Pop Rock and Folk Artist Paula Cole in Concert at Arboretum

Grammy Award Winning Singer Returns From Hiatus Stronger Than Ever

LISLE, IL (June 18, 2008) – Grammy Award winning artist Paula Cole, perhaps best known for the megahit “I Don’t Want To Wait,” the theme to TV’s Dawson’s Creek, brings her pop rock and folk music to The Morton Arboretum Saturday, July 12.

Cole earned the Best New Artist Grammy in 1997 for her album This Fire, which sold more than two million copies, and which spawned the smash single, “Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?" Her folk and pop rock tunes have been described as dreamy melodies with poetic, introspective lyrics.

Cole’s concert is part of “In Tune With Trees,” the Arboretum’s 2008 Summer Concert Series designed to support the Arboretum mission of encouraging all to plant and protect trees for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world.  

Fans will enjoy a delightful opportunity to experience Cole’s newer material from Courage, released last June, which balances her piano-based pop with her first true musical love: jazz. The media has been raving about this album.

“Cole’s first new album in eight years is both a breath of fresh air and a poignant reminder of the increasing scarcity of truly thoughtful, graceful singer/songwriters, at least on the pop charts,” says USA Today. “Her warm, ripe vocals and delicately haunting tunes, with their intuitive, unpretentious nods to jazz and world music, offer valuable lessons in the power of subtlety and restraint….something to treasure.”
The Los Angeles Times called the dynamic Cole “A singer of substance and range…Her voice [is] rich and tremulous with more than a touch of Joni Mitchell.”

People magazine termed Cole’s album “A pleasant reminder of the singer-songwriter’s Grammy-winning talent.”  

Cole completed a string of successful live dates in select cities across the country, such as memorable appearances on CBS Saturday’s “Second Cup Cafe.” Most recently, she sang the national anthem at Tuesday’s National Basketball Association championship game in Boston. She also appeared at Major League Baseball’s 78th Annual All Star Game, among other engagements.

Tickets for the Paula Cole concert are: Advance purchase: $37 ($32 in advance for Arboretum members). Walk-up on day of concert: $42. Fans may purchase tickets at www.mortonarb.org, by phone at (630) 725-2066, or at the Arboretum Visitor Center.

The concert lawn opens at 4:30 p.m., and the opening act starts at 6 p.m.

For culinary delights during the concert, fans can pre-order a picnic meal for pick-up prior to the show, featuring sandwiches, salads, and sweets, from $9 to $11.50. To order, call (630) 725-2066.

The Morton Arboretum gratefully acknowledges the Summer Concert Series sponsor, Harris Bank, and 93-XRT, the exclusive radio sponsor. The series’ featured wine sponsor is Bonterra Vineyards.

The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of 4,117 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. Central Time or sunset, whichever is earlier. The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., March through October, and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., November through February. Visit www.mortonarb.org or call 630-968-0074 to learn more.

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