Mountain Stage Radio Show
700th Show
Sunday August 16, 2009
Paramount Center Bristol TN/VA
Birthplace of Country MusicAlliance Fundraiser
Doors6:30pm Show7:00pm
All tickets reserved $25
Available Box Office (423) 274 8920
www.theparamountcenter.com or www.e-tix.com
Robert Cray Band - When bluesman Albert Collins played Robert Cray’s high school graduation, his fate was all but sealed. Before long, Cray was a member of Collins’ backing band. Cray’s recordings helped fuel the ‘80s blues revival and, using the blues as a foundation, he has since explored R&B, soul, jazz and gospel. Cray’s five Grammys include back-to-back awards for 1985's "Summit" (which also featured Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland) and another for 1986's "Strong Persuader." After venturing into R&B (with the help of the famed Memphis Horns), Cray’s current release, "This Time," is his first studio CD on his own Nozzle imprint. "This Time" reunites him with longtime friends and bandmates Richard Cousins and Jim Pugh. The group kicked off 2009 with concert appearances in Brazil and Japan. Triva: Observant fans may have spotted Cray as bassist of the frat party band Otis Day & the Knights in the movie "National Lampoon's Animal House."
The Flatlanders - Although the original Flatlanders never had a full-fledged release during its brief tenure in the early ‘70s, the band’s key members - Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely, and Butch Hancock - went on to become three of the country’s most respected singer/songwriters. The band’s original batch of tunes was finally released to both critical and commercial attention in 1990. In the late ‘90s, Ely, Gilmore and Hancock collaborated on material for the soundtrack album for "The Horse Whisperer." In 2002, the group reunited for "Now Again," which featured the Flatlanders’ first full collection of new material since the ‘70s. Now, after almost 40 years of music and friendship they’ve released "Hills and Valleys." The disc features new songs co-written by the trio as well as cameos by original Flatlanders Steve Wesson and Tony Pearson.
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson - Country star Kasey Chambers and her husband Shane Nicholson have issued their first collaboration - "Rattlin’ Bones" - a sparse, acoustic effort which is getting rave reviews. Drawing on the roots of country music, Nicholson (the former singer for the band Pretty Violets Stain) contributed both in co-writing and playing a variety of instruments. Raised in a family of nomads in the Australian outback, Kasey Chambers spent part of her childhood without amenities such as running water, flush toilets and TV. Instead, she was immersed in the music her father loved – Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams and Johnny Cash. After playing in the family group the Dead Ringer Band through her teens, Chambers went solo and quickly started garnering a multitude of awards. On her 2000 debut, "The Captain," Chambers was assisted by her multi-instrumentalist father Bill and her producer/musician brother Nash, and Americana duo Buddy and Julie Miller. In Australia, Chambers has taken home "Best Female Artist" and "Best Country Album" honors at the annual ARIA Awards. In 2006, she released "Carnival," which included collaborations with members of Powderfinger and You Am I.
Robin & Linda Williams - With warm vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar-driven arrangements, singer/songwriters Robin & Linda Williams have been a mainstay of the country-folk scene for more than three decades. In addition to dozens of appearances on "Prairie Home Companion," the husband and wife team have toured and recorded albums with host Garrison Keillor's group The Hopeful Quartet. The Williams’ tunes have been recorded by artists including Emmylou Harris, Tom T. Hall, George Hamilton IV, Tim & Mollie O'Brien, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Kathy Mattea, The Seldom Scene and Mary Black. Released in 2008, Robin & Linda’s latest CD, "Buena Vista," was produced by Grammy winning artist - and Wheeling, WV, native - Tim O’Brien.
Riley Baugus- This North Carolina raised musician honed his old-time banjo and guitar sound as a member of Old Hollow String Band and the Red Hots while working as a welder and blacksmith during the day. His 2001 debut CD "Life of Riley" put him on the map before he was recruited to provide a rustic, old-time sound to the movie "Cold Mountain" by his longtime friend and roots music luminary Dirk Powell. His 2006 CD "Long Steel Rail" was produced by Powell and Grammy winner and Wheeling, WV native Tim O'Brien. In 2008, a call from T-Bone Burnett put Riley back in the studio in Nashville, this time as a contributor to the Grammy award winning Album Of The Year, "Raising Sand" - the multi-million selling album by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant.
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For more information, including hi-resolution photos, contact Adam Harris 304 556 4900.
This show will be distributed by NPR in October.