live music Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

LISTEN: Hugh Masekela Has The Mountain Stage Song Of The Week

This week’s premiere broadcast is a special episode of Mountain Stage, featuring a compilation of music from around the world performed by some of the most celebrated artists in their genres. This episode features performers such as June Tabor, Angelique Kidjo, Hugh Masekela, Beausoleil, Ali Farka Touré, Zakir Hussein, and many more.

“Around the world it’s just a simple song.” – Mountain Stage theme, composed by Larry Groce.

This week’s premiere broadcast brings you music from all corners of the globe with a Mountain Stage special called “Around the World It’s Just a Simple Song.”  

Our Song of the Week is by Hugh Masekela, the South African trumpeter and activist who performed the popular anti-apartheid song “Bring Him Back Home” (referring to Nelson Mandela) twice on Mountain Stage. First in 1989, and again in 1994.

This version is from the latter appearance recorded in Charleston, West Virginia, two days before Nelson Mandela was inaugurated president of his home country. Emotions ran high that night. Masekela lived in exile from 1960 – 1990, returning only after Mandela was released from 27 years in prison. Hugh left West Virginia the next morning, bound for Pretoria, to be present for Mandela’s inauguration. Hugh Masekela died in 2018.

This special episode also features performers such as June Tabor, Angelique Kidjo, Miho Hatori, Beausoleil, Ali Farka Touré, Zakir Hussain, and many others.

Check out the playlist for a preview, and join us on one of these affiliate stations starting Friday, Feb. 28 to hear the full episode.

LISTEN: Ruthie Foster Has The Mountain Stage Song Of The Week

This week’s encore broadcast of Mountain Stage was recorded on the campus of West Virginia University (WVU) at the Canady Creative Arts Center. Joining us on this episode is Ruthie Foster, Charlie Mars, The Wandering Hearts, Fellow Pynins, Rebecca Porter and guest host David Mayfield.

This week’s encore broadcast of Mountain Stage was recorded on the campus of West Virginia University (WVU) at the Canady Creative Arts Center. Joining us on this episode is Ruthie Foster, Charlie Mars, The Wandering Hearts, Fellow Pynins, Rebecca Porter and guest host David Mayfield.

Our Song of the Week is by the versatile Austin, Texas-based vocal powerhouse Ruthie Foster. The three-time Grammy winner performed “Healing Time,” the upbeat title song from her ninth studio album. Songs from Foster’s 2022 album exude feelings of power, love and freedom, which was felt by the audience who were brought to their feet for a standing ovation at the end of her set.

Starting Friday, Jan. 31, hear Ruthie Foster‘s full set, plus live performances by singer-songwriter Charlie Mars, The Wandering Hearts — who are known for their world-class three-part harmonies, folk duo Fellow Pynins and country singer-songwriter Rebecca Porter.

Tune in to this week’s episode on these public radio stations.

Be sure to check out our podcast page for the newest episodes and sign up for email updates to help plan your trip to be a part of a live show in Charleston, West Virginia and on the road.

LISTEN: Sarah Jarosz Has Our Mountain Stage Song Of The Week

On this week’s encore broadcast of Mountain Stage, host Kathy Mattea welcomes four-time GRAMMY winner Sarah Jarosz, bluegrass master Tim O’Brien and his all-star Band, Irish folk singer-songwriter Karan Casey and her trio, father-daughter duo Dirk & Amelia Powell, and New Orleans’ premier sousaphone, washboard and guitar trio, The Tin Men.

This special episode is a celebration of Tim O’Brien’s 70th birthday and an impressive 50 years of making some of the best roots music in the business.

Our Song of the Week is “Good at What I Do” by Sarah Jarosz, the singer-songwriter who has grown from an instrumental prodigy to a fully realized artist. In her third appearance on Mountain Stage, Jarosz performed a collection of songs from her 2024 release, Polaroid Lovers, which reached #1 on the Americana Radio charts and has been nominated for a GRAMMY in this year’s “Best Americana Album” Category.

Tune in starting Friday, Jan. 3 on these affiliate stations to hear more from Sarah Jarosz, plus live performances by Tim O’Brien Band, Karan Casey Trio, Dirk & Amelia Powell, and The Tin Men.

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LISTEN: Colin Hay Has The Mountain Stage Song Of The Week

This week’s encore broadcast of Mountain Stage was recorded at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, California. On this episode, host Kathy Mattea welcomes GRAMMY-winning Australian rock star Colin Hay, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Bruce Cockburn, legendary folk and country artist Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, San Francisco rocker Chuck Prophet accompanied by his band The Make Out Quartet, and folk duo The Lucky Valentines.

Our Song of the Week is an acoustic rendition of the international hit, “Down Under,” performed by Colin Hay. Originally heard on Men at Work’s 1981 debut album, Business as Usual, “Down Under” was written by the group’s co-founders, Colin Hay and Ron Strykert.

Listen for this episode beginning Friday, Dec. 27 on these public radio stations to hear the entire set from Colin Hay, plus more from Bruce Cockburn, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Chuck Prophet & The Make Out Quartet, and The Lucky Valentines.

If you are listening overseas or on a smart device, the Mountain Stage podcast of archived episodes is now streaming. Also, make sure you are signed up for the Mountain Stage Newsletter to receive the latest updates about upcoming live shows, radio broadcasts and more.

LISTEN: Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle Have The Mountain Stage Song Of The Week

This week’s encore broadcast of Mountain Stage was recorded in Morgantown, West Virginia at the Canady Creative Arts Center on the campus of West Virginia University (WVU) with our friends at WVU Arts & Entertainment. Guest host David Mayfield welcomes modern string band The Steel Wheels, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Leslie Mendelson, Cincinatti-based roots-ensemble Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle, the intricate harmonies of Upstate, and Ivory Coast-born musician Peter One.

Our Song of the Week is “Jim Devlin,” from the acoustic toe-tapping group Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle. The song is about Louisville Grays pitcher Jim Devlin, who was an accomplished hitter and pitcher in the late 1800s, and the first pitcher to use the drop ball or “sinker” in baseball.

Join us for the entire encore episode of Mountain Stage starting Friday, Dec. 20 on these NPR Music stations and be sure to visit our podcast section if you missed part of the show or want to hear something again.

Plan a trip to be a part of our live audience by visiting the Live Show Schedule and pick up tickets via Eventbrite.

LISTEN: Matt Pond PA Has The Mountain Stage Song Of The Week

On this week’s premiere broadcast of Mountain Stage, guest host David Mayfield welcomes Brother Elsey, Jenny Owen Youngs, Matt Pond PA, Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms, and Jeremy Short to the stage for episode 1,045.

On this week’s premiere broadcast of Mountain Stage, guest host David Mayfield welcomes Brother Elsey, Jenny Owen Youngs, Matt Pond PA, Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms, and Jeremy Short to the stage for episode 1,045.

Our Song of the Week comes from Matt Pond PA, a New York-based band formed in Philadelphia by singer-songwriter Matt Pond. Making his debut appearance, Matt and his band performed “Love to Get Used,” a bouncy layered pop song off of Spring Fools, a follow-up EP to his eighth studio album The Dark Leaves.

Hear Matt Pond PA’s full set, plus more live performances by folk rock and country band Brother Elsey, singer-songwriter Jenny Owen Youngs, honkytonk duo Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms, and Appalachian space funk artist Jeremy Short.

Tune in to one of these affiliate stations starting Friday, Dec. 6 to hear the full episode.

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