WAILIN’ JENNYS FEATURED IN POST-BROADCAST PERFORMANCE
CANADIAN TRIO FOLLOW GARRISON KEILLOR'S "A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION" AT BLOSSOM JUNE 21
Thursday June 12, 2008

For immediate release
Contact: Robert J. Burford, WKSU
(330) 672-3114
burford@wksu.org

FolkAlley.com presents Canadian singer/songwriter trio The Wailin' Jennys in a special mini-concert in front of the Eells Gallery following the live broadcast of Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" at Blossom Music Center on Saturday, June 21. The performance helps celebrate the 25th anniversary year of Red House Records, a Minnesota-based independent label specializing in folk and tradition-based music.

The Wailin' Jennys will also take the mainstage as part of the radio show, along with Jorma Kaukonen and Robin & Linda Williams – all Red House Artists. Kaukonen and the Williams duo are scheduled to make brief appearances during the free post-broadcast show.

"A Prairie Home Companion" is one of public radio's most popular programs. Along with old-time radio-inspired comedy sketches and the popular monologue by Keillor focused on the town of Lake Wobegon, MN, each broadcast offers music from "Prairie Home Companion's" house band, The Guys' All-Star Shoe Band, and guests. Keillor is recognized for his on-air support of folk and acoustic musicians.

The Wailin' Jennys have made frequent visits to the "Prairie Home" stage. The acoustic trio won a JUNO Award (the Canadian Grammy) in 2005 for its debut album, "40 Days" and has continued to draw attention with the towering vocal blend of three musicians who are strong and talented artists in their own right. The addition of New York-based Heather Masse (vocals, upright bass) to Ruth Moody (vocals, guitar, accordion, banjo) and Nicky Mehta (vocals, guitar, harmonica) make the trio truly international and expand their sound and musical outlook, adding high-energy alt-country and pop to their established mix of folk, Celtic, bluegrass, jazz, and other North American music traditions.

Tickets for the live broadcast are now on sale through all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone and online at Ticketmaster.com. Prices are $60 for gold circle pavilion seats, $48 for standard pavilion seats, $34 for bench seating and $26 for lawn tickets. Children 12 and under can attend for free on the lawn when accompanied by an adult with paid admission.

WKSU's live broadcast of "A Prairie Home Companion" from Northeast Ohio is made possible through support from Kent State University, The J.M. Smucker Co., Akron Beacon Journal, Cascade Auto Group, Diebold Inc., Ohio.net, TeleCommunity Credit Union, Western Reserve Academy, Billow Funeral Homes, Lehman's, Metro Regional Transit Authority, National First Ladies' Library and North Eastern Ohio Education Association.

WKSU broadcasts NPR & Classical Music at 89.7 FM, and is a service of Kent State University. WKSU programming is also heard on WKRW 89.3 FM in Wooster, WKRJ 91.5 FM in Dover/New Philadelphia, WKSV 89.1 FM in Thompson, WNRK 90.7 in Norwalk, W298BA 107.5 FM in Boardman, and W239AZ 95.7 FM in Ashland. The WKSU web site is www.wksu.org.

PR08.07           ###      6/12/08
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