AUGUST 2013: Loudon Wainwright III's Surviving Twin Theatrical Premier Set For September 4-8. Loudon Also Featured On HBO's Boardwalk Empire Soundtrack Volume 2
Grammy award winner, Loudon Wainwright III, will premier his own theatrical piece, Surviving Twin, September 4th through 8th as part of the Playmakers series at the Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The performance piece is a posthumous collaboration combining and connecting Loudon's music with the writing of his late father, Loudon Wainwright Jr., an esteemed Life Magazine columnist. The primary focus of the piece is on fatherhood - being a father and having one - while exploring such issues as birth, self-identity, loss, fashion, and pet ownership. The piece indirectly follows the thematic elements of Loudon's 2012 album, Older Than My Old Man Now. Loudon wrote and will perform the one man show which is being directed by PlayMakers Repertory Company's artistic director Joseph Haj. Each performance will be followed by an artist-audience discussion. For more information about Surviving Twin and for ticketing information, please visit official site.
Loudon will also be featured on the forthcoming soundtrack to the hit HBO show, Boardwalk Empire. The album, Boardwalk Empire Volume 2: Music From The HBO Original Series, is set for release on September 10. The new CD follows up on the Grammy-winning soundtrack, Boardwalk Empire Volume 1, which featured Loudon on the traditional Irish folk song "Carrickfergus". On the new soundtrack, Loudon provides vocals on "The Prisoner's Song" with instrumentation recorded by Boardwalk Empire house band, Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks. The album also features a host of other 1920s era songs that were re-recorded by the show's house band and a range of guest vocalists including Elvis Costello, Neko Case, Patti Smith, Liza Minnelli, Rufus Wainwright, St. Vincent, David Johansen, Matt Berninger and more. To pre-order a copy of Boardwalk Empire Volume 2, plese visit Amazon.com >>
Johnny A. is featured on Thank You Les: A Tribute To Les Paul, an album and documentary which won the Tribute Album category as well as the Long Form Video Category. Co-produced by long-time Les Paul Trio sideman, Lou Pallo, Thank You Les also features Keith Richards, Steve Miller, Slash, Jose Feliciano, Billy Gibbons and Bucky Pizzarelli in addition to Johnny.
Loudon Wainwright III also joined the nominated Rosebud artists this year for his track, "The Panic Is On", on Occupy This Album which was nominated in the Compilation Album Category. Occupy This Album, a 4-disc set with music from over 50 artists, features greats such as Yoko Ono, Warren Haynes, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Graham Nash, and Willie Nelson in addition to Loudon.
The Independent Music Awards are determined by influential industry judges as well as music fans. Click here Please visit independentmusicawards.com for a complete list of all of this year's winners and nominees.
To Catch Johnny A., Loudon Wainwright III, and Trombone Shorty Live, See Tour Dates >>
APRIL 2013: Marcia Ball, Loudon Wainwright III, And Jim Lauderdale Featured On NPR
Marcia Ball's recent taping of NPR's eTown, along with Paul Thorn, aired April 3 - 9 , 2013. This performance, which marks Marcia's third appearance on eTown, was recorded live in front of a theater audience at eTown's new solar-powered music facility, eTown Hall, in Boulder, CO. The full audio broadcast as well as three additional videos featuring Marcia, taken from the performance/interview are available at etown.org.
Jim Lauderdale's Mountain Stage performance with Buddy Miller will be broadcast beginning April 19, 2013 (check local listings for details). For more information on Loudon's and Jim's Mountain Stage performances and to view a full schedule of upcoming Mountain Stage broadcasts, please visit mountainstage.org.
Jim and Buddy were also featured on NPR's World Café Live! on April 11, 2013. The World Café Live! interview discussed the collaborators' work over the years starting from their meeting in 1980 to their most recent CD, Buddy and Jim. The interview is available at npr.org. Jim and Buddy, who The New York Times called "longtime pals and longtime pros, songwriters who have collaborated far and wide in the realm of handmade, twangy, tradition-conscious country and roots-rock" will be performing together on select dates this spring/summer.
To Catch Loudon Wainwright III, Marcia Ball And Jim Lauderdale Live, See Tour Dates >>
DECEMBER 2012: Loudon Wainwright III's Older Than My Old Man Now Makes NPR's Top 10 Albums Of 2012, Loudon Contributes Song To Judd Apatow's This Is 40 Soundtrack
Loudon's "Days That We Die" from Older Than My Old Man Now is featured on Judd Apatow's new film, This Is 40, out Christmas Day, 2012. Apatow, who Loudon worked with on Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin and the TV series, Undeclared, was recently interviewed by Pitchfork saying, "I've always appreciated people like Graham Parker or Loudon Wainwright III, who spend their entire lives writing songs and working their asses off just to have complete artistic freedom. They're just sharing their lives with you through their music. That's the same kind of work that I'm trying to do, in my own weird way."
This Is 40, a spin-off of Apatow's Knocked Up, features Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann and Graham Parker. The film's soundtrack will feature songs from artists including Yoko Ono, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Norah Jones, Wilco, Ryan Adams and The Avett Brothers in addition to Loudon.
