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High-resolution downloadable images of C.J. Chenier, Young Dubliners, Jonathan Edwards, and Second City National Touring Company are available on Wolf Trap’s Web site: http://www.wolftrap.org/Media_and_Newsroom/Photos_for_Publication.aspx

Contact: Graham Binder, Manager, Public Relations
(703) 255-1917 or grahamb@wolftrap.org

Vienna, VA—The Barns at Wolf Trap offers four distinct performances featuring the “heir to the Zydeco throne,” the rousing jams of a Celtic rock band, a classic Woodstock-era folk singer, and the sophisticated comedy of a premier improv group. Zydeco legend C.J. Chenier opens the week with a general admission dance on Wednesday, February 18, followed by the Young Dubliners and their high-energy fusion of Celtic music and American rock jams on Thursday, February 19. The weekend showcases the distinctive and recognizable tunes of folk singer Jonathan Edwards, on Friday, February 20, followed by the sophisticated and wild satire of The Second City comedy sketch group on Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22.

C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 8 p.m.
$20

Son of the late “King of Zydeco,” Clifton Chenier, C.J. Chenier blends funk, soul, jazz, and Motown to create traditional foot-stomping zydeco rhythms. Chenier inherited his father’s accordion and the Red Hot Louisiana Band, but managed to shape them into his own legacy by incorporating piano, flute, and saxophone, as well as eclectic influences drawn from jazz, blues, ballads, Motown, and funk. Chenier arrives in support of his most recent release, The Desperate Kingdom of Love, which includes the upbeat dance number “Bogalusa Boogie,” a tribute to Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown. Speaking to his expertise, The Boston Globe proclaims, "C.J. Chenier attacks the accordion with the tension and drive of James Brown." Chenier has played major festivals including D.C’s own Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Milwaukee’s Summerfest, San Diego’s Street Scene, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Young Dubliners
Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 8 p.m.
$20

Known for their electrifying live performances, the Young Dubliners return to The Barns armed with tunes from their February 2008 release, Saints and Sinners, an allusion to the angels and subsequent demons the band encounters on the road. Since gaining notoriety in Los Angeles’s pub scene, the group’s live concerts have inspired a worldwide following of devoted fans, enabling them to draw crowds normally reserved for only the most road-tested bands. The Young Dubliners received their first Billboard appearance at No. 14 on the World Music Chart with their 2007 release, With All Due Respect: The Irish Sessions, a record heavy on traditional and contemporary Irish covers. With a mix of ballads and their signature rock jams, Saints and Sinners tackles political issues as well as tongue and cheek accounts of their life on the road.

Jonathan Edwards
Friday, February 20, 2009 at 8 p.m.
$24

Best known for his hit “Sunshine,” this folk singer has charmed live audiences for decades, as heard on his album, Rollin’ Along: Live in Holland. “Sunshine,” an upbeat statement of protest and independence, quickly rose to the Top Five on the national chart in 1971, resulting in gold record status. In his 40-plus-years as a musician, Edwards has released 15 albums, collaborated with legendary artists Emmylou Harris and Jimmy Buffett, and received the “Notable Children’s Recording” award from the National Library Association for his children’s album, Little Hands. Edwards has also expanded his career to include acting roles, touring as the lead in the Broadway musical, Pump Boys and Dinettes, and narrating and performing in the PBS television series, Cruising America’s Waterways in 2001, as well as a second Waterways series in 2004. He also appeared in the 2008 film Chatham.

Second City National Touring Company
Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February, 22, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
$20

The improv group that launched the careers of Tina Fey, Mike Myers, and Steve Carell, takes The Barns stage for an evening of hilarious, yet thought provoking comedy where no topic is off limits. Founded in North Chicago in 1959, the Second City has come to be recognized as the leading comedy institution in the world. The Second City operates on a simple concept: view a range of comedy stars-in-the-making and witness a two-act show consisting of six actors who engage in sketch comedy, songs, and improvisation. Drawing from its archive of material, Second City will feature the best and brightest of its nearly 50 year history.

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Tickets can be purchased by calling 1 (877) WOLFTRAP; or online at http://www.wolftrap.org/Purchase_Tickets.aspx

For more information, call The Barns at Wolf Trap at (703) 938-2404.