FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 AND SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, AT 8:30 PM

Media support provided by KTWV

In their first-time ever performance with orchestra, the Grammy Award-winning group Nickel Creek makes their Hollywood Bowl debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic on Friday and Saturday, September 3 and 4, at 8:30 p.m., in one of the Bowl's 2004 Summer Season Weekend Spectaculars. "From Bluegrass Roots: The New American Acoustic" pairs the innovative instrumentalists with the Philharmonic, conducted by David Amado, in a program that highlight Nikel Creek's new riffs on America's traditional music.

Acclaimed for mixing musical influences from various genres into their "newgrass" sounds, the group was named one of five Music Innovators for the Millennium by Time magazine. The article commented: "The traditionally flavored pop-folk lyrics and sparkling acoustic licks performed by guitarist Sean Watkins, his violinist sister Sara and mandolinist Chris Thile reflect an eclectic mix of influences that include classical, jazz and rock. The trio is making down-home music relevant for a new generation. To hear Nickel Creek is to hear the vibrant reinvention of a classic form."

Though originally created as a bluegrass band, NICKEL CREEK and its music expands on those influences by incorporating Beatles-flavored psychedelia, left-of-center alt rock, pop, folk and more. The trio comprises fiddle player Sara Watkins, guitarist Sean Watkins, and mandolin player Chris Thile, all in their 20s. Nickel Creek's self-titled debut album was released in 2000, and their second, This Side, was issued 2002, both produced by Allison Krauss. The band won its first Grammy for This Side (Best Contemporary Folk Album) and has a total of four Grammy nominations. Rolling Stone included Nickel Creek in its "Best of 2002" and Time magazine named them one of five Music Innovators for the Millennium. The three met, not surprisingly, through music, when their parents took them to hear a weekly bluegrass show at a pizza restaurant in Southern California. They have been together as a band since 1989. Individually, the members of Nickel Creek have performed or recorded with The Dixie Chicks, Dolly Parton, Bela Fleck, Glen Phillips and others. Both Thile and Sean Watkins have released solo albums.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

Friday, September 3, at 8:30 PM

Saturday, September 4, at 8:30 PM

HOLLYWOOD BOWL

2301 N. Highland Ave. in Hollywood

"From Bluegrass Roots: The New American Acoustic"

LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC

DAVID AMADO, conductor

NICKEL CREEK, special guests

SEAN WATKINS, guitar

SARA WATKINS, fiddle

CHRIS THILE, mandolin, banjo, bouzouki

BERNSTEIN Overture to Candide

IVES (orch. SCHUMAN) Variations on "America"

DAUGHERTY Route 66

COPLAND Down a Country Lane

COPLAND Hoedown from Rodeo

Media support provided by KTWV

Tickets ($3 - $106) are on sale now at the Hollywood Bowl Box Office, by calling Ticketmaster at 213.480.3232, at all Ticketmaster outlets (Robinsons May, Tower Records and Ritmo Latino locations), or online at HollywoodBowl.com. Groups of 12 or more may be eligible for a 20% discount, subject to availability; call 323.850-2050 for further details.
For general information or to request a brochure, call 323.850.2000.

# # #