OCTOBER 2012: Loudon Wainwright III Featured In Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize Ceremony Honoring Ellen DeGeneres
Loudon Wainwright III was a featured performer at the 15th Annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize Ceremony on October 22, 2012. At the ceremony, Loudon performed a new song, titled "Mark Twain", which he wrote specifically for the occasion. The Mark Twain Prize was presented to Ellen DeGeneres for outstanding contributions to the world of comedy, and the ceremony in her honor featured high profile entertainers including Steve Harvey, Sean Hayes, Jimmy Kimmel, John Krasinski, John Leguizamo, Jane Lynch, Jason Mraz and Lily Tomlin in addition to Loudon. Past winners of the prize include comedy legends such as Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Steve Martin, Lorne Michaels, Will Ferrell and Tina Fey among others. PBS aired the event on Tuesday, October 30, 2012. While Loudon's performance did not survive the need to trim the show's length for broadcast timing, you can watch it at PBS.org >>
Loudon also recently made a cameo appearance as Uncle Max in the film, Sleepwalk With Me, where he performed a duet with lead actress, Lauren Ambrose. The film, the top prize winner of Sundance's NEXT section, features comedian, Mike Birbiglia, and is still in theaters as of this writing. Check here for local theater listings.
Over the course of a 40+ year career, Loudon has received two Grammy Nominations, and in 2010 won his first Grammy for High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project. For his most recent CD Older Than My Old Man Now Loudon turns the focus to more familial ground. Inspired by five generations of his family, the album includes collaborations with family members and special guests including Ramblin Jack Elliot, Dame Edna Everage, and Chris Smither. In praise of Older Than My Old Man Now, Rolling Stone said, "[it] extends the folk-rock autobiography that's made his body of work so impressive... from heart aching reflection to wry acceptance. It's riveting stuff; here's hoping the story doesn't end for a long time."
Loudon will be joined on Letterman by actress Anne Hathaway and comedian Moody McCarthy. For Late Show With David Letterman broadcast schedule and further information see here >>
To catch Loudon Wainwright III live on stage this summer and fall, see Tour Dates >>
MAY 2012: Loudon Wainwright III Family Reunion At New York's Town Hall
Loudon Wainwright III brought plenty of his talented family and friends to his May 18 performance at the prestigious Town Hall in New York City. Most of the performers on stage were also on board as collaborators on Loudon's most recent and highly praised album, Older Than My Old Man Now, released April 17.
Loudon's latest album reflects on family, as always, but more than ever on life and aging. The album and the Town Hall show both featured collaborations with his son Rufus and daughters Martha Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche as well as Lucy's Mother, Suzzy Wainwright Roche. Also featured were Loudon's sister Sloan Wainwright and his nephew (Sloan's son) Sam McTavey. Topping off an already formidable bill of guest performers were personal friends and fellow musical collaborators: Chaim Tannenbaum, a familiar voice and player throughout Loudon's auspicious career and recent collaborator on Older Than My Old Man Now plus famed all around talent, David Mansfield, who has appeared with a Who's Who of major stars and on many of Loudon's projects including his 2010 Grammy Winning Best Traditional Folk Album High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project.
FEBRUARY 2012: Loudon Wainwright III Featured on 2012 GRAMMY Winning Soundtrack PLUS Dirty Dozen Brass Band Members and Trombone Shorty Contribute to GRAMMY Winners and More
Loudon Wainwright III is featured on the 2012 GRAMMY Winner for Best Compilation Soundtrack - Boardwalk Empire: Volume 1 - performing the Irish folk song "Carrickfergus." Also contributing to this year's GRAMMY Winning Albums are The Dirty Dozen Brass Band's Gregory Davis (Trumpet) and Roger Lewis (Saxophone) and Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews. Gregory and Roger are featured on Tinariwen's Best World Music Album, Tassili, and got a shout out from the GRAMMY stage during the pre-telecast award ceremonies. Trombone Shorty wrote the song "AP Touro" for the Rebirth Brass Band's Best Regional Roots Music Album, Rebirth Of New Orleans.
In addition, a GRAMMY tribute to Glen Campbell included Blake Shelton singing "Southern Nights," written by Allen Toussaint (and later recorded by Campbell). Congratulations as well to Marcia Ball and Jim Lauderdale on their nominations.
FEBRUARY 2012: Loudon Wainwright III's New CD Older Than My Old Man Now Out April 17
2010 Grammy winner Loudon Wainwright III's new album Older Than My Old Man Now will be released on April 17 through 2nd Story Sound Records. Having now lived longer than his father, esteemed Life Magazine columnist and editor Loudon Wainwright Jr., Loudon examines life, family, and mortality with candor and humor on fifteen new original songs.
Older Than My Old Man Nowis inspired by the five generations, from Loudon's grandfather to his grandchildren, that are represented and sprinkled throughout this album. His children Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Lucy Wainwright Roche and Lexie Kelly Wainwright and two of their three mothers, Suzzy Roche and Ritamarie Kelly, aid vocally on several songs. Recitations of his father's work and a song co-written by his late first wife Kate McGarrigle called "Over The Hill" are also featured on this album.
Older Than My Old Man Nowis produced by Dick Connette (producer of Loudon's Grammy-winning High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project). "One voice singing a lot about death n' decay can be a bit wearing so I brought in other singers to help with the heavy lifting," says Loudon. Along with his family, other guests include Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Dame Edna Everage, jazz guitarist John Scofield, and Chris Smither.
A renowned singer/song writer for over 40 years, Loudon Wainwright III is, as Judd Apatow (famed director and co-producer of Loudon's recent 40 Odd Years box set) notes, "brutally honest, emotional, hilarious, and sweet all at the same time." His songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Earl Scruggs, Big Star, and now Bonnie Raitt and many more. As an actor, Loudon has appeared in movies by Judd Apatow, Martin Scorcese, Tim Burton, and Cameron Crowe.
