Mountain Blog

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.