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Legendary record producer Brian Ahern to visit The Charlottetown FestivalJune 1, 2012Country music icon returns to PEI for launch of Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash (Charlottetown) - One of country music's all-time top producers will pay a special visit to Confederation Centre of the Arts this month for the grand opening of Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash. Nashville producer Brian Ahern, renowned for his work with Johnny Cash, Willy Nelson, Dolly Parton and many others, will attend the musical's premiere at The Charlottetown Festival on June 22. The recording legend will also sit down for a rare celebrity interview and workshop with PEI's John Connolly on June 19 at The Mack. These free events are open to the public. "We are very pleased to welcome Mr. Ahern back to Prince Edward Island for the launch of our 2012 Charlottetown Festival," says Confederation Centre of the Arts CEO, Jessie Inman. "To have someone of his stature speak to our music community and offer a free public workshop is nothing short of inspirational and I invite all interested Islanders to take part." Ahern, a Halifax, Nova Scotia native, served as musical director with The Charlottetown Festival's Life Can Be Like Wow show in 1969. Over the next four decades he would go on to produce more than forty gold and platinum-selling records including two with close friend Johnny Cash. During that span he would produce albums for, amongst others, Anne Murray, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, Barbara Streisand, Rob Orbison, Bruce Springsteen and Keith Richards. Still a busy producer today, Ahern also developed Festival favourite John Connolly's recent album, The Wind. Connolly will play host for Ahern's celebrity interview Tuesday June 19 at 11:00 a.m. at The Mack on the corner of Grafton and University. The audience will be treated to a rare up-close-and-personal view of the man behind the music of some of the world's most celebrated artists. Ahern will present a career worth of stories as well as a gold watch and a classic black jacket gifted to him by Johnny Cash himself. This interview will be followed by a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for audience members to workshop with the famed producer. Ahern will demonstrate with recording equipment and instruments from his Nashville studio while taking questions and giving feedback to participants. Both events are free of charge and are presented in partnership with Music PEI. Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash will celebrate its grand opening on Friday June 22 with previews on June 20 and 21. Tickets for all performances start as low as $20. For more information please visit www.charlottetownfestival.com. APM is the major sponsor of The Charlottetown Festival and Vogue Optical is the production sponsor for Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash. The Province of Prince Edward Island, through the Department of Tourism and Culture, is pleased to be a funding partner for The Charlottetown Festival. Media sponsors are The Guardian, CTV, Hot 105.5 and Ocean 100. -30- Media contact: Fraser McCallum, Communications Manager, Confederation Centre of the Arts T: 902.628.6135 (office) E: fmccallum@confederationcentre.com www.facebook.com/charlottetownfestival | Twitter: @confedboxoffice |