This week, ballads tell stories about all kinds of real-life events, but after Hurricane Helene, one group of ballad singers felt some topics were still too raw. Also, the author of a new book on ancient Ohio credits a former grad student with introducing him to the region’s mysterious earthworks. And, the legacy of Affrilachian poet Norman Jordan includes a summer camp for teens to study their heritage.
Thursday, Dec. 11 and Friday, Dec. 12, 2025 West Virginia Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV
CHARLESTON, WV — Bob Thompson’s annual holiday jazz celebration is back! For over 30 years, Joy to the World has delighted audiences with new and classic holiday favorites. Joining Thompson on stage is his long-time bandmates Timothy Courts on drums, Ryan Kennedy on guitar, John Inghram on bass, plus special guest vocalist Catherine Russell with James Moore on trumpet.
Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 8pm.
World-renowned jazz pianist Bob Thompson is the Mountain State’s best-loved musician and ambassador of jazz. Since 1991, he has been a pianist and regularly featured artist on WVPB’s nationally syndicated radio show, Mountain Stage, distributed by NPR Music. For 33 years, he has also been co-producer and host of Joy to the World, a holiday jazz show broadcast on public radio stations nationwide. In October 2015, Thompson was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. He makes his home in Charleston, West Virginia, and has enjoyed a long and active career as a performer, composer, arranger, and educator. Learn more about his work at colortones.com.
Guest vocalist Catherine Russell is a Grammy Award-winning jazz and blues artist best known for her 2016 album Harlem on My Mind and for her years touring with David Bowie and Steely Dan as a backup vocalist. She has also been a guest artist on Mountain Stage six times since her first appearance in 2006.
Joy to the World is presented by West Virginia Public Broadcastingand the producers of Mountain Stage.
All seats are general admission and are available online at Eventbrite.
Member Tickets on sale Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 10am ET: $25 Early Bird Tickets on sale Friday, Oct. 16 at 10am: $25 (Sales end on Friday, Nov. 28 at 10am) General Admission Tickets on sale Friday, Nov. 28 at 10am: $30 Day of Show Tickets (Dec. 11 and 12): $35
Watch and listen for last season’s show coming to WVPB this December on radio and television. More info coming soon.
Support provided by the United Methodist Foundation of WV
This week, ballads tell stories about all kinds of real-life events, but after Hurricane Helene, one group of ballad singers felt some topics were still too raw. Also, the author of a new book on ancient Ohio credits a former grad student with introducing him to the region’s mysterious earthworks. And, the legacy of Affrilachian poet Norman Jordan includes a summer camp for teens to study their heritage.
When Marion County attorney Scott Summers realized Grant Town was planning to tear down an historic building, he decided to see what he could do to stop it.
Indigenous people created hundreds of earthen monuments in what is now Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. John E. Hancock, a professor of architecture and design at the University of Cincinnati, spent years studying these earthworks. He published a guidebook for visiting them. Inside Appalachia’s Bill Lynch spoke with Hancock about the book.
