Trout Fishing in America at Edison Theatre May 5

Trout Fishing in America — the long-standing musical partnership between 5’5″ bass player Keith Grimwood and 6’9″ guitarist Ezra Idlet — will bring their infectious blend of folk, pop and family-friendly music to Washington University’s Edison Theatre.

The special all-ages matinee will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 5, as part of the ovations! for young people series. Edison Theatre is located in the Mallinckrodt Student Center, 6445 Forsyth Blvd. Tickets are $7 and are available at the Edison Theatre Box Office and through all MetroTix outlets.

For more information, call (314) 935-6543 or visit http://edisontheatre.wustl.edu/

Trout Fishing in America has been praised by the Los Angeles Times as, “some of the most lyrically creative, musically sophisticated, vocally muscular music-makers in the family music business.”

The pair first met in 1976. Grimwood had earned a music degree from the University of Houston and spent two years with the Houston Symphony. Idlet had left a local junior college (and its basketball team) to join the eclectic folk/rock band St. Elmo’s Fire. When the Houston Symphony went on strike, Grimwood joined St. Elmo’s Fire and struck-up an immediate friendship with the lanky guitarist.

St. Elmo’s Fire broke-up after an ill-fated California tour but Grimwood and Idlet continued performing together on the streets of Santa Cruz. In 1979 they launched Trout Fishing in America, taking their name from an early Richard Brautigan novel.

Though at times they’ve performed as a four- or five-piece band, the acoustic guitar and bass remain the core of both their sound and their live shows, which combine energetic folk and sly country with touches of reggae, latin, blues, jazz, classical music and even absurdist, Vaudeville-style humor.

Over the years Trout Fishing in America has released more than a dozen albums on their own Trout Records, one of the first successful artist-owned labels. Their latest release — the Grammy nominated My Best Day (2006) — was recorded before a live audience sponsored by the Arkansas Educational Television Network. The 15 songs range from odes to overly talkative friends to alien nose invasions and snowflakes named Bob.

My Best Day was nominated for a 2007 Grammy Award for “Best Musical Album For Children.” It was their third nomination in the category, following Merry Fishes to All (2004) and inFINity (2001). Other honors include three National Indie Awards, several Parents Choice Gold and American Library Awards and a Hall of Fame induction from the Kerrville Folk Festival.

Edison Theatre

Edison Theatre’s OVATIONS! Series serves both Washington University and the St. Louis community by providing the highest caliber national and international artists in music, dance and theater, performing new works as well as innovative interpretations of classical material not otherwise seen in St. Louis. Focusing on presentations that are interdisciplinary, multicultural and/or experimental, Edison Theatre presents work intended to challenge, educate and inspire.

Edison Theatre programs are made possible with support from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency; the Regional Arts Commission, St. Louis; and the Arts & Education Council of Greater St. Louis.