Interview: Doug Benson | Commodore Studio

Commodore Studio is the latest recording studio addition to the Frederick, MD area. The studio may be new, but the staff is far from inexperienced. I talked to the owner, Doug Benson, about his new location and his involvement in music through the years.

Q: Why did you decide to open the studio?

A: Audio is “what I do.” It’s always best when someone chooses a career in a field that interests them. It’s also good to be able to offer a service that people need.

Q: Why did you choose the location you did?

A: Thurmont is a nice mid-point between Northern Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania. It’s also where I live, so it’s easy for me to get to the studio on short notice if I need to.

Q: What would you say makes you different from other studios?

A: Experience. I’ve been involved in audio production since the late 1970s, so I’ve lived through the advances in recording technology that have occurred in that time. Digital recording did not even exist when I first started out!

Q: What work are you most proud of being involved in?

A: The Grammy-nominated historical release of King Oliver’s 1923 jazz band, in which I did all the audio restoration and contributed to the album notes.

Q: What made you want to get involved in studio work?

A: What makes someone interested in science or sports or cooking or art? Sometimes it’s just in our DNA!

Q: What do you hope for the studio to accomplish in the upcoming years?

A: Of course I would like Commodore to become a successful growing business, but I also want to help attract business to other Thurmont businesses. On my website I have a long list of other local merchants, restaurants and attractions. We can all work together to aid in each other’s success.

Q: What is the most important thing that an artist should know before recording at a studio?

A: When clients ask me how long it will take, I have to tell them it depends completely on how prepared THEY are when they come in. In the studio, time is money, so don’t book a session unless you know exactly what you want to accomplish and how you intend to accomplish it. A self-described “rap producer” once showed up to a session with nothing but some unfinished lyrics scribbled on a page. He asked me: “so where are all your beats and stuff?” and expected his song to be finished for him with a few mouse clicks. Needless to say, the session didn’t go as quickly as he had planned!

Q: Many people these days think they can record their music at home. What are the differences recording in an actual studio?

A: Some types of music can be recorded successfully at home. For example, rap and hip-hop are primarily computer-based styles, where artists work with pre-recorded “loops” that were played in real studios by other musicians. Personally I think it’s a bit odd to drag-and-drop pieces of other people’s performances and then say “listen to the song I wrote,” but it’s become an accepted practice. Often, a single microphone for the lead vocal is all that is needed for that type of recording.

On the other hand, a rock band or a classical group needs more space than can be found in a typical bedroom studio. The acoustics of a recording room are important to performers, so they will play better wherever they feel more comfortable. Also, some types of microphones are more suitable than others for different sources. For example, the ribbon microphone we use for a guitar cabinet would not pick up the subtle nuances of a violin successfully. A condenser would be a better choice. An “actual” studio (as you put it) will usually have a nice array of different microphones as well as a grand piano, isolation booths for vocalists and drummers, higher-end tube preamps and compressors, digital plug-ins and all the gear that makes recordings sound like contemporary CD releases. (All the same gear that was used to create the “loops” that bedroom studios take for granted.)

Q: I think it’s awesome that you do audio restoration. I personally believe in listening to a lot of rare music that can only be found in certain formats. Why is audio restoration so important to the world of music?

A: I think of it as history. If we had to opportunity to actually go back and watch the signing of the Declaration of Independence rather than just read about it, wouldn’t that be more exciting? With early sound recordings we have an actual audio document of something that happened decades (or centuries) ago. The earliest existing recordings go back to the first half of the 19th century, and as technology improves we can restore them more clearly every few years. Just twenty years ago, the brown wax cylinders recorded (without electricity) by the Edison company in the 1880s and 1890s were almost inaudible. Now we can remove surface noise and enhance the recorded signal with almost shocking clarity. This allows us to hear the performance in greater detail. It’s like finding a missing piece of a famous document that enhances our understanding of an event.

Unknown Music Spotlight

I often find bands and wonder why so many people don’t know about them. Each week I will try to showcase these bands to you in a segment I am calling the Unknown Music Spotlight.

This week I am highlighting three bands from the Washington D.C. area: Faraquet, The Slickee Boys, and The Evens.

