Live Review: Aoife O’Donovan @ Wolf Trap — 7/28/21

Posted on 08/04/2021 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Americana, Aoife O’Donovan, Boston, Casey Vock, folk, Massachusetts, Wolf Trap.

Aoife O’Donovan performs at Wolf Trap on July 28, 2021. (Photo by Casey Vock)

When singer-songwriter Aoife O’Donovan last appeared at Wolf Trap four years ago, she performed in the trio I’m With Her as part of the American Acoustic package tour, which also included the Punch Brothers. At the time, she noted, she was seven months pregnant; she referenced this in one of the evening’s songs, “Elevators.”

Aoife reappeared at Wolf Trap recently as a solo headliner. Normally, she told the audience, Wolf Trap is a venue where she would be an opener, but, because the venue is running at low capacity for social distancing, she was given the opportunity to headline.

Live Review: Chris Thile @ Wolf Trap — 7/24/21

Posted on 07/28/2021 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged bluegrass, Brooklyn, Casey Vock, Chris Thile, Mandolin, Wolf Trap.

Chris Thile performs at Wolf Trap on July 24, 2021. (Photo by Casey Vock)

Chris Thile loves playing at Wolf Trap. On Saturday evening, he called it “the best outdoor ampitheater in the world.” Over the years, Chris has played Wolf Trap with his main band, the Punch Brothers, and as the host of the (tragically) canceled NPR variety show Live From Here.

A mandolin virtuoso, Thile first emerged on the the music scene as a member of the bluegrass trio Nickel Creek with siblings Sean and Sara Watkins, who won a Grammy for their 2002 album, This Side. During Saturday’s show, Chris performed “Rest of My Life,” from Nickel Creek’s 2014 reunion album, A Dotted Line.

Preview: The War and Treaty @ Wolf Trap, 7/29/21

Posted on 07/27/2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged blues, gospel, Nashville, soul, Tennessee, The War and Treaty, Wolf Trap.

The War and Treaty (Photo courtesy Red Light Management)

Since forming in 2014, The War and Treaty have amassed a following as eclectic as their sound itself, a bluesy but joyful fusion of Southern soul, gospel, country, and rock-and-roll.

Known for a live show nearly revival-like in intensity, the husband-and-wife team of Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount-Trotter bring that exhilarating energy to Wolf Trap on Thursday, July 29!

Preview: Aoife O’Donovan @ Wolf Trap, 7/28/21

Posted on 07/26/2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Americana, Aoife O’Donovan, Boston, folk, Massachusetts, Wolf Trap.

Aoife O’Donovan (Photo by Rich Gilligan)

Recently, Grammy-winner Aoife O’Donovan released two new, original songs — “More Than We Know” and “Captain’s Clock.” It’s the debut of a collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Joe Henry (Rhiannon Giddens, Bonnie Raitt) that will yield more music in the coming months.

Meanwhile, Aoife headlines Wolf Trap on Wednesday, July 28!

Preview: Chris Thile @ Wolf Trap, 7/24/21

Posted on 07/21/2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged bluegrass, Brooklyn, Mandolin, Wolf Trap.

Chris Thile (Photo by Nate Ryan)

In June, mandolinist Chris Thile released, Laysongs, his eighth solo studio album, via Nonesuch Records. Chris performs the new songs and favorites at Wolf Trap on Saturday, July 24.

Live Review: Watchhouse @ Wolf Trap — 7/7/21

Posted on 07/12/2021 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Casey Vock, folk, North Carolina, Watchhouse, Wolf Trap.

Watchhouse performs at Wolf Trap on July 7, 2021. (Photo by Casey Vock)

Watchhouse, the duo of singer-songwriter Andrew Marlin and multi-instrumentalist Emily Frantz, has been making roots music for over a decade, formerly under the moniker Mandolin Orange. They are sometimes called a “bluegrass duo,” but their music has also been characterized as folk and Americana. From North Carolina, Marlin and Frantz are clearly influenced the traditional Appalachian mountain music of their home state, but they’re not strictly acoustic traditionalists; their band includes an electric guitar and drums.

Preview: Watchhouse @ Wolf Trap, 7/7/21

Posted on 07/02/2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged folk, Mandolin Orange, North Carolina, Watchhouse, Wolf Trap.

Watchhouse (Photo by Shervin Lainez)

Folk duo Watchhouse return to the DC metro area to perform at Wolf Trap on Wednesday, July 7.

Formerly known as Mandolin Orange, Watchhouse recently shared “Beautiful Flowers,” a slow-blooming elegy to a butterfly that takes an existential look at automotive expansion, the interconnectedness of nature, and the little-considered costs of industrialized society.

Around Town: Wolf Trap Cancels 2020 Summer Performances

Posted on 05/22/2020 by Parklifer in Around Town and tagged music venue, Wolf Trap.

The Wood Brothers perform at Wolf Trap on June 8, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

Today in a public statement, Wolf Trap Foundation President and CEO Arvind Manocha announced the cancellation of all 2020 summer performances due to the ongoing effects of the coronavirus throughout the DC metro area.

Snapshots: Sting @ Wolf Trap — 8/26/19

Posted on 08/28/2019 by Jason Nicholson "Le Mouton Flâneur" in Live Review and tagged England, jazz, new wave, post-punk, reggae, Sting, The Police, Wolf Trap.

Sting performs at Wolf Trap on Aug. 26, 2019. (Photo by Jason Nicholson)

In May, Sting released My Songs, his 14th studio album, reimagining some of his best-known hits from his solo career and his time with The Police. On tour now, Sting performed those songs at Wolf Trap recently, and Jason Nicholson captured the majesty and brawn of one of the world’s most thoughtful rockers on film.

Live Review: Trombone Shorty @ Wolf Trap — 8/22/19

Posted on 08/26/2019 by Ari Strauss in Live Review and tagged funk, hip hop, jazz, New Orleans, Trombone Shorty, Wolf Trap.

Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews performing on stage at Wolf Trap, Aug. 22, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss / aristrauss.com)

Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and his band Orleans Avenue delivered a powerful performance at Wolf Trap recently, capping an evening of music that included sets by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals and R&B artist Jessy Wilson.