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The hillbilly stereotype is frequently used to shame mountain people, but there are gentler versions, like Snuffy Smith, the long-running comic strip character. Snuffy Smith originally started out as a supporting character in his comic strip, which first launched in 1919 when Billy DeBeck created Barney Google. Artist Fred Lasswell was brought in during the ‘30s to create Snuffy Smith and his friends. And now the strip is written and drawn by John Rose, who lives in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.
Mountain Stage w/ Larry Groce has been named a Best WV Attraction in the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards by USA Today.
The ten attractions that received the most votes are below. Thank you to everyone who voted, shared and voted again for Mountain Stage. We’re pleased to be ranked among such great company. Whether you’re from near or far, we encourage you to come see a live show sometime- we have seven shows on sale now-and it’s always fun to start with our partners at Wild, Wonderful West Virginia and The Charleston West Virginia CVB for help planning your trip.
The top ten winners in Best WV Attraction are as follows:
Update: Voting has officially closed in the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards and we thank all of you who continued voting for Mountain Stage as “Best WV Attraction.”
The results are due on Friday January 19, so keep an eye here at wvpublic.org, and be sure to follow Mountain Stage on social media, for more updates. No matter the results, we know and recognize all the incredible things our state has to offer, and we are proud to be nominated among such beautiful and historic attractions and locations.
A national media outlet has nominated Mountain Stage for its Readers’ Choice Award and you can help.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Mountain Stage with Larry Groce, heard weekly on more than 200 NPR stations around the country, is nominated for “Best WV Attraction” in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
The contest runs through Monday, January 15 and you can cast one vote daily.
“Our audience has always been, and will always be, an essential part of what we do at Mountain Stage,” said the show’s host and co-founder Larry Groce. “The state is filled with great attractions, so we’d love it if you would take this opportunity to help play a different role, by helping us get to the top of the leader board!”
Credit Courtesey of the Artist
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John Oats brings his Good Road Band to Mountain Stage in Morgantown, WV Sunday Januar 14.
Mountain Stage kicks off its 35th season in Morgantown, WV Sunday, January 14 at the WVU Creative Arts Center. Ticket holders will take part in a live music experience that will be heard across the country via our NPR stations and world wide via the Mountain Stage Podcast. You can also watch select performances via VuHaus.com and sample full sets at NPR Music.
Last year Larry Groce was named a “Southerner of the Year” by Southern Living Magazine, and you can listen to highlights from the program’s 34th season here.
On this week's premiere broadcast on Mountain Stage, guest host David Mayfield welcomes Solas, Tim O’Brien & Jan Fabricius, Amanda Cook Band, Clymer & Kurtz, and Darrin Hacquard.
On this West Virginia Week, the state budget is headed to Gov. Patrick Morrisey, a statewide public camping ban bill moves forward, and Inside Appalachia visits Good Hot Fish.
On this week’s encore broadcast of Mountain Stage, host Kathy Mattea welcomes Dan Tyminski, Darrell Scott, I Draw Slow, Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert, and Jacob Jolliff Band. This episode was recorded live at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV.
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.