Faraquet

Faraquet was a short lived band that only lasted from 1997 to 2001. In that amount of time they released a few EPs, but only one full length album. The full length album, The View From This Tower, is a post-hardcore jazz infused masterpiece. They are classified as a math rock band, but in reality they are a mixture of unique genres. The band did get back together in 2008 to release a compilation album of their early singles and EPs and reunion shows around Brazil and Washington D.C.

Songs to try out first:
“The View From This Tower”
“Carefully Planned”
“Study In Complacency”

The Slickee Boys

The Slickee Boys were a legendary band in the Washington D.C. punk scene. Over the years they performed live with Bad Brains, The Cramps, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, The Kinks, and The Ramones. U2 even opened for them! The Slickee Boys differ from many other punk bands in that they combine punk with psychedelic and new wave. The Slickee Boys played their most recent reunion show at the 9:30 Club in 2011.

Songs to try out first:
“This Party Sucks”
“When I Go To The Beach”
“Here To Stay”

The Evens

The Evens are Ian Mackaye’s latest concoction in the world of music. Drifting away from his usual hardcore punk, he got together with Amy Farina and created a very acoustic vibe while keeping the DIY punk ethics in full swing. They are well known for only playing all ages shows at strange venues like thrift stores and libraries. The Evens recently played at The Bike Doctor in Frederick. Be on the lookout for their return!

Songs to try out first:
“Shelter Two”
“Sooner Or Later”
“Wanted Criminals”

Interview: Max Collins | Eve 6 | Bassist/Vocalist

Max Collins is best known for being the bassist and lead vocalist of Eve 6. This year he released his first solo album hoping to start a new chapter in his music career.

“I figured that now was the time to open myself up to solo career,” Collins said. “Whether you feel it or not you just have to open yourself up to it. You have to learn to be inspired by your inner creativity.”

Collins was able to make this album through the support of his fans on Pledgemusic. “It is nice with today’s technology to have direct access to my fans,” Collins said. “Social media keeps everyone in the loop of what I am doing at any given time.”

When asked how Collins first got into music, he said, “I was thirteen when I got my first bass guitar. A friend of my mom was just throwing it out. I was already obsessed with rock n’ roll as a kid, so I decided to give bass a try.”

Collins’ rock n’ roll obsession all started with one song. “’Running Down a Dream’ by Tom Petty really moved me,” Collins said. “It was like magic. After that, I knew what I wanted to do with my life.”

Early influences for Collins came mostly through the radio. “I listened to a lot of classic rock stations growing up,” Collins said. “Later on I discovered punk rock and it was as if I found a new identity. Punk opened a whole new world and subculture to me.”

Singing came to Collins later on. “I didn’t realize I could sing,” Collins said. “One day I suggested a vocal idea to the band and really heard myself sing for the first time. It was instantly suggested that I should take over on vocals.”

Collins followed a simple pattern that he encourages other young bands to follow as well. “Just do your own thing,” Collins said. “Fame is a series of happy accidents, and all you can do is keep going deeper and working harder.”

Aside from music Collins likes to indulge in yoga. “It seems to really help the music,” Collins said. “Yoga opens you up in a lot of ways, and your creativity definitely benefits.”

When asked how Collins continues to find his job as a musician exciting, he said, “It’s tedious at some points, but the overall feelings and experiences it creates are well worth it.”
Collins encourages any music lovers to purchase his new album at the link below.
http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/maxcollins

Interview: Stephen Blickenstaff | The Cramps Album Artist

Stephen Blickenstaff is an artist that everyone should be aware of. Over the years his work has been used by many well-known bands as well as Guitar Player Magazine.

Q: How did you start making art, and why do you continue to make it?

A: I started drawing when I was old enough to hold a pencil. As a kid I was always interested in monsters, dinosaurs and insects, and I would spend most of my time drawing them. When the other kids were outside playing sports, I was off on my own drawing. It wasn’t something I did because others were doing it. It was something I had to do to feel content and I’m sure it’ll always be that way.”

Q: Is there an artwork here you are most proud of? Why?

A: I’d have to say the artwork I did for The Cramps (Bad Music For Bad People) album. At the time I drew it I would have never guessed that it would eventually become such a recognized and mass produced image. The image seems to have taken on a life of its own. It was appropriately drawn on Halloween day. Another project that I recently finished that I’m really proud of was the artwork for the Mondo Zombie Boogaloo album and tour featuring three of my favorite bands (The Fleshtones, Southern Culture On The Skids and Los Straitjackets). I did all of the artwork and entire graphic layout for the LP, CD, tour poster, T-shirts and concert tickets. I even got to play theremin with Southern Culture On The Skids on the tune ‘Jack The Ripper’ at the Washington D.C. show during the tour.

