Mountain Blog

We are happy to announce a new Mountain Stage live show, happening August 14 at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, West Virginia featuring Ollabelle.

Taking their name from influential Appalachian songwriter Ola Belle Reed, Ollabelle’s five members (who all sing and play) blend indigenous American music styles, mixing folk, blues, and gospel. Ollabelle’s self-titled first album was produced by roots music legend T-Bone Burnett, and their second album Riverside Battle Songs was co-produced with former Bob Dylan band member Larry Campbell.

And speaking of “bands,” two members of Ollabelle are regular members of the Levon Helm Band: bassist Byron Issacs, and mandola player Amy Helm – Levon’s daughter. Ollabelle's forthcoming album will be called Neon Blue Bird.

We’ll also be joined by The Henry Girls. From Inishowen in County Donegal, Ireland, Sisters Joleen, Lorna and Karen McLaughlin named their band after the local family nickname, Henry. Since forming in 2001, they’ve earned a following based on their eclectic mix of folk, blues and traditional Irish music.

They appeared at the 2011 Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow, Scotland (where they first came to the attention of Mountain Stage), and count West Virginia’s The Fox Hunt among their musical friends.The Henry Girls' most recent album is Dawn.

Continue to check back in with Mountain Stage here and on facebook to receive the latest information about additional acts as they are added to this show. Tickets for this show will be on sale soon, both online and at Taylor Books. The doors open at 6:30 and the show will start at 7:00.

This week’s encore broadcast of Mountain Stage features Appalachian Voices: Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket, genre-bending cellist Ben Sollee and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Martin Moore. United by their concerns about coal mining practices and its affects on the Appalachian region from which they came, the group play material from their album Dear Companion.

We’re also joined by Tracy Bonham. Her influential 1996 debut, The Burdens of Being Upright garnered Grammy nominations for "Best Female Vocalist" and "Best Alternative Rock Performance."

She's released four more albums since and has been involved in several different projects over the years, including singing and playing with Blue Man Group on their "Complex Rock Tour Live."

Her most recent album, Masts of Manhattan was recorded mostly between her homes in Brooklyn and Woodstock New York.

Making his second appearance on the show is Jeff Daniels – yes, that Jeff Daniels. While you no doubt know Daniels as an actor from movies like Dumb and Dumber and The Squid and the Whale, he is also a committed folk singer. Daniels plays regular shows in his native Michigan, and has released several albums over the years, the most recent being Grandfather’s Hat and Keep it Right Here.

You can hear a preview of the show by winsome singer/songwriter Carsie Blanton who sings the title track from her album Buoy for our Mountain Stage Song of the Week. Taking her musical cues Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell and even John Prine, Blanton has appeared on stage alongside Amos Lee, Nellie McKay and the Weepies.

We also had the opportunity to showcase a unique Appalachian instrument called the bowed psaltery. Tish and Greg Westman, or Psaltrio, make these instruments at their Tamarack Studio alongside some of the most well respected crafters in the world. Visit their website here and check out their performance on this week’s show.

Click here to find a list of stations where you can listen in your area. Like us on facebook to stay connected with the latest news and information about the show, and subscribe to the Mountain Stage YouTube channel to see backstage and performance videos with our guest that can't be found anywhere else. Thanks for your support.