Adam Harris, Author at West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Yonder Mountain String Band Added to Mountain Stage Schedule

Exciting things are on tap for our fall schedule of live Mountain Stage events. There are five shows scheduled and we just made some exciting new additions that you can read about below.

We’ve added the “first family of banjo,” Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, to our October 26 live recording at the Culture Center Theater on the capitol grounds here in Charleston. Tickets are available online, at Taylor Books or by calling 800.594.TIXX(8499). Here’s a recent write-up from Rolling Stone Country.

This event will be a part of FestivALL FALL, which runs October 24-26.

Also scheduled to appear on October 26 are Australian pop sensation Kate Miller-Heidke, power-house blues vocalist Janiva Magness and Irish duo Storyman, who have appeared twice on Mountain Stage as Guggenheim Grotto.

In other live-show news:

October 5 is SOLD OUT! We are excited to welcome Puss N Boots, a country-tinged trio featuring Sasha Dobson, Norah Jones and Catherine Popper, to our show in support of their debut album, “No Fools, No Fun,” which is out now. As you might guess, advance tickets sold out VERY quickly. We also sold the remainder of our “Fall Access Ticket Packs,” which included a ticket to each of the five shows.

Any available tickets will be put on sale on show day, starting at 5p.m., for $25 at the Culture Center Theater. Also appearing October 5 are Blake Mills, The Duhks, Jill Barber and Curtis McMurtry.

The Devil Makes Three, who opened shows recently for Alison Krauss & Willie Nelson, are appearing on Mountain Stage in Charleston Sunday November 2.

Also just announced- Sunday November 2 we welcome Yonder Mountain String Band and The Devil Makes Three, alongside peerless songwriter James McMurtry and emerging duo Lily & Madeleine. We expect tickets for this one to go fast also, so get them now while you still can.

Visit our Live Show Schedule for the entire list of upcoming events and make plans to join us. All shows are at the Culture Center Theater on the state capitol grounds. Doors open at 6:30p.m. and shows start at 7p.m. Keep up on the latest news by following our show on Twitter and be sure to “like” us on Facebook.

Yonder Mountain String Band join the line-up for Mountain Stage in Charleston on Sunday, November 2 at the Culture Center Theater.

Mountain Stage Fall Schedule, Ticket Deal Announced

July is history and the Halloween candy is already showing up in stores. That means it’s never too soon to start thinking about raking leaves, Pumpkin Ales, and cooler weather. With all of the perks that Fall brings also comes a bunch of great Mountain Stage events we’re planning here in Charleston, WV. We’d love to have you come see a show in person.

We have five great shows lined-up with guests that include The Duhks, Shovels and Rope, Todd Snider, Elizabeth Cook, Kate Miller-Heidke and James McMurtry, among others (with more being added in the coming weeks). For the first time we’re offering a “Fall Access Ticket Pack”, with one ticket to each of the five shows, for $60. This package will be available, along with individual tickets to each of the shows, Monday August 4 at 8am. Just hit this link to see the full schedule, and HERE to buy your Fall Access Ticket Pack.

All shows are at 7pm, Culture Center Theater on the Capitol grounds in Charleston, WV. Individual tickets are $15 in Advance and $25 Day of Show (when available).

Sunday October 5, 2014– We welcome the return of progressive roots music outfit The Duhks, producer, guitarist and songwriter extraordinaire Blake Mills(currently at work with the Alabama Shakes), and Canadian jazz vocalist Jill Barber.

Sunday October 12, 2014– Americana duo Shovels & Rope, indie-rock newcomers San Fermin and unmistakable voice of Kat Edmonson, will all appear.

Sunday October 19, 2014- The incomparable Todd Snider and his East Nashville side-kick and X M Satellite Radio host Elizabeth Cook will appear, with other artists to be announced.

Sunday October 26, 2014– Mountain Stage takes part in FestivALL FALL and welcomes Australian pop sensation Kate Miller-Heidke. Need a brief intro? May we recommend her Pledge Music video or her performance of “O Vertigo” below.

Sunday November 2, 2014 – James McMurtry, who made his first appearance on Mountain Stage in 1992, returns to preview a new album he has in the works for 2015. Emerging duo Lily & Madeleine will make their first Mountain Stage appearance as well.

As always, you can stay up to date with us by following our Twitter, look behind the scenes on Instagram, and join the 22,500 or so fans engaging with us on Facebook. We hope you can go hear some live music, wherever you are, just as soon as you can.

Mountain Stage After Midnight- July 5 & 6

The July 4 weekend brings about a new way of hearing Mountain Stage as we present “Mountain Stage After Midnight,” from 1am-5am Saturday and Sunday mornings here on WV Public Radio. It’s all part of the improved radio schedule that we know you’ll appreciate, and we’re excited to be sharing the greatest episodes from our 31 year history with our late-night listeners. Each week we’ll hand-pick two of our favorite episodes and they’ll alternate order each night.

Here’s what is in store for you Saturday July 5 and Sunday July 6 on Mountain Stage After Midnight.