Q: What inspires you?

A: When I see the collected works of other artists who I admire, it really gets me fired up. I just can’t wait to get started on my own work. All sorts of things can actually inspire me, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be visual inspiration. Certain types of music can inspire me just as easily.

Q: How do you know when a work is finished?

A: I can usually tell when a piece is finished by just standing back and looking at it from a distance to make sure I’ve completed all of the shadows and highlights. It can sometimes be tricky, especially with my pen and ink work because those pieces usually contain a lot of detail. If I can look at a piece for ten minutes and I’m satisfied with the way it looks, I know I’m finished.

Q: How do you think a band’s artwork affects their image?

A: I think the artwork or graphics that a band uses to represent their image is very important because it’s what their fans remember and connect with when they think about the band or listen to their music. A graphic logo that looks good on a poster or a T-shirt can quickly help a band to become better known. I’ve bought music before based on the artwork or album cover, without even hearing what the band sounds like. It’s like the importance of an attractive cover on a book. I know they say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but if the cover looks good people are more likely to pick it up.

Q: What would you recommend young artists do to get their work out there?

A: A good start would be to simply get your art out into the public eye by designing posters and T-shirts for bands, even if it’s for free at first. Make sure to sign your work so people know you did it. Get involved with group art shows and eventually build up enough material to have solo art shows. If the work is good and you keep at it long enough, people will take notice.

Interview: The Static Trees | Band | Nashville, TN

The Static Trees are a prominent example of Frederick, Maryland's growing music scene. Featuring Nikki Barber on vocals and Dylan Whitlow on guitar and vocals, The Static Trees have a unique genre comprised of blues, alternative rock and punk.

“We were just messing around with recording gear in a friend’s basement and thought: why not start a band?” said Whitlow, “There wasn’t one real defining moment. We were both always looking for a creative outlet, and music turned out to be it.”

The band’s early influences consisted of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Simon and Garfunkel. “We slowly crept our way into the blues,” Whitlow said. “Lightnin’ Hopkins, Howlin’ Wolf, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe were our favorites. We’ve always loved rock n’ roll acts like The Rolling Stones, The Sonics, and Chuck Berry as well.”

After the band was well developed, they wanted to get their songs out to the public. “All we wanted to do was record,” said Barber. “So that’s pretty much all we did. We set up a makeshift recording space in Dylan’s basement and basically locked ourselves down there. We put out four albums in our first year, all with fifteen or more songs on them.”

The band then went on to do a few mini tours further away from Frederick. “Going on tour is tricky,” Whitlow said. “We started playing with our friend’s bands in their hometowns and it grew from there. It’s a lot of work, but it’s well worth it,” When asked what their favorite experiences are from touring so far. Whitlow said, “The people you meet and the places you wind up. Every town has a mind of it’s own. It’s always rewarding when complete strangers really dig your music.”

After deciding on taking on music as a career, The Static Trees decided to move to Nashville. “We wanted a change,” Whitlow said. “We debated L.A., but we had just made a record down in Nashville and fell in love with the city. It’s packed full of music, but with a very hometown vibe. The music community in Nashville is one of the best we’ve been to. Frederick was a great place to start playing, but it doesn’t offer a huge chance of progression.”

The Static Trees are a duo at their core, but they go through many different touring lineups. “Lately we’ve been playing with the same people pretty consistently, but there is no telling how many band line  ups we’ll have as we progress down the line,” Barber said. “We like playing with different musicians because everyone brings something new to our songs.”

The Record Exchange in downtown Frederick is one of the band’s favorite spots to come back to when visiting. “We love it there,” Whitlow said, “Everyone who works there has been wonderful to us and they have such a great selection of music. We could spend hours in that store every time we visit. It was one of the first places we played as a full plugged in band, so it has a special place in our hearts.”The band hopes to keep striving and do their best. “We’re going to be putting out a 4 song EP we did down in Nashville within the next few months, and we want to start working on a full length album soon,” Whitlow said. “We also want to start touring down south as heavily as possible.”The Static Trees try to play homecoming shows in Frederick as often as they can. The band plans on coming back around Christmas or in the spring.”

