This week, a poet and musician draws inspiration from a distant family connection to the Grand Ole Opry’s Little Jimmy Dickens. Also, for 15 years, a Virginia library has been hosting a weekly Dungeons & Dragons game for teens.
And, a taxidermist in Yadkin County, North Carolina found her calling before she could drive a car.
Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets performed a legendary set, including tunes from their EP Love Starvation/Trombone, and Lowe’s most timeless song, “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding,” which is our Song of the Week.
Lowe was producer on the early works of Elvis Costello, who popularized Lowe’s song “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding.” Here the song is reprised by Lowe and Los Straitjackets as the set-closer of the group’s appearance on this week’s episode of Mountain Stage.
Starting May 31, listeners will also be treated to a set of beautiful songs from Patty Griffin, an amped up performance from alt-rock poet Craig Finn & The Uptown Controllers and the fresh sound of Shook Twins. Find a station that carries Mountain Stage here and be sure to tune in to this ‘can’t miss’ episode. You can also find this archived episode on the Mountain Stage podcast by searching for episode 954.
Be sure to follow along on social media and subscribe to our newsletter for periodic updates and more musical performances.
Finale song with Larry GroceLos StraitjacketsShook TwinsCraig Finn & Uptown ControllersNick LowePatty Griffin
Our Song of the Week comes from The Critton Hollow String Band, a band that has been performing traditional American music to audiences around the world since 1975. The trio stopped by Mountain Stage during their 50th anniversary and performed a handful of songs, including "A Better Life to Find," which is our Song of the Week. The song features an old melody and a traditional refrain, with lyrics updated by the group's Joe Herrmann.
Our Song of the Week comes from singer-songwriter and guitarist Joy Clark. “Tell It To The Wind” was written in a moment of gratitude while Clark was on tour in Waterford, Mississippi at Foxfire Ranch.
On this week’s encore broadcast of Mountain Stage, we revisit the first of two 41st anniversary shows, which were recorded at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, West Virginia in December 2024. Guest host and CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Conor Knighton welcomes Stephen Kellogg, Jill Sobule, Mindy Smith, Caleb Caudle & The Sweet Critters, and The David Mayfield Parade.
Our Song of the Week comes from Catskills singer-songwriter Hannah Cohen. On this episode of Mountain Stage, Cohen performs "Summer Sweat," a single from her newest album, Earthstar Mountain, which Rolling Stone called “one of the best indie releases of the year.”