ALERT (03/07/2024): Due to a lightning strike, WVPB TV will be off the air in the Bethany/Wheeling area until new parts arrive. Thank you for your patience.
Harpers Ferry is a historic West Virginia city and international tourist hub. But four years ago the national park and surrounding town were devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
LISTEN: Robert Earl Keen Has Our Mountain Stage Song Of The Week
Listen
Share this Article
This week’s broadcast of Mountain Stage features a very special performance from Texas music legend Robert Earl Keen, who joined us on his final tour this past summer.
After 41 years of touring, writing, and recording, Keen announced in late 2021 that his next tour would be his last. A Houston native, Keen is one of the Lone Star state’s legendary singer-songwriters. Keen has said he will continue to write music and create, host his popular podcast, support young artists, and follow his artistic muse wherever it takes him.
Keen appeared on Mountain Stage 12 times since 1989, and brought the goods for his final set on the show, performing a career-spanning set of crowd-favorites to a welcoming audience in Charleston, West Virginia.
Our Song of the Week is Keen’s fitting farewell number, “I’m Coming Home.”
Robert Earl Keen-I'm Coming Home , live on Mountain Stage
Recorded 7/24/2022 and broadcast starting 9/30/22.
We’re also treated to live performances from the Dedicated Men of Zion, a group born out of the churches in eastern North Carolina, who bring their gospel-rich quartet harmony to thrilling effect. Emerging traditional country artist Joshua Hedley, and Fargo-born, Austin-incubated, Nashville resident and Western swing devotee Brennen Leigh round out the episode.
Harpers Ferry is a historic West Virginia city and international tourist hub. But four years ago the national park and surrounding town were devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On this West Virginia Morning, tourists from around the world visit Harpers Ferry each year to immerse themselves in U.S. history. But the number of visitors fell in 2020, as public health restrictions ramped up nationwide. Jack Walker visited the town to learn how things have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
This week's broadcast of Mountain Stage was recorded at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, CA. On this episode, host Kathy Mattea welcomes GRAMMY-winning Australian rock star Colin Hay, Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn, legendary folk and country artist Ramblin' Jack Elliott, San Francisco rocker Chuck Prophet and his band The Make Out Quartet, and folk duo The Lucky Valentines.
Across the nation, there are more and more local news deserts; communities with no local newspaper, television or radio station to cover what’s going on. When a small town paper like The Welch News in McDowell County, WV, can’t compete and shuts down, losing those local eyes and ears can affect accountability. No one is there to watch over things. Local news also provides a sense of cohesion and identity for a community. What happens when it’s gone? This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center.