Mountain Blog

This week's radio broadcast features six world-class guests, including world renowned violinist Mark O'Connor and his smokin' Hot Swing group, featuring vocalist Heather Masse and guitarists Julian Lage and Frank Vignola. World-famous acoustic guitarist Tommy Emmanuel also performs, plus Grassical group The DePue Brothers, Among the Oak & Ash, and west-coast alternative group Vetiver.

Find a radio station in your area that carries the broadcast, connect with us at Facebook.com, and hear a preview in our Song of the Week, featuring "Sweet Suzanne" by Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing. We've also posted our Backstage at Mountain Stage interview with Mr. O'Connor. We also have interviews with Tommy Emmanuel and Garrison Starr and Josh Joplin of Among the Oak & Ash.

We're happy to announce world renowned Canadian songwriter Ron Sexsmith will make his fourth appearance on Mountain Stage on February 13. Tickets are on sale now online, by phone at 800.594.TIXX, or locally at Taylor Books in downtown Charleston.

Sexsmith has a new album, Long Player Late Bloomer, produced by Bob Rock, and an accompanying documentary about its creation, Love Shines, both due for release in 2011. Check out the videos below. 

This will be Sexsmith's first release since 2008's Exit Strategy of the Soul . 

Also appearing are Mark Olson who has some dates with the Jayhawks just around the corner, and a new duo, John Paul White & Joy Williams, known as the Civil Wars. Their new album, Barton Hollow, will be released February 8 (Click to preorder).

Visit our Live Show Schedule for a complete list of upcoming shows and ticket info and be sure to connect with us on facebook.

We are excited to announce that roots music luminary Lucinda Williams will make her fifth appearance on the show Sunday, February 27 at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater. Tickets are on sale now via TicketMaster (applicable fees apply), 800.745.3000, or at the Civic Center box office, Mon-Fri 10am-5pm.

Also joining us February 27 are singer-songwriter super-group Red Horse, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, The Low Anthem, and Sonya Kitchell & the Brooklyn Strings.

Following the success of her Grammy nominated 2008 album "Little Honey," Williams recently appeared on a tribute to Loretta Lynn, sang with Ray Davies on his latest, and "Kiss Like Your Kiss," her co-write with Elvis Costello for the True Blood soundtrack, is nominated for another Grammy this year.

Check out the Live Show Schedule for more upcoming shows and be sure to connect with us on Facebook.

As we put the finishing touches on another calendar year, all the while preparing for an exciting New Year, Mountain Stage would like to say "Thank You" to our radio audience around the country, NPR Music and the stations that bring our show to you. Larry mentions it at the end of every show:

"Without you, there would be no Mountain Stage, and we never forget that."

We also owe a great deal of gratitude to all of our supporters, locally and regionally, who buy tickets to our live shows,  purchase merchandise and bring their friends to a show.Your reaction is what makes Mountain Stage unique, each and every week.

Then there is the financial support from listeners like you who are listener-supporters of your local public broadcasting station. If you're one of the 170 million who use public broadcasting, we hope you'll do what you can to help support it, and let them know you are a Mountain Stage listener.

As we mentioned in a previous blog post, an easy way to support Mountain Stage is to start your Amazon.com shopping with us. One simple click, do your shopping as usual, and Amazon automatically contributes 10% of your purchase to us at no extra charge. Allow us to suggest our Best of Mountain Stage CDs or Mp3s.

You can encourage your friends to do so as well, just send them to our Shop WVPB page. It's that simple.

We've also made it easy for you to make a financial contribution directly to Mountain Stage. If you can make an end-of-year gift in the amount of $5 or $50 or $5,000, your dollars can go a long way in helping us continue to bring you two-hours of live performance radio, week after week. Click here to get started, or look for the button to your left in the center of MountainStage.org.

We thank you no matter how you participated in Mountain Stage and we hope that you enjoyed it as much as we have. We wish you and yours all the best for the new year and we look forward to being part of your 2011.

The year 2010 is winding down but there is still lots of great live performance radio for your listening pleasure. Today at NPR Music acoustic pop darlings The Weepies can be heard performing songs from their much anticipated and well-received record "Be My Thrill" (click to purchase on Amazon). We also have an interview with Deb and Steve of the Weepies "Backstage at Mountain Stage."

Coming up later this week at NPR Music you'll hear extended segments by Punch Brothers (below), Infamous Stringdusters and Trampled By Turtles. All four groups are featured on our YouTube Channel as well.

On Friday we'll post a special Mountain Stage flashback segment at NPR Music featuring a 2005 appearance by multi-lingual, multi-styled Portland group Pink Martini. They had just released "Hang On Little Tomato" when they visited us and since then have debuted a new holiday collection, "Joy To the World." Their set is definitely a treat.

Switching gears to 2011, our Live Show Schedule is already filled with some exciting guests. Tickets for all the events are ON SALE NOW, including our March 6 trip to Morgantown, WV at the WVU Creative Arts Center with jam-grass greats Railroad Earth and "Americana Without Borders" band Great American Taxi, featuring Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon.

