Mountain Blog

We’ve added another event to our upcoming Live Show Schedule for Sunday June 26 at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV. This will be our second show during FestivALL Charleston, the city-wide arts & entertainment festival that takes place June 17-26.

FestivALL is a wonderful time to visit Charleston because, as the slogan goes, we have “All the Arts, All Over Town.” Visit the FestivALL site for complete list of happenings, and come spend some time in Charleston.

Tickets are on sale NOW for both Mountain Stage recordings (More on June 19 with Wanda Jackson, Joe Ely Band, Carolyn Wonderland, The New Rope String Band and The Wronglers feat. Jimmie Dale Gilmore). On June 26 we’ll welcome bluegrass superstars Mountain Heart and a young string band with an invigorating sound, Greensky Bluegrass. Both groups have released stellar CDs in the last several months and we’ve been anxious to have them on Mountain Stage.

Mountain Heart has been with us before but they’re boasting a new lineup that is sure to maintain their reputation for crowd-pleasing pickin’ and high-energy vocals. Their latest “That Just Happened” is receiving universal praise.

Greensky Bluegrass' latest is a barn-burning live album called “All Access Vol. 2” which is, you guessed it, a follow up to “All Access Vol. 1.” We’re sure these guys from Kalamazoo, Michigan will bring the heat on June 26.

Locally you can purchase tickets at Taylor Books on Capitol St., Charleston and you can call 800.594.TIXX to charge by phone or purchase online via Music Today.

This week’s Mountain Stage Broadcast features the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, recorded live at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol TN/VA. This was the seventh visit to Bristol for Mountain Stage, in conjunction with the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance. The BCMA held several events over the weekend to celebrate the Bear Family records box set, "The Bristol Sessions - The Big Bang of Country Music," which collects for the first time all of the historic 1927 and 1928 recordings that happened in their historic border city. Mountain Stage was proud to cap off the weekend's events with a sold-out show.

Forty-five years after its formation, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band remains one of the most active and influential bands in roots music. Their cover of Jerry Jeff Walker’s “Mr. Bojangles” became a crossover hit in 1971, and was included in their Mountain Stage set. You can listen to it now as our Song of the Week.

Making their second appearance on Mountain Stage are recent Grammy winners, the Carolina Chocolate Drops, an African-American string band steeped in the traditional sounds of North Carolina’s Piedmont. Their record Genuine Negro Jig won Best Traditional Folk album at the 53^rd Annual Grammy Awards, and they brought two new members with them - Hubby Jenkins and Adam Matta - and a brand new energy.

Check out our interview with Jenkins and Dom Flemmons of the Chocolate Drops "Backstage at Mountain Stage."

We’re also joined by Dale Jett & Hello Stranger with special guests John Carter Cash and Laura Cash. The son of Janette Carter and the grandson of A.P. and Sara Carter, Jett is a third generation member of the legendary Carter Family, preserving the music they first recorded in the historic “Bristol Sessions” of 1927. He recently released "Past & Present" along with John Carter & Laura Cash, calling themselves Carter Family III.

Also appearing on the show are three of the greatest voices in modern bluegrass, Dale Ann Bradley, Steve Gulley and Kim Fox. Gulley, one of bluegrass music’s most gifted tenors, is a veteran of acclaimed bands Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Mountain Heart, and currently in Grasstowne. He has also released an album with Tim Stafford, "Dogwood Winter."

Bradley was named the IBMA female vocalist of the year three consecutive years, and Fox's "Nothing To Lose" appears on country star REBA's "Keep On Loving You." Their set includes a Carter Family favorite, "50 Miles of Elbow Room" and Gulley's chilling rendition of George Jones' "The Grand Tour."

You’ll also hear Knoxville-based singer Jill Andrews, formerly of the alt-folk duo the everybodyfields. Her Self-titled EP was released in 2009, and her first solo album is due for release this June.

Click here to find a list of radio stations where you can listen in your area, and be sure to check in with us on Facebook for the latest news and information. Thanks for listening!

With heavy hearts we mourn the loss of the remarkable, influential singer and songwriter from West Virginia Hazel Dickens, who passed away April 21, 2011.

