Mountain Blog

This week's action packed episode of Mountain Stage features Latin-funk orchestra Grupo Fantasma, along with The Greencards, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Tracy Nelson, and Musikanto. Click here to view the playlist, and click here find a time and station where you can listen.

Based in Austin, the 10-piece Latin-funk band Grupo Fantasma formed in 2000. Comprised of two guitarists, two bass players, three drummers and a three-piece horn section, the group quickly established a reputation for high-energy live shows. It’s earned them two appearances on Austin City Limits, and spots backing up Prince in Las Vegas and London. Last year, their album El Existential won the group a Grammy for “Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album.” You can sample their performance here, via our Mountain Stage Song of the Week.

The Greencards make their fourth appearance on Mountain Stage. This multi-national bluegrass trio, led by Australians Kym Warner and Carol Young, has racked up serious accolades. None other than Robert Earl Keen called the Greencards’ music, “the best bluegrass I’ve heard in 20 years.” In 2006, the group won “New/Emerging Artist of the Year” at the Americana Music Association Awards. With two new members, young fiddle phenom Tyler Andal and flatpicking champion Carl Miner, the band has released The Brick Album, which was funded by contributions from fans.

You’ll also hear from Canadian roots rock supergroup Blackie & the Rodeo Kings. You can get a taste of their Mountain Stage performance via our Backstage at Mountain Stage video here:

Blackie & the Rodeo Kings is a collaboration between three well-respected blues, folk and rock musicians: Colin Linden, Stephen Fearing and Tom Wilson. The three joined forces in 1996, and under the name of Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, released an album of songs written by Canadian singer-songwriter Willie P. Bennett.

In 2011, The Rodeo Kings released Kings and Queens, featuring duet vocals from Emmylou Harris, Pam Tillis, Lucinda Williams, Rosanne Cash, Cassandra Wilson, Patti Scialfa and others.

Vocal powerhouse Tracy Nelson returns to Mountain Stage. See her backstage interview, as well as clips from her performance here:

 

 Click here to find out when and where you can hear this show in your area. 

Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook for the latest news about our upcoming live shows and premier broadcasts.

Thanks for listening to Mountain Stage.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mountain Stage is BACK at the Culture Center, for what we here think of as our last show of the fiscal year, but what you might think of as our last show in Charleston until sometime this fall. We’ll be joined by Dar Williams, Ray Wylie Hubbard, The dB’s, the New Rope String Band, and Arthur Alligood. And we’re thrilled to be a part of FestivALL Charleston. A few tickets are still available, but man-oh-man, is it getting tight. If you want to come, you need to get tickets now, online, at Taylor Books, and by phone. Expect a packed house.

If there was ever an artist who needs no introduction to Mountain Stage audiences, that man would be Tim O’Brien. But if there’s another artist who needs no introduction, it might be the lovely and talented Dar Williams. Her new CD, In the Time of Gods, marks her ninth studio recording.

And if you still don’t know who Ray Wylie Hubbard is – well, you no longer have an excuse. Hubbard (a high school classmate of Larry Groce) is perhaps best known for his proto country party anthem “Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mothers.” But lately – well, just expect to hear people yell out “SNAKE FARM!” a few times. Snake Farm. It’s a reptile house.

We had a long description of The dB’s written out – but suffice it to say, The dB’s are the missing link between REM and Big Star. If you like either of those two legendary bands, The dB’s are right in the middle, and you own it to yourself to check them out. One of the more creative and enduring indie pop groups of the early ‘80s, North Carolina’s dB’s featured a lineup - Chris Stamey, Peter Holsapple, Will Rigby and Gene Holder - that helped change the course of guitar-driven power pop for years to come. The band’s stellar new album Falling Off the Sky represents their first new album with the original lineup in 30 years.  

The New Rope String Band are gifted musicians, singers, songwriters – and on the vanguard of clowning, all at the same time. Combining superb musicianship with side-splitting comic genius, the three members of the New Rope String Band combine elements of circus, vaudeville, slapstick and Python-esque absurdist humor with beautiful acoustic music from various world traditions. Based in the U.K., the group’s resume includes performances in Borneo's Sarawak rainforest, the Shetland Folk Festival and tiny village halls.” There might be ladders, PVC pipes, seagull impressions, barbershop harmonies and even mime. Will it work on the radio? You’ll have to be there to find out.

Finally, Tennessee born singer-songwriter Arthur Alligood won grand prize honors at the 2011 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest for performing songwriters. Sessions with producer Mikal Blue (Colbie Caillat, Jason Mraz) included in-demand session musicians Jim Keltner on drums, Leland Sklar on bass and Michael Ward on guitar. The resulting album, “One Silver Needle” was released to high praise on the NewSong Recordings label.  

