The Barns at Wolf Trap Concludes its 2009-2010 Season

The Barns at Wolf Trap Concludes its 2009-2010 Season with New Wave A Cappela, Quintessential American Folk, a Scottish Fiddle Champion, and the 23rd Annual Evening of Comedy

The Bobs w/ Special Guest Paul & Storm
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 8 p.m.
$22
The Bobs
Dubbed the first new-wave a cappella group in history, The Bobs return to The Barns with their genre-bending, eccentric vocal style that has earned them a healthy cult following in the U.S. and Europe for almost three decades. The GRAMMY-nominated Bobs are set to release a new album featuring songs by Journey, the Kinks, the Police, Queen, and Barbra Streisand. Known for their ability to mimic instruments through the use of various body parts, the Bobs are a major departure from your "typical" vocal orchestra.

Paul & Storm
Natives of the Washington, D.C.-area, Paul & Storm have been performing as a comedic acoustic duo since 2004 with hits like "Nun Fight" and "Strip Club Daddy." During the 12 years prior, they performed as one-half of the a cappella band Da Vinci's Notebook.

John McCutcheon
Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 8 p.m.
$20

The Barns welcomes back an American folk music singer and multi-instrumentalist who has more than 30 albums and six GRAMMY NOMINATIONS TO HIS CREDIT. While impressively adept on the banjo, piano, fiddle, jaw harp, concertina, and autoharp, John McCutcheon is considered one of the undisputed masters on the hammered dulcimer and centers much of his music around the instrument. McCutcheon ventured into to children's music after the birth of his two sons when he was disappointed with the "unmusical and condescending" children's folk music of the day. This led to the release of the critically acclaimed Howjadoo in 1983. Though the album was originally intended to be a stand-alone project, he embraced the genre and has since released numerous albums geared towards children.

Much of his work, however, continues to focus on writing politically and socially conscious songs for adult audiences. One of his most successful songs, "Christmas in the Trenches" from his 1984 album Winter Solstice, tells the story of the Christmas truce of World War I. "This notion of telling stories of ordinary people who have done great things, and carrying those stories from one place to another, of telling people ‘this is where I've been, these are the stories I can bring you,' is the heart of what I do," McCutcheon sums up. "That's my goal. If you can recognize yourself in my songs, then I've done my job."

Bonnie Rideout
An Intimate Evening of Scottish Music, Words, and Images with Fiddler
Bonnie Rideout and Special Guest John Purser of the BBC
Friday, April 30, 2010 at 8 p.m.
$22

Northern Virginia resident Bonnie Rideout arrives at The Barns in support of her spring 2010 release, Scotland's Fiddle Piobaireachd, Volume I. This Scottish fiddle champion features a program of Pibrochs, the rare and haunting solo fiddle music of Scotland. Joining her is Dr. John Purser of the BBC for a beautiful concert of music, words, and gorgeous panoramic images from the Highlands, islands, and castles of Scotland.The recipient of WAMA's (Washington Area Music Association) Instrumentalist and Record of the Year awards in 2000, Rideout is a three-time winner of the United States National Scottish fiddle championship and the only American to be invited to demonstrate 18th-century and Highland fiddle styles at the Edinburgh International Festival. The Washington Post praised Rideout for her "soulful, elegant, and virtuosic fiddle playing," while Rock'n Reel took a similar view, writing that Rideout's "playing is exemplary throughout, with exhilaration and desolate beauty in equal measure."

23rd Annual Evening of Comedy
Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.
$24

Keeping with tradition, The Barns stages its 23rd Annual Evening of Comedy. This popular evening of stand-up comedy returns with humorous bits from three nationally revered comedians: Bill McCarty, Carole Montgomery, and Al Romero. Clever and quick, thoughtful and aware, Bill McCarty elevates stand-up comedy to the level of fine art. McCarty's talents have been seen on television's The Rosie O' Donnell Show (NBC) and Late Night with Conan O'Brian (NBC), along with numerous A&E shows. A respected veteran of the comedy scene nationwide, Carole Montgomery has more than 25 years experience performing in comedy clubs, television, and production shows. Of her onstage persona,The Pacific Daily News said, "She looked so calm and quiet before the show, but then she opened her mouth." Al Romero is a favorite on cruise ships and at resorts and casinos. He has starred on Miami Vice, appeared on the Johnny Carson Show, The David Letterman Show, and been seen on Showtime and A&E's Evening at the Improv and Comedy on the Road.

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