When asked what advice they would give to young musicians, Whitlow said. “Write and play as much as possible, meet as many musicians as you can, and never stop. Most of all don’t let your age get in the way of playing out. It can be hard to find all age venues, but they are out there!”

72 Film Fest Highlights Local Filmmakers with Unique Ideas

FREDERICK, MD

The 8th annual 72 Hour Film Festival was held at the Weinberg Center last Friday and Saturday. This year’s theme was Science. Each group was given a scientific theory or law and challenged (although it was not mandatory) to incorporate it into a film that directly dealt with Science or Science Fiction.

“The festival allows you to create something on your own,” said host, Mikael Johnson. “In the arts you are always auditioning or getting hired to a written script. We started the 72 Hour Film Festival to separate ourselves from doing someone else’s work and create something unique that we could be satisfied with.”

Many have been participating since the festival’s beginning, like DC Cartho, who has judged as well as acted and directed in previous years. “The festival challenges your creativity, as well as the way you think,” said Cartho. “With no rehearsal and limited time to get a basic idea, you just have to figure it out as you go along,” He encourages people to get involved as he said, “It’s a really fun experience. It’s like an adventure with no map and any idea where you will end up.”

Groups come together just once a year for the festival, such as Pecos Bill and The Wranglers. “We all live far away from each other and never get to hang out much,” said Zach Christie, an actor and writer in Pecos Bill and the Wranglers. “We get together once a year and do what we love.”

The success of the festival was definitely evident this year. When I asked Mikael Johnson how he felt about it, he said, “I’m going to get choked up. I am extremely happy with the success. Seeing how the festival and artists evolve every year always makes me pleased to be a part of it.”

Breaking Bad Ends Glorious Six Year Run with Fantastic Final Episode

Breaking Bad came to an end Sunday night after five seasons and a total of 62 episodes. Many were very sad to see it go. The show had become a sensation over the last week where everyone seemed to be talking about it. The cast and crew were on Conan to wrap up the series, and countless shows such as Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and The Colbert Report talked about the show’s end.

The ending kept the tradition of Breaking Bad’s unpredictable twists and turns. Walter White has changed throughout the show, and the person you thought you once knew is completely different. Some still hang on to Walter and his ethics, while others now see him as a changed man.

The family that Walter wanted to keep together doesn’t seem to know him anymore. He wants to help them, and that was the reason he made the sacrifices he did in the first place. He wanted to provide for his family.

Walter and Jesse’s partnership breaks down after they can no longer trust each other. But the ending shows us that there is still a bond between them in some mysterious way. We will never be absolutely sure if Walter and Jesse ever made up.

Spoiler Alert:

Walter’s last words to Skyler are, “I did it for me. I liked it. I was good at it. And I was really — I was alive.” These words show how Walter can’t stop his job. Very much like the movie, The Hurt Locker, Walter’s job has become his drug.

Many wonder what the creator of the show, Vince Gilligan, will do next, while others are wondering what’s in store for Breaking Bad. Many just started to watch the show, like Zach Coughlin, a junior who said, “I’m only halfway into season two. No spoilers.”

Interview: Pretty Gritty | Band | Portland, OR

Pretty Gritty is an alternative-country duo from Rockville, Maryland that has made a great impact on the Frederick area music scene.  The band consists of Sarah Wolff on guitar/vocals and Blaine Heinonen on guitar, vocals, and occasionally whistling and spoons. I did an in-depth interview with the band before they left on yet another North American tour.

Q. How did Pretty Gritty start?

Heinonen: We both played in separate bands years ago. Sarah played bass in a hard rock band. I played rhythm guitar in a metal band. Both bands use to book shows together. A few years later we both ended up band-less and starting to sing/play acoustic guitars. It all went from there!

Q. Who were some of your influences from the start?

Heinonen and Wolff: Miranda Lambert, Ray Lamontagne, Imelda May, Steeldrivers, Ryan Adams, John Mayer, and the list goes forever.

Q. After you formed and starting writing songs, what was your next step? Did you want to go straight into recording or play shows?

Wolff: We kind of did it backwards. We rehearsed like crazy at first. We had never played and sang so much before. Practice was needed for sure. We went into the studio to record a demo of our covers to get gigs and then started writing during studio time. We decided to just become a band with originals.