Get your tickets now.

This week’s encore broadcast of Mountain Stage represents one of our most exciting shows of 2011. Recorded live in the border town of Bristol TN/VA, in partnership with our friends at the  Birthplace of Country Music Alliance, you’ll hear from country music icon Vince Gill, along with Jim Lauderdale, the David Mayfield Parade, Red Molly, and John Lilly.

Click here to find a list of stations and times where you can listen. Click here to check the playlist and find out when your favorite tune is coming up. And as always, you can catch a preview of this week's show via our Mountain Stage Song of the Week.

One of the top-selling country music artists of all time, Vince Gill appears on Mountain Stage in support of his first studio album in five years, Guitar Slinger. Gill cut his teeth in the 70’s as a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist with outfits like Ricky Skaggs’ Boone Creek before joining country rockers Pure Prairie League – a group his high school bluegrass band had opened for – in 1979.

He left in 1981 to join Rodney Crowell’s renowned backing band The Cherry Bombs. By the late 80's, Gill was a bona fide superstar, releasing multiple Top 10 platinum-selling albums, and hosting the CMA awards a record-setting 12 consecutive times.

You can see part of his Mountain Stage performance, and hear him talk about his new album and musical roots via our Backstage at Mountain Stage above.

You’ll also hear from the David Mayfield Parade. A Mountain Stage veteran already, Mayfield has appeared with Cadillac Sky, Among the Oak and the Ash, and alongside his sister Jessica Lee Mayfield. David Mayfield’s solo project builds on his solid roots in bluegrass, combining it with folk, indie rock, and his trademark humor and showmanship. See Mayfield and his band in action, and hear him talk about his new record via our Backstage at Mountain Stage above.

Jim Lauderdale also stops by. A multi-talented performer and songwriter with successes in both country and bluegrass music, Jim Lauderdale’s career has taken him all over America’s musical landscape.

He’s among Nashville’s “A” list of songwriters, with tunes recorded by artists such as Patty Loveless, George Jones, The Dixie  Chicks, and Vince Gill. Not content to just write hits for the stars, he’s toured with the likes of Lucinda Williams, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Elvis Costello. His latest release is Patchwork River.

Red Molly makes their first appearance on Mountain Stage. This bluegrass and old-time trio began around a campsite at the 2004 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in upstate New York.

After six years of touring, the New York-based group has expanded its audience and performed at events like Merlefest and the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion. Founding members Laurie MacAllister and Abbie Gardner were recently joined by Austin-based singer/songwriter Molly Venter. Their latest is Light in the Sky.

Finally, you’ll hear from West Virginia’s own John Lilly. The editor of Goldenseal Magazine since 1997, John Lilly’s music recalls the sounds of a different era. Bluegrass Unlimited called 2000's Broken Moon one of the "most unusual and interesting acoustic disks of the year" while 2005's Blue Highway was a collaboration with legendary Tennessee fiddler Ralph Blizard. His current release is John Lilly: Live on Red Barn Radio.

Click here to find out when and where you can hear this show in your area. 

Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook for the latest news about our upcoming live shows and premier broadcasts.

Thanks for listening to Mountain Stage.

This week’s broadcast of Mountain Stage features Manhattan-based roots band Ollabelle, along with Foster & Lloyd, Chris Smither, The Henry Girls, and The Fox Hunt. Click here to find a list of stations and times where you can listen, and click here to view the playlist for this week’s show. You can catch a preview via our Mountain Stage Song of the Week, this time featuring Irish sisters The Henry Girls, in their first American appearance.
 

Taking their name from influential Appalachian songwriter Ola Belle Reed, the five members of Ollabelle (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. Their latest, Neon Blue Bird was released in August.

You’ll also hear a set from country-pop pioneers Foster & Lloyd. Reuniting after more than two decades, Radney Foster and Bill Lloyd scored hits including “Crazy Over You,” "Sure Thing," and "What Do You Want From Me This Time.”

When the two decided to call it quits in 1991, they chose Mountain Stage as the venue for their final show. The duo’s stellar new release, It’s Already Tomorrow, features a number of guests including Cheap Trick bassist Tom Peterson and Sam Bush.

Acoustic folk and blues singer Chris Smither also stops by. Smither has released nearly a dozen albums of his own material for the Flying Fish, Hightone, and Signature Sounds labels; and his songs "Love You Like a Man" and "I Feel the Same" have been recorded by guitarist and singer Bonnie Raitt. Smither’s most recent album, Time Stands Still features songs by Mark Knopfler and Bob Dylan, and he just released a third live CD, Lost & Found, exclusively for fans through his website.

