Mountain Blog

This week’s Broadcast was recorded as part of the 2011 Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, Scotland. This was Mountain Stage's first time overseas in our show’s 28 year history and it was the third time we were honored to work with legendary soul-gospel singer Mavis Staples. You’ll hear an extended set from Mavis and her top-notch band in what was her first-ever performance in Scotland at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. You can hear a preview in our Song of the Week, featuring the title track to Staples' Jeff Tweedy produced, Grammy winning album, “You Are Not Alone” (Click to Purchase on Amazon).

Scottish folk singer Dougie MacLean also stopped by the Royal Concert Hall to record with us for what was his fifth appearance on Mountain Stage. You haven’t heard MacLean’s Scottish anthem “Caledonia” until you’ve heard an ecstatic crowd singing along with him, like they do on this week’s broadcast.

We also welcomed West Virginia native Mollie O’Brien and her husband Rich Moore to perform songs from their new CD “Saints & Sinners.” Mollie’s brother Tim, who has appeared on Mountain Stage more times than any other artist, also joined the Mountain Stage Band and performs a duet version of “The Water Is Wide” with pianist Bob Thompson.

And the show kicks off with a hot new string band out of Boston called Joy Kills Sorrow, who was definitely one of the hardest working bands at the Celtic Connections Festival. They do a couple of tunes from their critically album “Darkness Sure Becomes This City,” and a some new songs, from the soon to be released follow-up.

Check out the Playlist for a list of tunes performed, find a radio station that carries Mountain Stage in your area, and be sure to tell some friends on facebook. If Mountain Stage isn't carried in your area, consider writing to your local public station and let them know you’d like to hear Mountain Stage every week!We thank you for tuning in.

For our friends at Celtic Connections who attended the show in January, stay-tuned to our NPR MUSIC page starting Monday, where we'll have streaming access to each guest artists' performance, with a new one posted each weekday. The entire show, including songs not heard on the radio, will be available on our free podcast in our ARCHIVES.  You can also subscribe via iTunes or Feedburner.