Tupelo, Mississippi born songwriter Paul Thorn has appeared on Mountain Stage nine times since 1997, each time charming the audience with his trademark humor, wit and introspection. During his appearance in November 2017, he brought extra reinforcements as he presented his Mission Temple Fireworks Revival, featuring renowned family gospel singers The McCrary Sisters.
The band takes its name from this week’s Song of the Week, the outrageous Thorn and Billy Maddox composition “Mission Temple Fireworks Stand”- about a man of faith who sells “Cherry bombs for Jesus in a tent beside the road.”
Paul’s most recent release, “Don’t Let The Devil Ride,” was released this past March.
You’ll hear the entire set from Paul Thorn’s Mission Temple Fireworks Revival on this week’s encore broadcast across 240+ public radio stations, plus performances by North Mississippi Allstars, Bonnie Bishop, Ireland’s Declan O’Rourke as well as a special appearance by WV Storyteller Bil Lepp.
Mountain Stage with Larry Groce announces two live events for November and tickets are available now to Mountain Stage Members.
Tickets are on sale NOW to Mountain Stage Members for two live events in Charleston this November. Both shows go on sale to the public on Friday, August 25. On Sunday November5 Larry Groce will welcome a showcase of roots music mainstays featuring The North Mississippi Allstars, Paul Thorn and his Mission Temple Temple Fireworks Revival, Bonnie Bishop and Ireland’s Declan O’Rourke.
Credit Jason Lee Denton
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Soulful roots vocalist Bonnie Bishop returns to Mountain Stage on November 5. Tickets are available now to Mountain Stage Members.
Brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson have long been carrying the torch of Hill-Country Blues as North Mississippi Allstars, which continues with their latest “Prayer for Peace.” PRAYER FOR PEACE affirms North Mississippi Allstars’ own unique place in the American musical tradition, simultaneously master curators, expert revivalists, and forward-thinking pioneers. “This is a new beginning for North Mississippi Allstars,” says Cody Dickinson. “This revitalizing cascade of creativity and explosion of music, it’s just been incredible. And I feel like we’re just getting started. There’s a long beautiful road ahead of us. We’re only just now hitting our stride.”
Audience members will also get a preview of Paul Thorn’s upcoming gospel influenced album, due in 2018, that features the Blind Boys of Alabama, The McCrary Sisters and others. In case you’re wondering where the band name comes from, here’s a reminder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIsDzRCO5yM
On Sunday November 19 Mountain Stage returns to the Culture Center theater to welcome back, at long last, singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock. He will make his eighth appearance on the show, the first of which was in 1991, the historic day that R.E.M. came to West Virginia (pictured below). Hitchcock is back now with a new self-titled album.
Credit Joanna Tabit
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Robyn Hitchcock performing outside the Capitol Plaza Theater in April, 1991, on his first appearance on Mountain Stage. Robyn returns November 19.
Also making a long-anticipated return to Mountain Stage, for the first time since October of 1991, will be “Avant Garage” band Pere Ubu. The next Pere Ubu studio album, “20 Years In A Montana Missile Silo”, is scheduled for release September 29 on Cherry Red Records. Following the success of their last album, ‘Carnival Of Souls,’ from which two tracks were used in cult TV show ‘American Horror Story,’ it is the latest in an extensive collection of albums that span the band’s 40+ year history. Read more and watch a brand new video via Brooklyn Vegan.
Joining the lineup on November 19 will be Mountain Stage favorites Joan Shelley, Susan Werner plus “probably the world’s only alternative dixieland / omnipop band,” The Chandler Travis Philharmonic.
Tickets for both shows are on sale NOW to Mountain Stage Members, who make a sustaining donation directly to the show. Our members receive exclusive access to tickets to all our Culture Center shows before they are available anywhere else. Visit MountainStage.org/Member to choose a level that’s right for you. Soon after making your gift, you’ll receive an e-mail with a code to purchase your tickets early (Email may take up to two days to generate. Thanks for your patience).
This weekend, Bahamas returns to over 150 NPR stations with his recent performance on the Mountain Stage. But do you know what’s better than one dose of Canadian folk pop-rock? Two doses of Canadian folk pop-rock. That’s where “Mountain Stage After Midnight” comes into play.
Broadcast from 1am-5am Saturday and Sunday mornings here on West Virginia Public Broadcasting, “Mountain Stage After Midnight” takes the best episodes from the show’s 32 year history and shares their memories and songs with our late-night listeners. Each week we’ll hand-pick two of our favorite episodes and they’ll alternate order each night.
Tune in for some great 2013 performances that will air Saturday September 12 and Sunday September 13 on “Mountain Stage After Midnight.”
First you’ll hear a January 2013 performance from London-by-way-of-Kansas singer Piney Gir, indie rocker Bahamas, alt-country troubadour Bonnie Prince Billy, surrealist folk group Camper Van Beethoven, and indie Tex-Mex collective Calexico.
Credit Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage
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Bonnie Bishop on the Mountain Stage in 2013.
Next a February 2013 performance featuring Americana singer-songwriter Bonnie Bishop, alt-country duo Shovels & Rope, country-pop singer Kim Richey, Canandian chanteuse Kathleen Edwards, and West Virginia’s own Kathy Mattea.
Like hearing one-of-a-kind performances? Subscribe to our Mountain Stage Podcast and check out our new #MS2Go episode feat. Bahamas, Dawes, Field Report and more. Connect with the show and keep up with our show shenanigans on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram. Join our monthly email newsletter for up-to-the-minute show announcements and ticket deals. And if Mountain Stage isn’t available in your neck of the woods, contact your public radio station and let them know that you’d like to hear more from Mountain Stage.
