Mountain Blog

Coming up on this week’s premiere episode of Mountain Stage you’ll hear the legendary acoustic guitarist Doc Watson. He performs a set of his longtime favorites, some of which are included on this 3-disc interview/performance collection “Legacy.”  We came to Bristol with the help of our friends at the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance, who have welcomed us to Bristol for five consecutive years.

Bristol TN/VA is the historic border town where in 1927 Ralph Peer recorded what would become the first successful Country Music songs of the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers and the Stoneman family. Now the town is formally recognized as the Birthplace of Country Music.

This makes our Song of the Week, Watson singing Jimmie Rodgers’ “T For Texas”, all the more special. 

Find a radio station in your area where you can tune in and tell some friends how they can hear the show.

Also featured on the show is Grammy Award-winning American folk artist David Holt.  Holt performs a unique acoustic set with songs from his various releases, including “Daybreak in Dixie” off his album “David Holt and the Lightning Bolts”  with part-time Lightning Bolts Laura Boosinger and Josh Goforth, who can also be heard later in the episode.

Also heard this week is “Best New and Emerging Artist” winner at the 2009 Americana Music Awards, Justin Townes Earle.  He brings songs from his latest album “Harlem  River Blues.”  Irish/American singer/songwriter John Doyle takes the stage with his traditional Irish music.  His latest, “Exiles Return,” is a collaboration with his former Solas collaborator, Karan Casey.

North Carolina’s own Laura Boosinger and Josh Goforth and Texas musical ambassador to the world Bob Livingston join us as well.

Check out the playlist and find a station where you can listen.

We have interviews on the way for our YouTube Channel “Backstage at Mountain Stage,” featuring Bob Livingston, Justin Townes Earle and John Doyle, which will be available next week as the segments are posted to NPR Music. We've posted the conversation with Doc Watson below.

Thank you, as always, for listening. Without you there would be no Mountain Stage. We hope you’ll go out and hear some live music wherever you are, just as soon as you can.