Mountain Blog

In our latest Backstage at Mountain Stage video, iconic banjo master Bela Fleck talks to Larry Groce about about hitting the road with his wife, Abigail Washburn. And you'll also hear Abigail talk about the peculiarities of playing the her open back banjo while 7 months pregnant. We hope you can watch!
 

This week's premiere broadcast of Mountain Stage features the first family of the banjo - Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn. Appearing at a show recorded on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College in the sunny town of Buckhannon, the two joked that they were appearing as a trio, as their first child, Juno Fleck, was still very much on the way.

 

You'll also hear hard-driving "bluegrass soul" from Nashville's The SteelDrivers. Singer-songwriter Glen Phillips plays some new material and old favorites with the Mountain Stage band. You'll also hear from roots-influenced indie rockers Houndmouth, along with stringband The Stray Birds. Preview the show right now, via our Mountain Stage Song of the Week - it's Bela and Abigail with "City of Refuge." Thanks for listening!

 

Were really excited to be welcoming indie folk rockers and NPR darlings Thao and the Get Down Stay Down to Mountain Stage this July 28th. Take a look at the video and you'll see why. See our growing list of live shows here. More about this sensational group below:

 

"On the heels of a successful North American spring tour that included sold-out stops in New York, Brooklyn, Boston, Chicago, Washington, DC, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Denver and Los Angeles, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down will hit the road this summer for additional performances including stops at the Austin City Limits Festival, Mountain Stage, Bumbershoot, Outside Lands and a free show at NYC’s Pier 84. SF Weekly praises Thao’s live show, noting that “Nguyen exploded with energy,” while Guitar World calls the group’s show “electrifying.” Based in San Francisco after growing up in Falls Church, VA, Thao Nguyen first picked up a guitar at age 12. She has worked with a long list of acclaimed artists including Andrew Bird, Mirah, Laura Veirs and producer Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, Sufjan Stevens) and has recorded a pair of critically acclaimed records for Kill Rock Stars, 2008’s We Brave Bee Stings and All and the aforementioned 2009 release Know Better Learn Faster with her backing band the Get Down Stay Down. Since her last album Thao has worked with the artist advocacy non profit Air Traffic Control and has volunteered extensively with the California Coalition for Women Prisoners. Last year year, in addition to recording her forthcoming album, Thao has toured the U.S. with the nationally syndicated NPR program Radiolab."

Just a reminder that this Sunday's LIVE Mountain Stage show at the Clay Center will be Charleston's first crack at our brand new 30th Anniversary shirts, designed by West Virginia artist Brian Pickens.

 

Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin will be there for a special extended duo performance, along with Aoife O'Donovan, Marti Jones & Don Dixon, and Ari Hest. Ticket information is available here. We'll see you at the show!

Mountain Stage continues this week with another premiere broadcast, recorded at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston. You’ll hear a provocative set from renowned singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III. You’ll also hear hitmaker Paula Cole make her second appearance on the show, reminding audience members how and why her music gained such a large and devoted audience. The Overmountain Men are there, along with Paleface, and The Sea The Sea, who make their Mountain Stage debut. Mira Stanley, ½ of The Sea The Sea, grew up coming to the show alongside her father, Mountain Stage band leader Ron Sowell. Their new album was recorded with acclaimed producer (and Ani DiFranco bassist) Todd Sickafoose.

 

You can listen to their song “Watertreader” right now, via our Mountain Stage Song of the Week.

 

Click here for a list of times and stations where you can listen.

 

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This week’s all new broadcast of Mountain Stage with Larry Groce features guitar icon Robben Ford, along with the Led-Zep-meets-James-Brown stylings of Vintage Trouble. You’ll also hear sets from veteran singer-songwriter Steve Forbert, along Mieka Pauley, and atmospheric pop group Milo Greene.

 

Click here to check out the episode's playlist, and to learn more about the artists on the show. And preview Robben Ford’s fantastic set here, via our Mountain Stage Song of the Week: "Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky." 

 

We'll be back next week with another all new episode. Take a look at our entire broadcast schedule here. Thanks for supporting Mountain Stage!

We're thrilled to have kings of Texas swing Asleep at the Wheel on this week's premiere broadcast of Mountain Stage with Larry Groce. One of the tightest bands in all of popular music, the Wheel showcases fiddle, pedal steel, vocalist Elizabeth McQueen, along with the singing and guitar playing of the group's leader for over 40 years - the larger-than-life Ray Benson.

 

You'll also hear from the beloved and widely respected Irish group Lunasa, along with Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, Brooklyn-based string band The Down Hill Strugglers, and singer-songwriter Kate Campbell. Click here to check out the episode's playlist, and to learn more about the artists on the show. And preview Asleep at the Wheel's fantastic set right now, via our Mountain Stage Song of the Week: "Hesitation Blues." 

 

We'll be back next week with another all new episode. Take a look at our entire broadcast schedule here. Thanks for supporting Mountain Stage!