Mountain Blog

This week’s radio broadcast is an encore presentation featuring the always charming Nellie McKay, American folk-rock singer/ songwriter Elvis Perkins, Malaysian indie-pop songwriter Zee Avi, former lead-singer of Verbena, AA Bondy, and power-pop tunesmith Marshall Crenshaw. You can browse the songs performed here.

As always we’ve got a preview in our Song of the Week. Nellie McKay had just released “Normal as Blueberry Pie,” her tribute to Dorris Day, when she performed last on Mountain Stage. Our Song of the Week is her performance of  “Sentimental Journey,” featuring the Mountain Stage Band and sax-man Doug Payne.

For those of you keeping score at home, Nellie has released another CD of new material, “Home Sweet Mobile Home,” since this appearance.

For station and airtimes in your area click HERE and be sure to tell some friends.

October 3
We’ve added a sixth guest to our already talent-packed show October 3 with our friends at WVU Arts & Entertainment in Morgantown. Sub Pop recording artists Fruit Bats will join us along with jazz chanteuse Lizz Wright, soul-blues trio The Holmes Brothers, Brooklyn-based folk-popsters the Paper Raincoat, acoustic soul-man Raul Midon and Portuguese singer Deolinda.  

Fruit Bats have done some touring with Vetiver recently and will head out soon with Blitzentrapper.

Tickets for October 3 are available via TicketMaster.com, by phone at 304.293.SHOW, or at the MountainLair on campus.

Here’s a video from Fruit Bats for "The Ruminant Band," from the album of the same name.

October 10
We’ve added two guests to the October 10 show along with The Hold Steady and Brooke Waggoner.

Crooked Still (above) are touring in support of “Some Strange Country,” their latest since 08’s “Still Crooked.” This will make the group’s fourth appearance. You can hear a previous one at NPR Music. See a video for "Half of What We Know" below.

Pop-singer/songwriter Matt White will join us for the second time with songs from his new album, “It’s the Good Crazy,” due out September 14. 

October 24
We’ve already told you that Jenny & Johnny will join us at the Culture Center in Charleston October 24. We’ve added piano wild man Jason D. Williams (above), whose latest CD “Killer Instincts” was produced by our buddy Todd Snider, due October 26.

Also joining us is New Orleans swamp blues man JJ Grey, whose latest album “Georgia Warhorse” was released in August.

Get your tickets to all these shows Online, by phone at 800.594.TIXX, or locally at Taylor Books in downtown, Charleston.

We’ve added an exciting show to our Live Show Schedule. On Sunday, November 21 we will be joined by Black Dub, Anais Mitchell, Horse Feathers, Danielle Ate the Sandwich, and one more, TBA. Ticket info is below.

Black Dub is the latest project by world-renowned producer Daniel Lanois, soul vocalist Trixie Whitley and jazz drummer extraordinaire, Brian Blade.

Here’s a video for “Silverado” live in the studio, from their upcoming release, Black Dub.

When folk-singer and Righteous Babe recording artist Anais Mitchell joined us last time she was working on a folk-opera, “Hadestown,” based on the tale of Orpheus in a post-apocalyptic American depression era. Since its debut, the show and album have been gaining critical acclaim all over - read for yourself.

Add to that Portland chamber-folk group Horse Feathers and YouTube star turned recording artist Danielle Ate the Sandwich, (above) and we’ve got an artistically forward-thinking show.

Tickets are on sale for ALL our upcoming live shows online, locally at Taylor Books and by phone at 800.594.TIXX.

This week’s radio broadcast is an encore presentation featuring WV native Kathy Mattea, San Francisco  rockers Or, The Whale, Carolina songstress Shannon Whitworth, plus two unique Appalachian groups, cello/banjo/vocal duo The Ahs and Lilly Family torch bearers The Songcatchers.

As always you can hear a preview in our Song of the Week. We’re featuring Kathy Mattea singing Jean Ritchie’s “Cool of the Day.”

For more on what's ahead on the radio this month, read our Latest Radio Newsletter (PDF reader required).

In other radio news, our friends at WFUV have moved  Mountain Stage to a new spot on their weekend schedule. Now New Yorkers can hear Mountain Stage Sunday mornings from 6-8am.

From all of us here at Mountain Stage, we thank you for making us part of your Labor Day Weekend.  

Mountain Stage is happy to announce a new station in our family of affiliates.

Beginning this Friday, September 3, listeners can hear Mountain Stage on WHRV, 89.5 fm, each week at 10pm. Visit WHRV online and look at their coverage area to see if you’re within earshot. They also offer a Live Stream of the programming, so you can listen all over the world.

You can read an announcement from local music writer Sam McDonald at The Daily Press website. We look forward to making some new fans in Norfolk and hope you’ll send us some feedback on the show. Our thanks to everyone at WHRV for welcoming us into their schedule.

Although there aren’t any live productions for the month of September, we have a great string of Live Shows for October and November already lined up.

We’ve finalized the line-up for October 3 at the Creative Arts Center on the campus of WVU with the addition of jazz chanteuse Lizz Wright. Wright has been with us once and is gearing up to release her “Fellowship” on September 28. You can pre-order the album at Amazon and get your tickets to see her October 3 by calling 304.293.SHOW or purchase online via Ticketmaster.

We’ve just added another date to the schedule: Sunday, October 17 at the Culture Center Theater. We’ll welcome The Felice Brothers and former Two Gallants member Adam Haworth Stephens for the first time, along with the second appearance by Alejandro Escovedo and the Sensitive Boys.

The Felice Brothers are a touring machine, still pounding the highways with songs from their acclaimed CD “Yonder Is the Clock.” Alejandro Escovedo is riding a wave of creativity and critical acceptance with his latest, “Street Songs of Love.” Check out a performance of “Anchor” on his website. Adam Haworth Stephens is prepping the release of “We Live on Cliffs” with a free download of “The Cities That You’ve Burned.”

In November news, the latest CD by The Weepies, “Be My Thrill” came out Tuesday and is available online. If you purchase through this link, a portion of your proceeds go to WV Public Broadcasting at no extra charge (Learn More).

The Weepies will join us November 14, along with the Punch Brothers, Infamous Stringdusters and Trampled by Turtles. Tickets are available online, by phone at 800-594-TIXX, or locally at Taylor Books.  See the Live Show Schedule for more information.

We’re putting the last minute preparations together for this Sunday’s show at the Culture Center here in Charleston. We’re looking forward to hearing a lot of great new music from The SteelDrivers, Abigail Washburn, Gene Watson, Scott Miller and Whitey Morgan & the 78s. 

Tickets are still available online, at Taylor Books locally and by phone at 800.594.TIXX. Read up on each guest in our Setting the Stage Newsletter where you’ll find links to each artist’s website plus some news on upcoming shows in the area.

Country music living-legend Gene Watson was featured in today’s issue of the Charleston Daily Mail and Abigail Washburn had a chat with The Charleston Gazette. Gene talks about being traditional country-to-the-core while Abigail Washburn talks about her upcoming project and her summer so far.