“America’s Got Talent” winner Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. is bringing along a friend to his series of West Virginia holiday concerts this month.
Murphy announced Thursday on social media that former “The Voice” contestant Holly Forbes will join him on his Home for the Holidays Tour.
Forbes is from the eastern Kentucky community of Argillite. She recently finished in the top 10 of the NBC talent show.
Murphy’s tour includes five shows that are open to the public. The scheduled concerts will be Dec. 10 in Huntington, Dec. 16 in Point Pleasant, Dec. 17 in Parkersburg, Dec. 18 in Clarksburg and Dec. 19 in Lewisburg. Ticket prices vary depending on the venue.
Murphy also will perform at a Dec. 9 private event in his hometown of Logan. According to Murphy’s Facebook page, other concert dates may be added.
In 2011, Murphy’s smooth renditions of Frank Sinatra hits helped earn him $1 million, his own Las Vegas show and a recording contract when he won “America’s Got Talent” on NBC.
It’s that time of year again when Trey’s Twitter and Facebook feed flare up with posts about a “War on Christmas.” Every year there’s hubbub over how saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” is TOO politically correct, or that a nativity scene doesn’t belong on government property. Christmas traditionalists feel there’s an attack on this sacred holiday. While secularists seem bothered that this religious holiday has a privileged place in a country known for its separation of church and state. For this (mostly fun) episode, Trey and historian Adam Laats ponder the nature of this so-called “war.”
Chestnuts are roasting, Jack Frost is nipping and Mountain Stage is jingling with a holly jolly holiday special! Broadcast from 1am-5am Saturday and Sunday mornings here on West Virginia Public Radio, “Mountain Stage After Midnight” takes the best performances from the show’s 31 year history and shares their memories and songs with our late-night listeners. Each week we’ll hand-pick two of our favorite episodes that’ll alternate order each night.
Tune in this Saturday December 20 and Sunday December 21 on “Mountain Stage After Midnight” for the best holiday playlist.
You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout, I’m tell’n you why: Santa Larry is coming to town! Mountain Stage’s Larry Groce joins Joni Deutsch for two hours of hand-picked Mountain Stage songs and stories that invoke the holiday season and its musical brightness. Hear Larry’s holiday stories from the Mountain Stage, not to mention holiday ditties from Tim & Mollie O’Brien, Kathy Mattea, The Roches, Michael Martin Murphey and more.
Credit Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage
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Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons, performing on Mountain Stage in 2009.
Next you’ll hear a 2009 holiday show featuring progressive bluegrass singer John Cowan, rock-icana outfit Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons, West Virginia-based ragtime duo Pianafiddle, seasonal artist collective Winterbloom and Canadian jazz singer Holly Cole.
Need some more holiday music? Head to West Virginia PBS on December 21 at 8pm to watch Joy to the World 2014 with Bob Thompson and guest vocalist Mollie O’Brien. Starting next Tuesday at 8pm, you can hear marathon of Joy to the World 2013 with Bob Thompson and guest vocalist Heather Masse on West Virginia Public Radio.
As always, you can learn more about Mountain Stage on our new website, which features past show playlists and even a 24/7 Mountain Stage stream? Keep in touch with us on the show’s Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram, and subscribe to The Mountain Stage Podcast on iTunes to hear the best live performances around these public radio parts.
Indie/alternative sleigh bells ring; are you listening? To celebrate this winter wonderland of a season, “A Change of Tune” host Joni Deutsch chatted with some holiday music hitmakers. Since Chanukah is just around the corner (December 16, to be exact), it only made sense to go to TeamMate frontman Scott Simons, the Bridgeport, West Virginia-native behind such poppy holiday classics as “Chanukah in West Virginia” and “I Won’t be Home for Chanukah.” Needless to say, Simons’ tunes are a breath of fresh air compared to Adam Sandler’s typical Chanukah fare. If you’re a fan of catchy and heartfelt holiday tunes that relate to the Mountain State, this interview and music are recommended for you.
Scott Simons just released some new music with his band TeamMate, and you can keep up with their holiday and non-holiday shenanigans on their website and social media. To hear more of Simons’ holiday jams, tune in to Joni Deutsch’s Happy Indie Holidays edition of A Change of Tune Saturday, December 20 at 10 PM EST on West Virginia Public Radio.
Indie/alternative sleigh bells ring; are you listening? To celebrate this winter wonderland of a season, “A Change of Tune” host Joni Deutsch chatted with holiday music hitmakers. First up: Gareth David, otherwise known as the frontman and glockenspiel player for seminal British indie rock band Los Campesinos! The band just released A Los Campesinos! Christmas, a six-song EP that features original holiday tunes and a delightfully bummed out cover of Mud’s “Lonely this Christmas.” If you’re a fan of happy-go-punky holiday music that the whole family can enjoy, this interview and music are recommended for you.
Los Campesinos! released A Los Campesinos! Christmas this past month. You can keep up with the band’s holiday and non-holiday shenanigans on their website and social media. To hear more of their musical winter tidings, tune in to the #HappyIndieHolidays edition of A Change of Tune Saturday December 20 at 10 PM EST on West Virginia Public Radio.
Watch The New York Philharmonic Gala with Yo-Yo Ma Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. on WV PBS
Live From Lincoln Center will ring in the new year with a special broadcast of the New York Philharmonic’s Opening Gala concert from Avery Fisher Hall featuring Music Director Alan Gilbert and special guest cello soloist Yo-Yo Ma.
The Opening Gala concert will feature dance-inspired orchestral works, including “Azul” by Osvaldo Golijov, a cello concert written for Ma; the world premiere of an arrangement of Astor Piazzolla’s “La serie del Ángel” by Octavio Brunetti, commissioned by the New York Philharmonic; and two classics by Maurice Ravel, “Alborada del gracioso” and “Boléro.”
The broadcast, hosted by Audra McDonald, will also feature interstitial interviews with Yo-Yo Ma and composer Osvaldo Golijov.
