Cool Tunes Amid The Trees At The Morton Arboretum

Summer Concerts With Blood, Sweat And Tears, Cowboy Junkies And “The Sound Of Music” Family Descendants

LISLE, IL (May 10, 2006) – The Morton Arboretum will come alive with the sounds of music as actual descendants of the von Trapp children – whose story was immortalized in the movie: The Sound of Music, highlight the summer concert schedule. Performances range from classic rock to down home boogie to ballads. Although music takes “center stage,” the Arboretum provides a unique backdrop with beautiful, lush trees, lovely scent-filled flowers, soft grasses and fresh air.

“Music really enhances the special experience our visitors receive from our beautiful trees, meadows and lakes,” said Marilyn Baysek, Special Events and Visitor Programs Manager. “The Arboretum invites people to make a day of it: come early, roam our trails, and visit the Children’s and Maze Gardens before settling in for the concert,” Baysek said.

The Arboretum’s Twilight Concert series kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 24 with a true hybrid of rock and jazz – Blood, Sweat and Tears. Roaring onto the national music scene in 1968 with hits such as “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” “And When I Die,” “Spinning Wheel” and” “God Bless the Child”, BST has been a staple of the rock and roll experience ever since. Special guest Chuck Negron, formerly of Three Dog Night, joins BST for this show. Lawn seating opens at 4:30 p.m. with the opening act performing at 6:00 p.m.

Lounge under the branches and the stars on July 15 with the Cowboy Junkies – the Canadian band that has combined alternative rock with traditional country, blues and folk, highlighted by the lilting voice of Margo Timmins. The band burst onto the international music scene with their 1988 release “The Trinity Sessions” and continued their critical success with 1993’s “Pale Sun, Crescent Moon” album. The Cowboy Junkies have been inspired by industry giants such as Neil Young, the Beatles, Hank Williams and Waylon Jennings.

Enjoy the upbeat, frenetic and enticing sounds of Louisiana music with Buckwheat Zydeco, a four-time Grammy Award nominee. The band is a master at melding contemporary blues and rock with the traditional Creole music. Now in his sixth decade of performing – as part of bands under Joe Tex, Bobby Bland, “Gatemouth” Brown and Clifton Chenier and with his own group – Buckwheat Zydeco is known as the world’s greatest party band – playing August 19 at the Arboretum.

Families can also enjoy a Sunday afternoon of great music with The Morton Arboretum’s fun Family Concert series. “These are musicians who appeal to all members of your family,” Baysek said. “Families can sing along, share stories, and laugh together,” she said.

The Family Concert Series opens with “Ralph’s World” featuring Ralph Covert at 3 p.m. on June 25. Covert brings the same high energy and melodic approach to children’s music as he did as leader of Chicago’s top rock-pop band The Bad Examples. His recent album, “Green Gorilla, Monster and Me,” was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best Musical Album for Children. Lawn seating opens at 2:00 p.m.

Contemporary folk and pop performer Tom Chapin, whose recent family recording, “Some Assembly Required”, was nominated for a 2005 Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children, performs a Family Concert on July 16.

Get hooked on the quirky music and stories of Trout Fishing in America on August 20. This Arkansas-based eclectic folk/rock band plays “music for people who take their fun seriously” with their acoustic-based, contemporary program.

Wrap up the Family Concert series with The von Trapp Children – Melanie, Sofia, Amanda and Justin, the great-grandchildren of Baron Georg von Trapp, whose enthralling family story was told in the movie: “The Sound of Music.” On September 17, the talented children continue their family’s passion for music that is enjoyed around the world. The movie centered on the Baron’s children losing their mother at an early age, after which a teacher, Maria, enters the picture and becomes their stepmother. Later, the family escapes Hitler occupation forces in Austria to start a new life in America.

TICKET PRICES:

• Blood, Sweat & Tears, 7:30 p.m., June 24: $17 in advance or $20 day of concert;
• Cowboy Junkies, 7:30 p.m., July 15: $14 in advance, $17 day of concert;
• Buckwheat Zydeco, 7:30 p.m., August 19: $14 in advance, $17 day of concert.
• All Sunday Family Concerts, 3:00 p.m.: $8 in advance, $10 day of concert.

To purchase tickets, visit www.mortonarb.org, www.ticketweb.com, or The Morton Arboretum Visitor Center (7 a.m. – 7 p.m.); or call the Arboretum at 630-725-2066 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.).

The public has the option of bringing a picnic meal (no alcohol can be brought into the Arboretum), pre-ordering a dinner from our Ginkgo Cafe (630-725-2060) or buying food and drinks at an on-site grill stand.

The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of more than 3,700 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission – the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (CDT) and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CST). The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CDT) and 9:30 to 4 p.m. (CST). Visit www.mortonarb.org or call 630/968-0074 to learn more.

Media Contact:    Gina Tedesco, 630-725-2103, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Marty Cusack, 630-719-5768, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it