights are Mark Knopfler, The Black Crowes, Face of America; Hawai'i Revisited, Moe. w/Rusted Root, and our debut of Les Misérables. Take a look at our remaining Barns schedule and if you come to the realization that you've yet to visit The Barns this year, I highly recommend that you brainstorm some improv topics and head out tomorrow night for our presentation of Chicago City Limits. Think long and hard, these guys are pros, and can bring comedic relief to even the most obscure of topics. Challenge them, make them sweat a bit - that's the whole idea. For a preview of what to expect, check out Woody Irvin's most recent Live! column in today's Washington Post.

Talk soon,

Graham

Wolf Trap's 2008 Filene Center Season Goes Public Today!!

Thanks to everyone for stopping by my blog on this fine St. Patrick's Day! It's an exciting day for all of us Trappers, as our President and CEO Terre Jones is currently announcing the bulk of our summer season lineup that will eventually total close to 180 performances from May - September. Terre's forum for this announcement is the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., in front of a capacity crowd that includes such distinguished guests as the honorable Norman A. Minetta, former United States Secretary of Transportation, Mary Bomar, Director of the National Park Service, and one of America's most revered contemporary composers, special guest speaker Marvin Hamlisch.

Before I share summer shows booked thus far, I'd like to announce the winner of my artist trivia contest. Stephanie Stadler, congratulations! You have won a pair of front orchestra seats for correctly guessing the following three artists.

1) Gladys Knight

2) The Black Crowes

3) Trisha Yearwood

Let me know at your convenience which show you'd like to attend, and I'll give you details on how to receive your tickets.

Now onto the main event....

2008 Filene Center Lineup

A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor - 5/23 - 5/24

Riverdance - 5/29 - 6/1

Wolf Trap's 19th Annual Swamp Romp featuring the Wild Magnolias, Pine Leaf Boys, Balfa Toujours, and Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas - 6/8

Trisha Yearwood - 6/11

An Evening with Gordon Lightfoot - 6/14

Boz Scaggs - 6/15

Pilobolus - 6/17

James Taylor and his Band of Legends - 6/18

RAIN - The Beatles Experience - 6/19

H.M.S. Pinafore - 6/20

The Gondoliers - 6/21

Emmylou Harris - 6/22

George Benson - An Unforgettable Tribute to Nat King Cole - 6/24

Ricky Skaggs with Bruce Hornsby - 6/25

The Temptations & The Four Tops - 6/26

Rent - 6/27 - 6/29

Lyle Lovett in concert - 7/2

Donna Summer - 7/5

Candide in Concert - 7/6

Ani DiFranco - 7/7

Paul Taylor Dance Company - 7/8

Chicago - 7/9

NSO @ Wolf Trap:Tcheers for Tchaikovsky! - 7/10

NSO @ Wolf Trap: An Evening with Kiri Te Kanawa - 7/11

NSO @ Wolf Trap: This Way to Broadway - 7/12

Hootie & The Blowfish - 7/13

Al Green - 7/15

Earth, Wind & Fire - 7/16

Indigo Girls - 7/17

Pat McGee Band - 7/18

Gladys Knight - 7/19

Mark Knopfler - 7/22

NSO @ Wolf Trap: Not the Messiah! (He's a Very Naughty Boy) Starring Eric Idle - 7/24

NSO @ Wolf Trap: Wolf Trap is for Lovers - 7/25

NSO @ Wolf Trap: Broadway ROCKS! from Phantom to Dreamgirls - 7/26

Crosby, Stills & Nash - 7/28

Noche Flamenca - 7/29

Hippiefest: A Concert for Peace and Love - 7/30

NSO @ Wolf Trap: Beethoven’s Best - 7/31

NSO @ Wolf Trap: Rodgers & Hammerstein at the Movies - 8/1

NSO @ Wolf Trap: Dial “H” for Hitchcock - 8/2

The Black Crowes - 8/3

Face of America: Hawai'i Revisited - 8/5

Jethro Tull 40th Anniversary Tour - 8/6

Gipsy Kings - 8/7 - 8/8

Gretchen Wilson - 8/9

B.B. King - 8/10

Los Lonely Boys & Los Lobos - 8/12

Buddy Guy & George Thorogood - 8/13

Smokey Robinson - 8/14

SMV: Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller & Victor Wooten - The Thunder Tour - 8/16