First, an episode from September 2009 featuring Indigo Girls, Chris Smither, Jill Hennessy, Alison Brown Band and Gary Jules. We taped this show at The Clay Center and it features an extra special rendition of “Closer to Fine,” with Jill Hennessy and Alison Brown both joining Emily & Amy of The Indigo Girls. See the playlist.

"Mary Chapin Carpenter taught me this tuning and I wrote like 16 songs with it. Never paid her a dime." – Emily Saliers, introducing "Galileo"

Next you’ll hear an episode recorded at the WVU Creative Arts Center in Morgantown with WVU Arts & Entertainment featuring the wonderful Regina Spektor, progressive indie-darlings Yo La Tengo, slide-guitar genius Sonny Landreth, double-threat singer-songwriter Will Hoge and Canada’s Great Lake Swimmers. Listen for Hoge performing “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” which would go on to be his first #1 when it was cut three years later by the Eli Young Band. See the playlist.

"Rock and Roll, the reason that we're all here, is such an innocent thing. You hear a record or a song and it changes you forever. This is a song about falling back in love with rock-n-roll." -Will Hoge, introducing "Even If It Breaks Your Heart."

Will Hoge performed sitting down in 2009, as he was still recovering from an accident that left him unable to play guitar for more than 4 months.

Three Reasons to Get ALL ACCESS from Mountain Stage tonight

UPDATE: ALL ACCESS tickets have sold out. If you haven’t purchased a ticket or reserved a seat but would like to participate in cocktail hour and the silent auction, a suggested donation of $50 is requested. If you can’t attend and would like to make a donation, simply click here.

Mountain Stage is hosting “ALL ACCESS,” a fundraiser to benefit the Mountain Stage Digital Archive Project. ~~Tickets are still available, but seating is limited.~~

Money raised will go towards digitizing, indexing and building a web-portal where the world will be able to hear all 800+ episodes of Mountain Stage. Everyone who attends is helping build the digital archive of over 2,000 hours of unique, exciting live performances.

But, here are three additional reasons to be there:

1. Limited Edition Larry Groce Bobblehead

ALL ACCESS attendees will get the first chance to purchase the highly anticipated Larry Groce bobble head. We have extremely limited quantities, they’re all hand-numbered and Larry has signed each one.

2. The Mountain Stage Ale

You can be one of the first to try our namesake brew from our friends at the Charleston Brewing Company. A blend of citra and mosaic hops, this crisp refreshment is the perfect compliment to some live music, which will be provided at ALL ACCESS by long-time Mountain Stage pianist Bob Thompson and our very special guest, Tim O’Brien.

3. Silent Auction With One-of-a-Kind Memorabilia

There will be a silent auction with one-of-a-kind memorabilia from some of our long-time friends, including R.E.M., Billy Bragg, Kathy Mattea, Brett Dennen, Del McCoury, Ani DiFranco, The Indigo Girls, Nellie McKay and more. Other items include a house-concert with Larry Groce and a free recording session at the home studio of Production Manager Paul Flaherty.

Still need convincing? How about the elegant Italian buffet provided by Cafe Cimino Country Inn, the renowned dining and bed & breakfast destination in beautiful Sutton, WV? You’ll be able to enjoy one of Charleston’s most beautiful views from the Sunrise Mansion, now the offices of Farmer, Cline & Campbell PLLC.

If you’re unable to attend, you can contribute to this project anytime just by clicking here, and making a gift through our secure server.

This event wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Friends of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Hope to see you this Saturday.

Tori Amos Covers Nirvana on 1992 Mountain Stage Performance

On Thursday April 10 the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted seminal grunge rockers Nirvana into its 2014 class. The next morning the internet was abuzz about the female-led performances that honored the group’s late front-man Kurt Cobain(1967-1994). Reunited Nirvana members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic were joined on stage by Joan Jett, Kim Gordon, St. Vincent and Lorde to pay homage to the late grunge-music icon.

So we’re taking this moment to look back on a performance- recorded two years prior to Cobain’s death- that Mountain Stage host Larry Groce called “enthralling.”

This powerful rendition of “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” was recorded September 20, 1992, by another popular female singer, songwriter and pianist, Tori Amos.

If you appreciate hearing these gems from our ARCHIVE, consider a donation to help us digitize it entirely so the world can hear it.

Hear the "Best of" Mountain Stage 2013

Join us on WV Public Radio Saturday, April 5 at 8p.m. for a special edition of “Mountain Stage w/ Larry Groce.” You’ll hear a “Best of 2013” review of the show’s historic 30th year of live performance radio, curated by host and artistic director Larry Groce and “Mountain Stage” staff.

You’ll be front-and-center for performances by Dawes, Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Loudon Wainwright, Jason Isbell, Jesse Winchester and many more.

Larry Groce and Adam Harris will also be live in the studio asking for support during our “Listen, Support, Sustain” membership campaign. You can contribute online at WVPublic.org or call 1-800-RADIO-87 to contribute.

You can let us know you’re listening via our social media outlets. We’ll be tweeting during the show @MountainStage using the hashtag #SupportWVPublic and #MountainStage. You can also join us on Instagram.

Thirty years of Mountain Stage wouldn’t be possible without our radio listeners. We never forget that. We hope you can listen, wherever you are, tonight at 8 p.m.