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High-resolution downloadable images of Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Chris Smither, and Christine Lavin 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 presents three iconic figures in the eyes of their bluegrass and contemporary folk peers throughout the week of October 29. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver performs its infectious, mandolin-focused bluegrass covers and originals on Wednesday October 29, followed by the gravelly vocals and blend of blues and Southern-roots songwriting of Chris Smither on Friday, October 11. Longtime Barns performer Christine Lavin closes the week on Saturday, November 1, offering her repertoire of humorous tales of life and love set to guitar-based folk tunes.

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 8:00 p.m.
$22

Like many country and bluegrass musicians of his era, Doyle Lawson drew an early influence from bands featured prominently on the Grand Ole Opry radio show. Lawson was particularly enthralled by the mandolin and was determined to make a career following in the footsteps of Bill Monroe, one of his musical heroes. Fueled by a desire to blend the tenants of bluegrass with traditional gospel harmonies, Lawson formed Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver in 1979.

The group has had a prolific career, with more than 30 albums in several different styles in the past 30 years. They have recorded several a capella albums, as well as 1998’s Gospel Radio Gems, which was recorded with only a single microphone. During the band’s down time from winning consecutive Vocal Group of the Year awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association, they host the annual Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver Bluegrass Music Festival, a three-day event in Denton, North Carolina that features a variety of leading bluegrass acts.

Chris Smither
Friday, October 31, 2008 at 8:00 p.m.
$22

A native of New Orleans, Chris Smither has built a reputation among his fans and peers as one of the finest blues and contemporary roots musicians of the past three decades. Smither’s 12^th album, Leave the Light On (2006), is the first on his own Mighty Albert label. It is a culmination of his struggles and accomplishments, a poetic representation of the good and bad times, and the demons he had to overcome to get to where he is. Always performing as a one-man show, Smither’s signature sound was shaped from the early influences of legendary blues guitarists Eric Von Schmidt and Mississippi John Hurt.

Following the release of 1971’s Don’t it Drag On, Smither developed a longstanding working relationship with Bonnie Raitt, with a cover of Smither’s “Love Me Like a Man” appearing on her second album Give It Up. Raitt has since made it a signature song of her live performances and the song has been included on several of her live albums. She has openly expressed admiration for Smither’s songwriting and guitar playing, once calling Smither “my Eric Clapton.”

Christine Lavin
Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
$20

Christine Lavin, founder of Four Bitchin’ Babes and longtime performer, promoter, and creator of world-class comedic folk music returns to The Barns in continued support of her politically charged, late 2007 release, Happydance Of The Xenophobe. Topical themes on her latest record range from Dick Cheney and the NRA to Tom Cruise, capped off with a medley of five folk tunes from the ’60s and ’70s set to a dance beat. When not performing or recording, Lavin writes freelance for The Washington Post, Delta’s Sky Magazine, and Performing Songwriter. Aside from her musical and journalistic endeavors, Lavin is an accomplished baton twirler, and has been known to end her shows by twirling a glow-in-the-dark baton with the house lights turned off.

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.