Getty offering free Saturday contemporary concerts

This February, the J. Paul Getty Museum fires up the 2009 season of Saturday Nights at the Getty (formerly Friday Nights at the Getty), its popular series of free, contemporary performances. The 2009 season features Martha Wainwright, Petter Himmelman, and The Refugees.

The series kicks off on February 28 with Canadian folk-rock singer Martha Wainwright, who meshes elements of folk, rock, country, and chanson singing, while revealing an extraordinary versatile and compelling voice. With the recent release of her second album, Wainwright has already proven to be a talented vocalist and creative songwriter. Wainwright will perform from her album I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too, which was described by the Telegraph as “lovely, rich, grown-up songs you’ll be delighted you invited home.”

On March 7, Peter Himmelman, an acclaimed rock troubadour with a folksy style, performs from his latest album The Pigeons Couldn’t Sleep. His music varies from a reggae flavor to stylistic ballads and upbeat rock numbers, while his voice is warm, sometimes sounding like a fatherly figure or a weary traveler. Washington Post describes his songs as “numerous reminders of his cunning songcraft and underrated guitar work.” Himmelman is well known for his raucous, unpredictable stage shows and has been hailed by USA Today as "one of rock's most wildly imaginative performers." Himmelman is also a Grammy-nominated creator of children's music and an Emmy-nominated film and television composer.

On May 30, The Refugees, a trio of talented women, will perform an eclectic sound of guitar, dobro, bass, mandolin, harmonica, accordion, and percussion. Accomplished solo artists Cindy Bullens, Deborah Holland, and Wendy Waldman came together as The Refugees in 2007, and since have created a new sound with their soaring harmonies. Music critic Anil Prasad says, “The Refugees offer up a terrific combination of engaging, passionate, and poetic songwriting, high-caliber musicianship, and gorgeous vocals."

Saturday Nights at the Getty 2009 Schedule

All concerts take place in the Harold M. Williams Auditorium at the Getty Center. The Getty Center is located at 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049. Admission is free; reservations are required. For reservations call 310-440-7300 or visit www.getty.edu.


Martha Wainwright
After her eponymous first album, Martha Wainwright is back with I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too, that is both tender and tough, beautiful and brutal, and simmering with invention and confidence. A sharp-tongued performer who doesn’t hold anything back in concert, Wainwright has emerged as the latest star from a legendary family of performers.
Saturday, February 28, 7:30 p.m.

Peter Himmelman
A truly multi-faceted musician, Peter Himmelman is a critically lauded rock troubadour, a Grammy-nominated creator of children's music, and an Emmy-nominated film and television composer. Time Magazine heralded Himmelman as one of "the New Troubadours" upon the release of his Epic debut From Strength to Strength, asserting that he writes "songs with the same emphatic edge and aesthetic urgency that impelled the Lost Generation to write novels."
Saturday, March 7, 7:30 p.m.

The Refugees
Each of the three women who form the Refugees—Cindy Bullens, Deborah Holland, and Wendy Waldman—is successful in her own right as a solo artist. Individually, they
have logged more than three decades in the industry. With 19 solo albums and multiple Grammy Award nominations to their credit, Bullens, Holland, and Waldman are masters of a variety of musical styles including country, rock, folk, and Americana. Since they formed the Refugees in 2007, they have been wowing audiences, radio DJs, and music critics alike with their soaring harmonies, indelible musicianship, and unforgettably humorous stage presence. Their debut album, Unbound, was released in January 2009.
Saturday, May 30, 7:30 p.m.

About the Getty:
The J. Paul Getty Trust is an international cultural and philanthropic institution that focuses on the visual arts in all their dimensions, recognizing their capacity to inspire and strengthen humanistic values. The Getty serves both the general public and a wide range of professional communities in Los Angeles and throughout the world. Through the work of the four Getty programs-the Museum, Research Institute, Conservation Institute, and Foundation-the Getty aims to further knowledge and nurture critical seeing through the growth and presentation of its collections and by advancing the understanding and preservation of the world’s artistic heritage. The Getty pursues this mission with the conviction that cultural awareness, creativity, and aesthetic enjoyment are essential to a vital and civil society.

Visiting the Getty Center:
The Getty Center is open Tuesday through Friday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission to the Getty Center is always free. Parking is $10. No reservation required for parking or general admission. Reservations are required for event seating and groups of 15 or more. Please call 310-440-7300 (English or Spanish) for reservations and information. The TTY line for callers who are deaf or hearing impaired is 310-440-7305.