The Beach Boys - 8/17

Kenny Rogers & The Oak Ridge Boys - 8/20

Chris Isaak - 8/21

Eddie from Ohio/Great Big Sea - 8/22

The Irish Tenors - 8/24

UB40 - 8/26

Les Misérables - 8/29 - 9/7

There it is! More information on each performance can be found on the Wolf Trap website. Tickets go on-sale to the general public on March 29, so mark your calendars. The next round of shows will be announced on April 7 with an on-sale date of April 12, so stay tuned for more to come. We can't wait to see you out here this summer!

Also, I'd to invite you to tune in on April 21 when the first five performances in Wolf Trap's Face of America series are featured as part of Thirteen/WNET New York's Great Performances on PBS stations across the nation. Check your local WETA listings for broadcast time.

Have a great St. Patty's Day, and be safe!

later on,
Graham

Contest is Running!

Just a friendly reminder that the Summer 2008 performer contest started yesterday and will run until Monday! The faster you comment with your three guesses, the better chance you have of winning a pair of front orchestra tickets to one of the three shows of your choice. If you think your initial guesses are incorrect, you can comment in twice, 3x, really as many times as you'd like! You just have to be the first to guess all three correctly. Check out yesterday's blog post for contest details. I'll announce the winner on Monday!

-Graham

2008 Filene Center Artist Contest is On!

Here are the contest details:

I have listed below three facts about three distinct artists that will perform at the Filene Center this summer. Each artist falls into one of these three genres - rock, country (I use this term loosely as it could be alternative country or bluegrass,) and R&B/Soul. Read the clues carefully, be the first to comment on the blog with all three correct artists, and win a pair of tickets of your choice to one of these three performances. You must include your full name and contact information in your comment. I'll announce the winner on March 17 during my live blogging session from our National Press Club event from 12-1 p.m. Have fun and good luck!

Artist # 1

Fact # 1 - This artist wrote a Grammy-Award winning song about their homestate where he/she was born in 1944.

Fact # 2 - This artist recorded the title track for a James Bond movie in the 1980s.

Fact # 3 - This artist scored three number #1 hits with his/her backing group in 1966, 1973, and 1983

Artist # 2

Fact # 1 - Proving hard to classify, this act has been labeled as "blues-rock, hard-rock, southern rock, and sometimes even jam band".

Fact # 2 - This act's frontman can be tied to a 2000 film about 70s rock band, Stillwater.

Fact # 3 - This act is somewhat notorious for frequent lineup changes, recently recruiting their latest lead guitarist from another well known band in the jam-rock genre.

Artist # 3

Fact # 1 - This artist played performed at the Filene Center in 1994 with fall Barns artist Rodney Crowell.

Fact # 2 - All 11 of this artist's albums are certified gold or platinum.

Fact # 3 - Garth Brooks had a MAJOR influence on this artist's success as a performer.

Remember, the first to comment with all three correct artists will win a pair of tickets to their choice of these three shows.

I look forward to receiving your responses!

-Graham

South by Southwest Festival - No...I'm Not Going.

Come next Wednesday, I'm going to really wish I owned my townhouse instead of renting it so I could install a DirectTV dish, enabling me to watch performances from the daily eight-hour live broadcast of performances from the 2008 South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas. The following artists are scheduled to perform a full 40-minute set at either the Lone Star Lounge or Bat Bar, located at the Austin Convention Center. Complimentary tickets are given to conference attendees, one of which is Wolf Trap's own Elsbeth Fager, who works faithfully alongside Peter Zimmerman in Programming & Production. El - if you're reading this...I'm supremely jealous. I want a full report of the new My Morning Jacket tunes...