Making their first American appearance are the Henry Girls. Comprised of three sisters - Joleen, Lorna and Karen McLaughlin - from Inishowen in County Donegal, Ireland, the Henry Girls create an eclectic mix of folk, blues and traditional Irish, framed by their 3-part sibling harmonies. 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.

Speaking of The Fox Hunt – the Martinsburg-based string band rounds out the show. Upon returning from a tour of Ireland last year, the Fox Hunt became the first act to sell out the Shepherdtown, WV Opera House. On the road 150 days a year, the band has amassed a loyal following across the region and beyond.

Click here to find out when and where you can hear this show in your area. 

Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook for the latest news about our upcoming live shows and premier broadcasts.

Thanks for listening to Mountain Stage.

Mountain Stage would like to welcome our newest affiliate, KCHO-FM, located in beautiful Chico, California. We're thrilled to be a part of your Saturday afternoon lineup!

A few minutes before showtime, Punch Brother Chris Thile sat down in a very sunny room to talk to host Larry Groce about the band, music, and the new album.

Listen on the radio this weekend, with streaming and downloadable goodness to follow. Watch this space for more.

Mountain Stage returns this weekend with another exciting all new broadcast featuring the sultry vocals of Joan Osborne, cutting-edge progressive acoustic music from The Punch Brothers, jam band royalty Leftover Salmon, worldly singer-songwriter Sylvie Lewis, and alt-country newcomer Lera Lynn.

Click here to find a list of stations and times where you can listen, and click here to view the playlist for this week’s show.

Kentucky native Joan Osborne has sold millions of albums and garnered multiple Grammy nominations throughout her career, which began while she was attending NYU’s film school. Inspired by singers like Billie Holiday and Etta James, Osborne’s gutsy, passionate vocals turned “One Of Us,” a track from her major label debut, into a massive MTV and radio hit.

Her latest release, “Bring It On Home,” is a collection of classic blues, R&B and soul songs. You can catch a preview of her performance via our song of the week: Osborn singing the Slim Harpo classic “Shake Your Hips.”

Depending on how you count it, this is The Punch Brothers third appearance on Mountain Stage. A bone fide acoustic super group led Chris Thile, along with a staggering lineup including guitarist Chris Eldridge, a founding member of the Infamous Stringdusters who occasionally sits in with his father’s band, The Seldom Scene; bassist Paul Kowert, who studied under Edgar Meyer at the Curtis Institute of Music; banjo player Noam Pikelny who has collaborated with the likes of John Cowan and Tony Trischka; and violinist Gabe Witcher who has recorded with Willie Nelson, Beck and Randy Newman. The group’s current release is titled “Who’s Feeling Young Now?”

Embarking on their first full-fledged tour since 2004, jam-band mainstays Leftover Salmon are back with their first new album in 8 years, produced by Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin. Flaunting an unmistakable, fluid and rootsy sound that fuses improvisational fervor to a dizzying combination of bluegrass, Cajun, Southern rock, boogie, Caribbean, Latin, and jazz influences, Leftover Salmon has earned a legion of diehard fans, critical accolades, and a reputation as one of the most engaging concert experiences to ever hit the road. Founding member Vince Herman was on Mountain Stage just a year ago, with his solo project, Great American Taxi.

Armed with a musical education that took her from studying cello in Switzerland, opera in the U.K. and songwriting, piano and guitar at Boston’s Berklee School of Music, Sylvie Lewis creates timeless, gentle songs for the ages. Along the way, Lewis became obsessed with classic songwriters and jazz artists like Cole Porter, Noel Coward and Oscar Peterson, informing her music with a feel from another generation. Now living in Italy, Lewis is currently working with L'orchestra di Piazza Vittorio on their radical revision of Mozart's "The Magic Flute."  Her new CD is titled “It’s All True.” 

Finally, you’ll hear from Lera Lynn, who kicks off the show. A winner of the 2011 Chris Austin Songwriting Competition held at Merlefest for her song, “Bobby, Baby,” Athens, GA-based artist Lera Lynn also walked away with “Best Americana Artist” at her hometown’s 2011 Flagpole Music Awards. Her debut “Have You Met Lera Lynn?” has been met with wide acclaim, earning her spots on the road this summer alongside fellow guests Joan Osborn and The Punch Brothers.

Find a radio station in your area where you can listen by clicking here, and connect with us on Facebook and Tumblr to stay in touch with the latest information, and follow us on Twitter for even more.  

Thanks again for listening to Mountain Stage.