Mountain Blog

Mountain Stage has compiled a very special episode for this week. Larry Groce went back as far as 1989 and pulled performances by artists who have appeared with their offspring on the stage, as well as relatives who have appeared separately on the show. Richard Thompson (above) is featured along with his former wife Linda and son Teddy Thompson, among many others.

Check out the Playlist to see what's in store, and you can get a preview on our Song of the Week page. One of our all-time favorites, John Hartford, along with his son Jamie, performing "I Know You Don't Love Me No More," a song from their duet album Hartford & Hartford.

If you missed part of last week's show, or want to hear your favorite parts again, be sure to check out NPR Music, where they post individual guest segments each weekday.

Or subscribe to our Podcast (iTunes or Feedburner) and you'll be able to hear songs that didn't make it onto the radio broadcast. The latest segments at NPR feature Paul Thorn, The Band of Heathens, WV's own The Fox Hunt(Above), Kelley Ryan, with  and Peter Bradley Adams still ahead.

Be sure to check out or YouTube page for interviews "Backstage at Mountain Stage" featuring Paul Thorn and The Fox Hunt. If you click "Subscribe" you'll automatically receive an email when we've posted new video content.

We will also welcome a new, exciting collaboration called Dear Companion, featuring Kentucky musicians Yim Yames (of My Morning Jacket), Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore. As of now there's only nine tour dates so we are happy to welcome them to Mountain Stage. Released in February, 2010, Dear Companion (click to purchase via Amazon) features tunes by both Moore and Sollee (who has appeared on Mountain Stage with the Sparrow Quartet and as a solo performer) and explores the Appalachian home they love and aims to draw attention to environmental conerns important to the artists.

Tickets are $14 in advance and $20 at the door - available ONLINE, by phone at 800.594.TIXX or locally at Taylor Books in downtown Charleston. Check out this and other exciting live shows on our Live Show Schedule, and come see some live performance radio in person.

We've got a preview on our "Song of the Week" page with Loudon, as topical as ever, with "Times is Hard."

The song appears on his latest release "Songs for the New Depression," his follow up to the Grammy winning "High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project," which took home best traditional folk album honors.

We're happy to welcome Sahara Smith to Mountain Stage on Friday, June 18 as part of a special FestivALL Charleston edition of Mountain Stage. Tickets are available ONLINE, locally at Taylor Books and the Clay Center Box Office, or by phone at 304.561.3570.

Currently touring with Mason Jennings, Smith is preparing to make a big splash in the Americana music world. The Austin native is at work with T-Bone Burnett on what is sure to be her breakout release. Sample her sound on MySpace and pick up your Mountain Stage tickets NOW!

Also on the bill are "Walking In Memphis" singer Marc Cohn whose new album "The Listening Booth" covers well-known tunes from the year 1970, Australian traditional soul sensation Gurrumul, and Australian pop singer Kate Miller-Heidke. We hope to see you there!

We recorded this episode as part of the inaugural season at the Chuck Mathena Center in Princeton, WV.

We've got a preview on our Song of the Week page. There you'll hear Sara Watkins performing "Long Hot Summer Days," by one of our favorites, John Hartford.

There is so much good stuff to feast your ears on over at NPR Music. We've got the sets from Ani DiFranco with her stellar yet unconventional band, a captivating performance by Erin McKeown, a roof-raising set by Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, the refined pop-rock of Chuck Prophet and a transcendant set from finger-style guitarist and YouTube sensation Andy McKee.

Be sure to keep up with the latest by "liking" Mountain Stage on facebook and don't forget to sign up for our podcast from iTunes or Feedburner.

Tickets will go on sale at 10am, tomorrow, May 5,  for Mountain Stage at the Clay Center, June 20 at 7pm. Our guests will be Dierks Bentley & the Travelin' McCourys, Fred Eaglesmith and Charlie McCoy.

All seats are RESERVED. $20 in advance plus applicable fees, and $29 at the door.

Tickets will be available at The Clay Center Box Office, Online, at Taylor Books, Downtown, Charleston, or by phone at 304.561.3570.

Bentley first appeared on Mountain Stage in Bristol, TN/VA, when The Birthplace of Country Music invited us to their historic city where the Carter Family, Jimmy Rodgers and many more made some of the first commercial country music recordings. He references Bristol's rich history in this Knoxville.com feature.

While you're there you can pick up tickets to our special Friday, June 18 performance featuring an extended set by "Walkin' in Memphis" singer/songwriter Marc Cohn, Gurrumull,  and (just announced) Kate Miller-Heidke. Show time for this one is 8pm. All seats are reserved, $29, plus applicable fees, across the board.

Both of these events occur during FestivALL Charleston,  the city-wide arts and entertainment festival in the Capitol City. It's a great
time to experience Charleston, with all sorts of great music, visual art, dance, theater and plenty of family fun.