We've just added folk-rocker Corey Smith to the line-up as well. Corey has a devout following that he's amassed over his five albums. Check him out, then head over to TicketMaster to get your tickets.We hope you can come see us live.

This week's radio broadcast features acoustic-pop greats The Weepies, the chamber-grass of Punch Brothers, instrumental virtuoso's The Infamous Stringdusters and the hard-drivin' Minnesota band Trampled By Turtles. Find a station in your area to find out when to tune in and check out the playlist for a rundown of the show.

As always we have a preview on our Song of the Week page. This week we're featuring Steve and Deb of The Weepies with "Please Speak Well of Me," a tune from their highly anticipated release "Be My Thrill" (Click to purchase on Amazon).

We also have some nice interviews on our YouTube Channel "Backstage at Mountain Stage." We've posted Larry Groce's chat with Deb Talan and Steve Tannen of The Weepies here on the blog. We also have conversations with Chris Thile of Punch Brothers, Andy Hall and Jeremy Garret of the Stringdusters and Trampled by Turtles.

Purchase music from The Punch Brothers.

Purchase music from Trampled by Turtles.

Purchase music from The Infamous Stringdusters.

(10% of your purchase goes to Mountain Stage when you start your Amazon shopping with us, no extra charge.)

We're excited to announce a new Mountain Stage show has been added to our Live Show Schedule for Sunday, March 6 at the WVU Creative Arts Center in Morgantown, WV. We will welcome two of today's finest Americana groups, Railroad Earth (above) and Great American Taxi (below). The latest, self-titled Railroad Earth CD is filled with the group's signature jazz & jam inflected roots music.

Great American Taxi, which features former Leftover Salmon member Vince Herman, have just released Reckless Habits to much acclaim (click to purchase on Amazon and some of your purchase will go to Mountain Stage at no extra cost) and they've been out backing up our friend Todd Snider as of late.

We look forward to returning to the WVU Creative Arts Center in Morgantown for a 7pm show. Tickets will be available soon, via ticketmaster.com, by phone at 304.293.SHOW or on the WVU Mountainlair Box Office.

We'll be back in our home at the Culture Center Theater on Sunday, April 24 as we welcome two good friends back to the show. Amos Lee will make his third appearance on the show with songs from his new album, due January 25, Mission Bell. (Click to pre-order on Amazon)

Also returning, for her fifth appearance, is the incomparable Nellie McKay, whose latest CD Home Sweet Mobile Home has been a hit with fans all over the world.

Tickets will be on sale soon, available online, by phone 800.594.TIXX, or locally at Taylor Books. In the meantime we've posted a live video of Amos Lee singing his latest single at Farm Aid in October and a performance by Nellie McKay on the Late Late Show for your enjoyment.

Visit the Live Show Schedule for more and stay tuned to the Mountain Stage Blog for on sale information.

A reminder that tickets are on sale now for our February 27 live show at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater featuring Red Horse (above), The Low Anthem (below), Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, and Sonya Kitchell.

Advance tickets are $15, available ONLINE, by phone 800-745-3000, or at the Civic Center Box Office( 200 Civic Center Drive) with no service fees.

Be sure to check out our Live Show Schedule for a complete list of upcoming shows. Tickets for all the shows but one are on sale now. Tickets of our April 10 recording in Athens, OH will be on sale January 10.

We have an addition to our Live Show Schedule just announced. On Sunday, March 20 we welcome swamp blues man JJ Grey & Mofro whose latest, Georgia Warhorse, has garnered a lot acclaim. 

Also on the bill is the indie-pop of Elizabeth & The Catapult, lead by Elizabeth Ziman, whose "Other Side of Zero" came out in October (only $5 for Mp3 on Amazon).

Tickets are on sale ONLINE and by phone at 800.594.TIXX, but they are already available locally at Taylor Books in downtown Charleston.

Don't forget that we're beginning our 28th Season with a show in Glasgow, Scotland as part of the 2011 Celtic Connections Festival. There are travel packages available traveling from Charleston and D.C. Read our Blog Post for more info and contact Around the World Travel to book. We'd love to have a few of you in the audience as we travel overseas for the first time.

We've also added Wheeling native and Colorado resident Mollie O'Brien to the program, along with her husband Rich Moore, which already includes gospel living-legend Mavis Staples, renowned Scotsman Dougie MacLean, and roots group Joy Kills Sorrow.  More info on tickets is available HERE.

This week's radio broadcast features bluegrass legends Hot Rize (above), plus their alter-ego honky-tonk troupe Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers (below). You'll also hear Stan Ridgway with songs from his latest Neon Mirage, an invigorating set by Peter Case backed by the Mountain Stage Band, plus country music sensations Joey & Rory with songs from their new Album Number Two.

