Cowboy Junkies Mosey On Into The Morton Arboretum

Twilight Concert Series Presents Critically-Acclaimed Band

LISLE, IL (June 27, 2006) – Smooth and silky, with a sexy quality that’s oh, so subtle.

It’ll be a night to kick off your shoes and soak up a unique and melancholic blend of jazz, folk, rock, country and blues when Cowboy Junkies takes the stage July 15 amid the stunning trees and shrubs at The Morton Arboretum.

“Every year, we look to bring in bands that appeal to a wide cross-section of Arboretum visitors,” said Marilyn Baysek, Special Events and Visitor Programs Manager. “Cowboy Junkies really fill that niche. Their music combines so many different styles and their performances are both energizing and soothing,” she said.

The Junkies earned critical praise and developed a cult following here and abroad early in their career. Their album “The Trinity Session” was voted by the Los Angeles Times one of the ten best albums of 1988.  In 1990 and 1991, the group was nominated for Group Of The Year in Canada’s version of the Grammys - the Juno Awards.

Cowboy Junkies feature singer Margo Timmons, guitarist and songwriter Michael Timmons, drummer Pete Timmons, bassist Alan Anton and fiddle/mandolin/organist Jeff Bird. In addition to their own diverse catalogue of music, Cowboy Junkies have paid tribute to some of their greatest influences, covering songs by the Beatles, Neil Young, Hank Williams, Gram Parsons, Townes van Zandt and the Velvet Underground.

Lead singer Timmons is not just another pretty voice. People magazine has named her one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world, and award-winning photographer Herb Ritts once photographed Timmons for clothing ads, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia.

To purchase concert tickets, visit www.mortonarb.org or www.ticketweb.com, call 630-725-2066 or stop by the Information Desk at the Arboretum’s Visitor Center. Prices are $14 in advance and $17 at the door. General admission lawn seating area opens at 4:30 p.m.; opening act, the Wandering Sons, at 6:00 p.m.; Cowboy Junkies takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. Food and beverages will be available at several kiosks, and concert attendees can also pre-order a picnic dinner through the Arboretum’s Gingko Cafe by calling 630-725-2060.

Come out early to enjoy the beauty of the Arboretum’s 14 miles of hiking trails and nine miles of roadways. Take a stroll through the Fragrance Garden or get lost in our Maze Garden. Then join the Cowboy Junkies and their legion of their dedicated “llamas” – die-hard Junkies fans – for a night of music under the branches and stars.

The 2006 Arboretum Twilight Concert series wraps up with Buckwheat Zydeco on August 19. Tickets are $14 in advance and $17 at the door.

The Morton Arboretum’s Family Concert series continues with the Sunday, July 16 performance by 2005 Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Tom Chapin. Tickets for the all of the Arboretum’s Family Concerts are $8 in advance and $10 at the door; lawn opens at 2 p.m. with concerts starting at 3 p.m. Future Family Concerts include Trout Fishing in America on August 20 and The von Trapp Children on September 17.

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
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