This week, before emancipation, Appalachia provided pathways to freedom for enslaved people trying to escape bondage. A new project identifies more than two dozen previously unknown underground railroad sites. Also, the Fly Around Music & Arts Festival in North Carolina was inspired by the hard work that followed Hurricane Helene. And, a ballad about floods recorded a generation ago still provides solace for people today.
LISTEN: Loudon Wainwright III Has The Mountain Stage Song of The Week
Loudon Wainwright III performs on Mountain Stage in Rochester, NY.Chris Morris/Mountain Stage
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Host Kathy Mattea welcomes Loudon Wainwright III, Janiva Magness, John Ellison & Joe Beard, Dan Navarro, and Ali McGuirk on this week’s encore broadcast of Mountain Stage, recorded live at Kodak Hall at the beautiful Eastman Theatre in Rochester, NY.
Our Song of the Week comes from the charming, topical folk singer-songwriter, Loudon Wainwright III, who has made over 17 appearances on Mountain Stage across every decade that the show has existed since 1983. His performance of “Middle of the Night” is our Song of the Week.
Tune in to an affiliate station near you starting Friday, Jan. 30 to hear Loudon’s full set, plus more live performances by GRAMMY-nominated blues and soul singer Janiva Magness, a pair of Rochester Music Hall of Famers; singer/writer John “Some Kind of Wonderful” Ellison and blues guitarist and vocalist Joe Beard, plus songwriter and former Lowen & Navarro member Dan Navarro, and guitar-driven folk-rock from Ali McGuirk.
Thank you to our partners WRUR – The Route, and the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music for inviting us to town.
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Joe BeardJaniva MagnessDan NavarroJohn EllisonAli McGuirkLoudon Wainwright IIIFinale song with Kathy Mattea
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On this week’s encore broadcast of Mountain Stage, CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Conor Knighton joins us as guest host to welcome The Baseball Project, The Minus 5, Bob Mould, Chris Stamey, and Loose Cattle.
This week’s encore broadcast of Mountain Stage was recorded live at the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center in Morgantown, WV. Guest host David Mayfield welcomed Chuck Prophet & His Cumbia Shoes, The SteelDrivers, Basia Bulat, The Wildwoods, and Taylor Rae.
Our Song of the Week is “Suitcase Song,” performed by stylistic chameleon Nellie McKay. Originally featured on Nellie’s 2004 debut album, Get Away from Me, “Suitcase Song” was rereleased on Gee Whiz: The Get Away from Me Demos, in 2025.
Our Song of the Week comes from Margaret Glaspy, a California-born, New York-based indie folk rocker and singer-songwriter. During her third appearance on Mountain Stage, she performed a handful of original songs and covers from her latest release, The Golden Heart Protector. Our Song of the Week is a stripped-down version of her original song “Get Back,” which appears on her 2023 album, Echo the Diamond.