Hot Rize is featured in our Song of the Week, led by Wheeling, WV native Tim O'Brien. The group does a great version of Hazel Dickens' "Won't You Come and Sing for Me," which you can hear now, or you can purchase the original on Amazon. 

Tim sat down with Larry Groce for an interview "Backstage at Mountain Stage," which we've posted below. 

Here is the entire playlist and a list of stations that carry the show. Thanks for tuning in!

This week’s radio broadcast is a special premiere episode we recorded in October at West Virginia  Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV. You’ll hear an outstanding performance by Carrie Rodriguez, with songs from her latest, “Love & Circumstance,” joined by our very own Mountain Stage Band. You’ll also hear American songwriting legend Jimmy Webb unadorned at the piano, with some of his most memorable songs as well as some unforgettable stories. His latest collection, “Just Across The River,” features duets with folks like Vince Gill, Willie Nelson and Mark Knopfler. Check out the playlist here.

Also on the show are The Chapin Sisters, who have been out on the road with She & Him in support of their latest, “Two.” Knoxville, Tennessee’s The Black Lillies (above) have been shaking up festivals around our region and you’ll understand why when you hear their energetic set. Rounding out the show is Born Old (below), a duo from right here in West Virginia that specializes in traditional old time music.

Check out the playlist and hear our preview over at the Song of the Week page, where we have Carrie Rodriguez singing a song written by her father, “When I Heard Gypsy Davy Sing.” Is Mountain Stage carried in your area? Check out our List of Stations to find out. If we’re not in your area, you can tune in via the web this Sunday at 3pm at wvpubcast.org, or stay tuned to NPR Music where they will begin posting guest segments from this show on Monday.

Our thanks to the staff, faculty and crew at WV Wesleyan for welcoming Mountain Stage into their new Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts. We hope you enjoy hearing the show as much as we enjoyed making it.

We've added three new events to our Live Show Schedule for 2011, marking the beginning of our 28^th season! Stay tuned to the Mountain Stage Blog as we add guest artists.

Sunday, February 13 - 7pm, Culture Center Theater - We welcome Jayhawks founder and songwriter Mark Olson, who's post-hawks output has been stellar. He's worked with the Creekdippers, his old partner Gary Louris and earlier this year he released "Many Colored Kite, " to critical acclaim. 

Tickets are ON SALE NOW online, by phone at 800.594.TIXX or at Taylor Books (soon). Advance tickets are $15, and $25 at the door, when available. 

Sunday, February 27- 7pm, Charleston Civic Center Little Theater - Red Horse is a new collaboration between three like-minded folk stars who have all been on Mountain Stage several times- John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson and Lucy Kaplansky. The trio released a self-titled record with three tunes written by each, sung by all. Also confirmed are The Low Anthem, who were last with us on our 25th Anniversary show. Their new CD "Smart Flesh," is due out in February.

We're also happy to welcome back Sonya Kitchell for the third time, who is bringing along a string quartet, The Brooklyn Strings. Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion have a new record "Bright Examples" due out in the February, which was recorded with some other friends of ours, including the band Vetiver, Gary Louris and piano man Rad Lorkovic. Their last release, Folksong, includes one of our favorites, "Mornin's Over," which was used in a special "Family" edition of the show earlier this year. You can hear the whole episode in our ARCHIVES or just their segment at NPR Music.

Rounding out the line-up is a new group we're excited about, Ivan & Alyosha, from Seattle, WA. Their sound is fresh and interesting, see for yourself in this video below.

Tickets for this event go ON SALE DECEMBER 14 and are $15 in advance and $25 at the door, available via TicketMaster.com, the Civic Center Box Office or by phone at 800-745-3000.

Sunday March 27 - 7pm, Culture Center Theater - Another longtime friend, banjo man Bela Fleck, who is bringing two musical companions, bassist Edgar Meyer and percussionist Zakir Hussain, will join us March 27. Fleck just brought in another Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary World Music Album.

Also on the bill is Dar Williams, whose latest is a two-disc effort called "Many Great Companions," featuring reinterpretations of some of her most renowned songs.

Tickets for this show, ON SALE NOW, are available online, by phone at 800.594.TIXX or at Taylor Books (soon). $15 in advance, $25 at the door.  

As you know, Mountain Stage is traveling to Scotland in January to take part in the 2011 Celtic Connections Festival. Now, thanks to Around the World Travel, an agency based in Charleston, WV, you can be there for this special occasion.

The Lodging Package includes four nights at the Hilton Glasgow, round trip airport transfers  and a ticket to Mountain Stage, January 21 at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Cost for the lodging package is $525 based on double occupancy.

Airfare packages from Charleston, or group packages from Washington, D.C. are also available.

For more information and to make reservations, contact Lisa Smith at Around the World Travel, 800.345.1212 or 304.345.1212, or e-mail Lisa@maurytravel.com . 

Our guests will be Mavis Staples, Dougie MacLean, Joy Kills Sorrow and more, TBA.

800.345.1212