Her unmistakable voice was synonymous with the mountains of West Virginia and the hard working spirit that she carried with her throughout her life. Her influence cannot be overstated, having been recognized by the likes of Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and countless others, while her topical material, from "Black Lung" to "Working Girl Blues," remains relevant.

Hazel was on our 400^th episode of Mountain Stage, and she was inducted in to the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame's inaugural class in 2007, presented with a heartfelt tribute by Alison Krauss.

When we recorded in Glasgow, Scotland Mollie O'Brien & Rich Moore performed her composition "West Virginia, My Home," accompanied by Tim O'Brien, which we've posted here in her honor. The breadth of her influence was felt again a few weeks later when the song was performed in a post-show jam led by Great American Taxi's Vince Herman in Morgantown, W.

When Kathy Mattea first appeared on Mountain Stage with songs from her album "Coal," she closed with a powerful, unaccompanied version of Dickens' "Black Lung," which drew a standing ovation. That performance is posted here as well.

For the uninitiated, we recommend starting with "Hard Hitting Songs for Hard Hit People," and the Rounder compilation "A Few Old Memories."

Our thoughts are with the family, friends and many fans of Hazel Dickens. 

This Week's broadcast features acclaimed singer-songwriter Todd Snider making his tenth appearance on Mountain Stage, recorded live on the campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown. While Todd so often works accompanied solely by his trusty black Epiphone guitar, this time he enlists members of Great American Taxi, who also appear on Todd's latest double live album, aptly named The Storyteller.

Find a radio station in your area to find out when to tune in, and be sure to listen to our Song of the Week, Snider's high school hallway David vs. Goliath tale, "Is This Thing Workin'?"

Great American Taxi also appear on the show for their own energetic set of music they dub "Americana without boarders," drawing influences from bluegrass, funk and southern rock. Taxi leader Vince Herman (formally of Leftover Salmon) was enrolled as a student at West Virginia University back in the 80's, and the excitement he felt from being back in his old stomping ground can be heard in voice. Here's an exclusive video of the band performing "Appalachian Soul" from their album "Streets of Gold."

Great American Taxi's new album is called Reckless Habits.

Also appearing on this week's broadcast are Railroad Earth, a roots-based jam band from Stillwater, New Jersey. The band takes its name from the Jack Kerouac story "October in the Railroad Earth," a nod to the beat influence that colors their sound of their new self-titled album. Railroad Earth’s Tim Carbone produced Great American Taxi's Reckless Habits.

You'll also hear from Corey Smith, the Athens, GA based entertainer who has built a rabid following through relentless touring and an innovative business plan. He was just named "One To Watch" by Country Weekly and his latest, "Keeping Up with the Joneses," is available on his website. "The Broken Record" is out June 7.

The show opens with singer-songwriter Sean Rowe. An avid naturalist, Rowe routinely takes 30-day wilderness treks with nothing but a knife and the clothes on his back, and appropriately enough, applies a similar approach to his performance. Relying only on his soulful baritone voice and virtuoso guitar playing, Rowe brings the Mountain Stage audience to its feet with his final tune, a cover of Richard Thompson's 1952 Vincent Black Lightning. His new album is called Magic.

Click hear to view the playlist, and to find a station in your area where you can listen.Be sure to connect with us on Facebook and stay tuned to our YouTube Channel for more.

Thank you for tuning in!

Mountain Stage returns this Sunday with a SOLD OUT show at the West Virginia Culture Center Theater. If there are any available tickets (there often are), we will put them on sale at the Culture Center starting at 5 o’clock.

We’re thrilled to be joined for the third time by neo-soul master Amos Lee. His new album, Mission Bell, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Here he is performing “Violin” on Late Night with David Letterman:

We’re also happy to welcome back the vivacious, multi-talented Nellie McKay for her fifth performance on Mountain Stage. Her most recent album, Home Sweet Mobile Home was produced by Nellie and her mother, actress Robin Pappas, with artistic input from David Byrne of the Talking Heads.

Also on the show are The Wailin’ Jennys, the rootsy, harmonious, award-winning Canadian folk trio. Their most recent release, Bright Morning Stars, has drawn comparisons to both Gillian Welch and Fleetwood Mac.