Q. How did you approach going on tour? Did you ever think you would tour when you first started?

Wolff: Neither of us had ever toured before except the occasional “out of town” gig. We made a pact to
quit our jobs and really make a jumping effort to give it our all. We don’t want to look back and wonder if we’d gotten farther if we made it full time and rolled out.

Q. What are some of your favorite experiences from touring so far?

Heinonen: Meeting some really nice and genuine people, now friends. Seeing places we didn’t even know existed. Traveling is something we love to do but never get a chance to do as much as we just did. We didn’t want to say we could always go to Montana or San Diego when we are like fifty. Never know if you’ll see fifty and that would be a bummer.

Q. How does it feel after coming home from a tour and playing to a home crowd in or around Frederick?

Wolff: It was as expected…awesome! Frederick will always be home and it’s nice to see family and friends, but we have the road warrior itch and desire to get back out there!

Q. My favorite song has to be ‘Cliché.’ How did you figure out that Blaine could play spoons and whistle so well?

Wolff: All on accident. One day I walked into the studio to hear ‘Cliché,’ and Blaine had already recorded whistles and spoons. I laughed my butt off and now that’s ‘Cliché.’

Q. What are the future plans for the band?

Wolff: To be in the tabloids and TMZ for misbehaving and spending more money than we will ever have! Just kidding, to finally be in a position where we can be comfortably doing what we love. Whether it’s a big label or small label and support from fans, we will keep recording music we are proud of.

Q. After touring and seeing many other cities, how does Frederick compare?

Heinonen: I like Frederick a lot. Maybe one day I’ll live there or have a place to stay when I visit, but we have seen a lot of places. No one of them is better or worse. We just have to end up where it makes the most sense for us.

Q. What advice would you give to young musicians?

Heinonen: I guess the advice we would give is to network and network again. You have to get out there and meet people, research everything, and attack every avenue possible. Be smart, make necessary sacrifices, and don’t be afraid to fail.

Check out their music at prettygrittymusic.com

Interview: Gary Arce | Yawning Man | Guitarist

Gary Arce is a guitar player that got his start in the early ‘80s playing hardcore punk. In 1986 he drifted away from the punk scene and started to dive into English bands and The Grateful Dead leading to the formation of his long-lasting band, Yawning Man.

Starting music was an accident for Arce as he said, “I was just hanging around my friend Mario’s house and I decided to pick up his guitar when I was bored. He showed me some punk music and we just decided to form a band.”

When Arce was in a band he knew he needed more power than his friend’s acoustic guitar. “I got my first guitar coincidentally. I was in a McDonald’s parking lot in San Diego and a guy walked up to me in his underwear holding a guitar. He said I could have it for twenty bucks and that was exactly what I had in my pocket.”

Arce began playing parties and local shows around Palm Springs in 1982 and 1983. He said his influences were “The Germs and seeing punk shows. Seeing D.O.A. changed my life.” He also noted Husker Du as being another important show he saw.

When the punk scene began to die down around 1984, Arce decided to step in a new direction. “We drifted away from punk music, but we kept the punk attitude. We started to jam and found a style with a mix of The Grateful Dead and The Meat Puppets.”

The new approach was refreshing to Arce. “I got more into orchestral and instrumental music. The sounds meant more to me and they seemed to speak for themselves.”

With the band in a different direction, they needed a different name. “Yawning Man came from some movie about dolls. I don’t exactly remember the title, but there was a doll in the movie named Yawning Man who sang a song to put the rest of the dolls to sleep. It reminded us of what many people had said about our music in that it was so ambient it almost put them to sleep.”

The band didn’t release any official recordings until 19 years after their start. Arce said, “I, along with the rest of the band never thought we would get this serious. We were just a band that got together to kill time. Then we toured with Queens of the Stone Age and saw a lot of interest from labels in Europe.”

When asked what advice he would give to a young musician Arce said, “Don’t follow trends, stay unique and stick to what you believe in, pay attention to the business side of things when you start to get serious, and never sell your gear because it will be worth a ton of money in time.“

Yelp a Help to Local Businesses

Recently I discovered that many local businesses have very few reviews on Yelp. The ones that did seemed to only have negative ratings. I asked local businesses what they thought of Yelp and if they think it affects their business.

