Strathmore Presents: A Tribute to Joni Mitchell August 14, 2008

Strathmore presents A TRIBUTE TO JONI MITCHELL in the Music Center at Strathmore. This will be the 5th Strathmore tribute show produced by Bandhouse Gigs, showcasing an amazing array of D.C. based talent to honor an esteemed musical artist. Previous Strathmore Summer Concert Series finales have paid tribute to the music of Nils Lofgren in 2004, The Band (2005), and Neil Young (2006). All were held on the Strathmore lawn and each drew crowds in excess of 4,000. In 2007 the show moved inside to the state of the art 1,970 seat Music Center for a sold out show paying tribute to the music of Bob Dylan.

This year's Tribute to Joni Mitchell will celebrate one of the most heralded songwriters and artists in popular music. Over the course of her remarkable 40+ year career, Joni Mitchell has explored and expanded the boundaries of folk, rock, pop, and jazz, crafting classics including Both Sides Now, Woodstock, & Help Me. Joni Mitchell has recorded more than 25 albums and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Her music continues to influence several generations of artists and fans.

Almost 50 area performers will be participating in the tribute, including popular veterans like Mary Ann Redmond, Jon Carroll, Naked Blue, and John Jennings (Mary Chapin Carpenter); respected artists such as Carey Creed, Chaise Lounge, Esther Haynes, Deeme Katson, Cal Everett, One Horse Town, and Diane Rosenthal; and electrifying new talents Luke Brindley, Laura Burhenn (Georgie James), Lea, and Margot MacDonald. Other musicians performing in the show include current Eagles guitarist Steuart Smith (who recorded with Joni Mitchell on 'Turbulent Indigo'), drummers Timm Biery and Andy Hamburger, bassists Scott Ambush (Spyro Gyra) & Scott Giambusso, guitarists Dan Hovey and Keith Grimes (Eva Cassidy), saxophonists Al Williams & Wayne Sulc, conguero Cesar Vanegas, and keyboardists Bill Starks, John Hurd, and Daniel Brindley.

Bandhouse Gigs is comprised of Ronnie Newmyer, Chuck Sullivan, David Sless, and Danny Schwartz. Newmyer and Sullivan are veteran musicians, Schwartz is a musician and ace audio engineer, and Sless has spent more than 33 years coordinating and stage managing live events and mixing sound at a variety of area venues.

The tribute series began in 2004 when Strathmore and WAMA partnered to present the Washington Timeline Concert Series, a yearlong event recognizing nationally acclaimed D.C. based musicians. Newmyer and Sullivan were asked to organize a tribute concert to honor guitarist Nils Lofgren as a finale to the series. That wildly successful effort has evolved into a popular annual event that serves to showcase the diverse and richly talented music scene in the D.C. area. Strathmore, under the guidance of artistic director Shelley Brown, has collaborated with Bandhouse Gigs to put together these unique and inspiring shows that cap off each Summer Concert Series.

www.bandhousegigs.com

Official Website: http://strathmore.org