Wolf Trap Announces Initial Lineup of The Barns at Wolf Trap's 2018-2019 Season

Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts today announced the first performances of the 2018-2019 season at The Barns at Wolf Trap, its historic 382-seat indoor venue. A complete calendar of performances may be found here.

"The Barns provides a unique, intimate atmosphere for the audience to escape from the world and enjoy music up close and personal," said Arvind Manocha, President and CEO of Wolf Trap Foundation. "Wolf Trap fans will get the opportunity to see legendary and new artists, spanning genres from folk and Americana to chamber music to world music from Mali and India."

In keeping with Wolf Trap's mission, The Barns at Wolf Trap highlights artistic exploration and accessibility to a broad range of music lovers in an intimate indoor setting. Artists span musical genres from rock, jazz, blues, country, classical and world music. Composed of two 18th-century barns made of hand-hewn wood beams and panels, The Barns opened in 1981 and is well known for providing a distinct and impressive musical experience with its excellent acoustics and striking architecture. From flatbreads to crab cake sandwiches to braised short ribs - patrons are invited to enjoy a delicious dinner and drinks in the English barn before the show begins.

Among the initial slate of shows in the 2018-2019 season, seven artists make their Wolf Trap debuts - including indie folk band The Lone Bellow who open the season on November 6 and 7; Broadway star John Lloyd Young, known for his role as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys; Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Ronnie Spector & The Ronnettes; Americana soul singer Nicole Atkins; one half of the best-selling duo of all time Hall & Oates, John Oates; and singer-songwriter Storm Large.

Returning favorites include country artist Maggie Rose, Newmyer Flyer with its Janis Joplin & Jimi Hendrix Tribute, Bhangra-funk fusion group Red Baraat, Eileen Ivers' Joyful Christmas show, DC-based band Bumper Jacksons, Masters of Hawaiian Music, Malian musicians Habib Koité & debut artist Bassekou Kouyate, Graham Nash - legendary singer-songwriter and founding member of Crosby, Stills and Nash, folk group Tom Paxton & The Don Juans, and more.

Chamber Music at The Barns opens with a performance from the series' 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 Artistic Advisor, pianist Wu Han with her husband and frequent collaborator cellist David Finckel, performing the complete cycle of Beethoven cello sonatas. Curated by Han, the season centers on the cultural epicenter of Vienna, the origin of so many of the world's greatest works of chamber music. The series includes performances by the The Montrose Trio; the Barns debut of the Sitkovetsky Trio and violinist Sean Lee; The St. Lawrence String Quartet; the Calidore String Quartet with pianist Juho Pohjonen; and singers from Wolf Trap Opera and Washington Concert Opera unite for Le vin herbé, a rare modern retelling of Tristan and Isolde in a chamber music setting, by Swiss composer Frank Martin.

The Barns also hosts performances that go beyond music and into comedy and dance, with shows like the popular Evening of Comedy; a spotlight on India with the return of an Evening of Indian Dance; and Grammy-nominated Irish-American group Cherish the Ladies, who blend beautiful vocals and step dancing. For a complete listing of all 50 performances, please visit WolfTrap.org/Barns.

Additional performances will be announced throughout the Fall beginning on September 4 on WolfTrap.org, on Wolf Trap's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels, and through email newsletters (sign up at WolfTrap.org/email).

Advance tickets go on sale to Wolf Trap Foundation members beginning now. Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, August 10. To learn more about Wolf Trap membership, visit wolftrap.org/membership.

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