Are you aware of your business’ reviews and ratings on Yelp?

“Yes, I am aware of the reviews of all of our businesses on Yelp. In fact, I have set up to receive weekly updates regarding feedback, click-throughs (to website), visits & calls for directions from Yelp.” – Frederick Coffee Company.

“I’ve never personally read the reviews on Yelp or any of the other rating sites.” – Village Tavern

“I am aware of our reviews/ratings on Yelp.” – King’s New York Style Pizza and Restaurant

What were your first reactions when you saw your rating?

“The first time I read through the reviews, my heart was racing. King’s has been around almost twenty years and we have wonderful, loyal customers who love us, but you never know what people may say about your product or service. Thankfully, we are rated well and have positive reviews.” – King’s New York Style Pizza and Restaurant.

“When I first saw our reviews and ratings on Yelp, I was very pleased to see how positively we have been received at each business. It’s scary to think that we may not have met a customer’s expectations when your business’ philosophy is to exceed them. We are so very pleased to see & hear that we have typically done well at our job.” – Frederick Coffee Company.

“I’ve heard from others that there are some bad reviews out there, but I take them with a grain of salt. Likewise, I never rely on these sites when choosing my own destination to dine.” – Village Tavern.

Do you think Yelp has an effect on your business?

“I think that Yelp will bring a comfort or ease of mind for consumers on the fence about a decision to go somewhere – that is, if the responses are positive. If they find a skew to the negative in Yelp reviews – they may think otherwise about patronizing a business.” – Frederick Coffee Company.

“We have had many customers say they came to King’s because of our Yelp rating/reviews and other social media. It’s the new “word-of-mouth”. I loved having a couple [people] from Bethesda, Maryland come to King’s because they asked Siri where to find the best pizza!” – King’s New York Style Pizza and Restaurant.

“It’s been my experience that those with a legitimate complaint will address me directly before leaving the restaurant, and I always do my best to make it right. Unfortunately there are those who choose to take to the internet instead. And while these sites may be considered helpful to some, I think most people realize that these sites are just one person’s view and often not the whole story.” – Village Tavern

With social networks becoming more prominent, do you think Yelp will have a crucial effect on your business?

“I believe that social networking and marketing are far more appealing & interesting than just reading the very subjective reviews on Yelp. I believe that monitoring reviews and feedback is a critical part of growth and building a better /stronger business. One should never be too proud to take suggestion, criticism and review. So, does Yelp drive my business? No – I believe other networks drive business, but Yelp is an important quality control measure to never lose sight of.” – Frederick Coffee Company.

“Every week, users find us on Yelp and either click onto our website, click for directions, or dial us directly through the app. Being an independent restaurant in an area with a significant amount of competition from big chains, it is especially great to have a credible place where our customers can vouch for us!” – King’s New York Style Pizza and Restaurant.

“I don’t think these ratings really affect our business one way or another.” – Village Tavern.

Social media is largely taking over many areas of our lives. We’ll have to wait and see if Yelp will have the same impact as the rest.

Wolf Trap Summer Concerts a Beautiful Experience

Summer is here, and that means outdoor venues are opening their doors for tons of great concerts.

I highlighted my favorite outdoor venue and all the exciting concerts going on there this summer.

Wolf Trap is the outdoor venue I highly recommend. Wolf Trap provides a very primal experience to the ordinary outdoor venue. The layout and location is perfect, and almost always brings good weather.

Its family-friendliness and open concept feel makes for the perfect venue for all ages. The big advantage of Wolf Trap is being able to bring your own food to the lawn. This allows you to relax and have a picnic before the show.

Some great Wolf Trap summer concerts that I recommend:

June 13: The Go Go’s and The Psychedelic Furs

June 20: Billy Idol with Cat Power

June 24: Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers

June 25: Counting Crows and The Wallflowers

June 27: The Temptations and The Four Tops

July 11: She and Him

July 14: Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald

July 16: Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)

July 22: Robert Plant Presents Sensational Space Shifters

July 23: Steve Miller Band

August 10: Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin

August 11: Peter Frampton and B.B. King

August 20: Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, and Cheap Trick

September 11: ZZ Top

This is only a portion of the amazing shows happening at Wolf Trap this summer. For more information about Wolf Trap, and the shows happening this summer, go to http://www.wolftrap.org