And finally, we welcome for the first time Lauren Pritchard, a soulful country and blues-inflected singer based out of London, England by way of Los Angeles, California and Nashville, Tennessee. She has been touring recently with two Mountain Stage alums, Matt White and Brendan James, in support of her newest release, Wasted in Jackson .

Advance tickets for this show have been SOLD OUT for a while now. But if extra tickets become available (and they often do), they will be placed on sale at the door at 5pm. See you at the show! If you already have tickets, then RSVP to our Facebook Event.

We’re happy to announce two guest artists for our return to Morgantown, WV on June 5 at the WVU Creative Arts Center. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 15 at 9am.

The Blind Boys of Alabama, fresh off their star-studded latest release “Take the High Road” and an appearance in the motion picture “HOP,” will make their third appearance on Mountain Stage. The Blind Boys are truly icons of American music and their influence spans multiple decades and styles.

Also on board are Irish pop-rockers Bell X1, who were last with us in 2008 (click HERE to listen to that appearance). Their latest is called “Bloodless Coup” and here’s the newest video for “Velcro.” Click HERE to purchase on Amazon.

 

Visit TicketMaster.com or follow this link to purchase tickets. Those of you in the Morgantown area can pick up tickets at the Creative Arts Center Box Office or the Mountainlair. Call 304.293.SHOW to charge by phone.

Be sure to stay tuned to Facebook for the latest updates about our Live Show Schedule,  upcoming Broadcasts and the latest postings at NPR Music.

This week’s broadcast features a performance by pioneering Americana singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams in her fifth appearance on Mountain Stage. Backed only by her acoustic guitar, Williams plays songs from her new album Blessed, plus a few old favorites.

We are also joined by Red Horse, the folk super group comprised of John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, and Eliza Gilkyson. Here they are getting ready for their interview with host Larry Groce:

 

Also on the show are the young indie folk band The Low Anthem. Their new album Smart Flesh was recorded in an abandoned pasta sauce factory in their hometown of Providence, Rhode Island.

And midway through the show you'll hear a set from husband and wife duo Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion.

The show opens with Ivan & Alyosha, the indie pop band first nationally recognized by our friends at NPR Music. This week you can hear them play a few songs from their new EP, Fathers Be Kind.

You can hear a preview of the show via our Song of The Week; Lucinda Williams performing “Born To Be Loved” from her new album Blessed.

Click here to find a list of radio stations where you can listen in your area. And be sure to check in with us on Facebook for the latest news and information.

This week's broadcast features former Jayhawks singer and songwriter Mark Olson and his trio, performing lush, imaginative songs from his album "Many Colored Kite." We also hear widely acclaimed Canadian songwriter Ron Sexsmith, joined by the Mountain Stage Band, with songs from his Bob Rock-produced latest "Long Player, Late Bloomer." Here is the trailer for the accompanying documentary, "Love Shines."

Also on the show, Virginia-based string band The Steel Wheels, and string music of another sort in the form of the Brooklyn Strings accompanying soulful songwriter Sonya Kitchell.

Check out the Playlist for a list of songs performed on the show, and find a radio station in your area to tune in.

The episode begins with Nashville-based duo The Civil Wars, Joy Williams and John Paul White, who joined us the week that their debut album "Barton Hollow" arrived at #12 on the Billboard 200 charts. Between having their song "Poison & Wine" featured on Grey's Anatomy and getting love on twitter from Taylor Swift, the Civil Wars have quickly risen to stardom.

You'll know why as soon as you hear them performing the title track to that successful CD, "Barton Hollow," as our Song of the Week. 

Click here to find a radio station in your area, and tell some friends on Facebook. As always, we thank you for listening to Mountain Stage. 

Our friend Lucy Wainwright Roche will not appear in Charleston on April 24 at the Culture Center Theater, as she will be going to work in Europe. We wish Lucy the best in all of her opportunities while traveling and we look forward to rescheduling her appearance on Mountain Stage in the coming months .In the meantime, check out her album "Lucy" on Amazon and click here to listen to her previous appearance on the show.

The show on April 24, which is SOLD OUT, will feature four guests, Amos Lee, Nellie McKay, the Wailin' Jennys and Lauren Pritchard. Stay tuned to our Facebook page as we plan to give away some tickets during the week leading up to the show.

Visit our Live Show Schedule for more ticket info.