If you subscribe to DirectTV - you'll have the opportunity to catch sets from:

Wednesday, March 12

The Bat Bar 7pm Earlimart 8pm Daryl Hall and Friends - One half of Hall and Oates who were at Wolf Trap in 1997 and 2005

Thursday, March 13

The Bat Bar
1pm Augustana - new album out on April 29 via Epic titled, Can't Love, Can't Hurt. New Single "Sweet and Low" is currently streaming on their MySpace page.
4pm The Answer
6pm Sia
8pm Hanson - MMM BOP

The Lone Star Lounge
2pm The Noisettes
5pm Martha Wainright - Rufus Wainright's sister who exudes a very innocent, endearing and ambient vocal style (very EmmyLou Harris in my opinion.) Aside from her brother, she is probably most well known for her recent collaboration with Snow Patrol on the track "Set Fire to the Third Bar"
9pm Tift Merritt

Friday, March 14

The Bat Bar
1pm Ferras/Katy Perry
4pm Dizzee Rascal
8pm Daniel Lanois - wrote "The Maker" which is often covered live by Dave Matthews Band
10pm X

The Lone Star Lounge
2pm Paddy Casey
5pm Joanna Cotten
7pm Deana Carter
9pm Ryan Cabrera

Saturday, March 15

The Bat Bar
2pm Justin Nozuka
5pm The Ting Tings
7pm Sons & Daughters
9pm The Lemonheads

The Lone Star Lounge
1pm Monte Negro
4pm Salvador Santana
8pm Carbon/Silicon
10pm Nicole Atkins

If you're not familiar with South by Southwest festival, take a few minutes to learn from the Flight of the Conchords duo in today's video of the week called, Best of Flight of the Conchords's "A Texan Odyssey". The documentary itself is in a five party series, all available on YouTube during which you will notice several past Wolf Trap artists including Morrissey (2007) and Lyle Lovett (17 time Filene Center performer.) Enjoy.

Have a great weekend,

Graham

Nine Inch Nails Follows Radiohead's Lead

Nine Inch Nails. Who has heard much from these guys in the last 5-7 years? Of course, I might be guilty of not paying enough attention to the industrial rock scene, but given the fact that they have released two albums in the past three years, it seems that their commercial appeal has significantly tapered off since achieving household name status in the 90s. So it's with no great surprise that Nine Inch Nails lost its longtime recording contract with Interscope last year, forcing them to explore other distribution methods for the band's recently completed instrumental project, Ghosts I - IV.

As is the growing trend amongst independent-minded bands, front man Trent Reznor and bandmates have made the entirety of the album's 36 tracks available for digital download on their website for only $5. There are three other price packages:

1) A CD version in a two-disc package for $10 as well as a $39 vinyl version, with sales through its site or through record shops starting April 8.

2) A $75 version which includes the music on two CDs, and a DVD that contains data files of the multitrack recordings of the 36 songs, allowing fans to remix and alter the music as they choose.

3) A $300 deluxe version with the two discs, the vinyl set, Trent Reznor's signature and additional material. Only 2500 were made, and are already sold out. That's a quick $750,000 in Reznor's pocket.

This is very similar to the independent distribution method behind Radiohead's recently released In Rainbows record, but with a couple significant modifications. Nine Inch Nails will not offer any content for free on their website, instead opting to post the first nine tracks of Ghost I - IV on several sites that utilize BitTorrent technology, which is a clear pledge in support of unauthorized file sharing. By obtaining a Creative Commons license, the band has authorized unpaid uses of their output. On thepiratebay.org, a popular torrent site, the band posted a message to their fans where they are quoted as saying, "We encourage you to share the music of Ghosts I with your friends, post it on your website, play it on your podcast, use it for video projects, etc."

In a recent New York Times article, Reznor referred to digital file sharing as “a revolutionary digital distribution method, and we believe in finding ways to utilize new technologies instead of fighting them.” Personally, I think this a highly effective one-two punch in helping musicians to increase exposure and ultimately promote record sales. Given the inevitability of file-sharing technology and its already overwhelming popularity, more musicians are likely to follow Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead's lead. Give the customer a teaser for free, and then offer the remainder of the product at a reduced price. Maybe I'm a sucker, but I now own both albums.