Mountain Stage Story Archives - Page 3 of 74 - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Mountain Stage’s Own Larry Groce To Receive Honorary Degree From West Virginia University

West Virginia Public Broadcasting is proud to announce that Larry Groce, co-founder and artistic director of Mountain Stage, will receive an honorary degree Saturday, Dec. 17 during the WVU December commencement ceremonies.

CHARLESTON, WV — West Virginia Public Broadcasting is proud to announce that Larry Groce, co-founder and artistic director of Mountain Stage, will receive an honorary degree Saturday, Dec. 17 during the WVU December commencement ceremonies.

WVU President Gordon Gee will award Groce his Honorary Degree along with Carrie Lee Gillette, a special education teacher at Weir High School in Weirton.

“Larry Groce is a legend in the music industry,” said WVPB Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Butch Antolini. “Thirty-nine years ago, this month, Larry launched Mountain Stage and what has taken place since then is West Virginia history.”

In addition to his legendary work on Mountain Stage, Groce is a member of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame and Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Groce is being recognized for his overall contributions to the arts. Gillette is the first to receive what will be an annual Presidential Honorary Degree to celebrate the work of public school personnel throughout the Mountain State.

“Mountain Stage is now recognized internationally and is broadcast on nearly 300 stations all across America,” Antolini added. “The show is a true calling card for our state thanks to Larry’s vision and persistence. We are thrilled to be the exclusive producers of Mountain Stage and we can never thank Larry enough for all his contributions to the program’s success. He is a very deserving recipient of this honorary degree.”

Produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting and distributed by NPR Music, Mountain Stage can be heard every week on nearly 300 public radio stations across America, and around the world via NPR Music and mountainstage.org.

Recorded in front of a live audience primarily in Charleston, West Virginia, Mountain Stage features performances from seasoned legends and emerging stars in genres ranging from folk, blues, and country to indie rock, synth pop, world music, alternative, and beyond.

The program’s original host and co-founder Larry Groce handed over full-time hosting responsibilities to West Virginia native and Grammy winner Kathy Mattea in September 2021.

Visit mountainstage.org for a list of upcoming live performances, listen to the live stream, or explore our archive of previous shows.

THIS SUNDAY: Mountain Stage In Charleston With Laurie Lewis, Maya de Vitry And More

Tickets are still available for this Sunday's Mountain Stage taping in Charleston, W.Va. You can be a part of the radio audience as we record for NPR Music at the Culture Center Theater on the state capitol grounds at 7p.m. EST.

Mountain Stage is back at the Culture Center Theater with our host Kathy Mattea on the state capitol grounds this Sunday, August 28. Tickets are still available to join us as we make great radio with our guests, bluegrass pioneer Laurie Lewis, former Stray Bird member Maya de Vitry, Eastern Kentucky singer-songwriter Tiffany Williams, a fun young group called Bill and The Belles, and a Pittsburgh based roots duo called The Early Mays.

For four decades, Laurie Lewis’ name has become synonymous with the West Coast Bluegrass Scene. She’s a two-time International Bluegrass Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year. Her songs have been recorded by many established artists, including Mountain Stage host Kathy Mattea.

A wonderfully versatile singer and multi-instrumentalist, Maya de Vitry’s music is anchored in a deep love of song-makers like John Prine and Townes Van Zandt, with vocal presence akin to Nina Simone or Bonnie Raitt, with a bit of Appalachian string band music mixed in as well. Maya has played throughout West Virginia and around the country- as a member of The Stray Birds, and she just released her third solo album, Violet Light.

Tiffany Williams from Kentucky has an enchanting debut full-length album called “All Those Days of Drinking Dust,” She comes from a coal mining family and her music is a solid addition to the New Appalachian Movement that includes acts like Tyler Childers, The Local Honeys, and John R. Miller.

On the border between old-time music and modern American songwriting, The Early Mays have a sound based on wonderful harmonies that will catch your attention, and stories that will no doubt capture your imagination.

Bill and the Belles is a delightfully deadpan group with the kind of musicality and humor that make for great live performance, and great radio.

They’re all in live performance, along with host Kathy Mattea, plus Julie Adams, Bob Thompson and the Mountain Stage Band, this Sunday, August 28 at 7p.m., at the Culture Center Theater on the state capitol grounds –Tickets are still available via Eventbrite.

As usual a live stream will be offered starting at 7p.m. at MountainStage.org and at LiveSessions.NPR.org. The stream is free to enjoy, but anyone who wishes to support the show can purchase a “pay what you wish” ticket via Eventbrite.

LISTEN: 'I See The Moon' By North Mississippi Allstars Is Our Mountain Stage Song Of The Week

This week's encore broadcast of Mountain Stage features performances from North Mississippi Allstars, Cedric Burnside, Kate Vargas, Corey Harris and Jonah Tolchin. Tune in starting Friday, Aug. 19 on more than 280 NPR stations across the country.

This week’s broadcast of Mountain Stage features a performance from North Mississippi Allstars whose new album, Set Sail, was released in early 2022 on New West Records.

North Mississippi Allstars "I See The Moon" live on Mountain Stage

North Mississippi Allstars perform their song "I See The Moon" on Mountain Stage. The song appears on their album "Set Sail," coming January 2022.

Ahead of this appearance, the band added bassist Jesse Williams and vocalist Lamar Williams, Jr. to the group that was founded by brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson in 1996. This performance of “I See The Moon” features vocals by Cedric Burnside, himself a guest on this same episode, and vocalist Sharisse Norman.

1 of 6 — Cedric Burnside

Cedric Burnside performing on Mountain Stage. Listen starting this Friday for the entire show.

Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage

2 of 6 — Corey Harris

Corey Harris performing on Mountain Stage. Hear the entire show on our NPR affiliates starting Dec. 3, 2021.

Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage

3 of 6 — Kate Vargas on Mountain Stage 2021

Kate Vargas returns to Mountain Stage for her second appearance. Hear the show starting Friday, Dec. 3.

Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage

4 of 6 — Jonah Tolchin on Mountain Stage

New Jersey’s Jonah Tolchin performs on Mountain Stage. Hear the episode starting Friday Dec. 3 on our NPR affiliates.

Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage

5 of 6 — North Mississippi Allstars on Mountain Stage in 2021

North Mississippi Allstars performing on Mountain Stage in 2021. Hear their set starting Friday, Dec. 3 on our NPR stations.

Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage

6 of 6 — Finale song for Dec. 3

Artists join host Larry Groce for one more song at the end of this week’s episode. Tune in starting Dec. 3.

Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage

Co-founder and artistic director Larry Groce is back at the host microphone this week, and he welcomes performances from the Allstars, Cedric Burnside, Virginia-based blues man Corey Harris, jazz-tinged vocalist and songwriter Kate Vargas, and New Jersey’s Jonah Tolchin.

Visit the playlist and find a station in your area where you can listen when the episode starts airing this Friday, Aug. 19.

Listen: Stephanie Lambring's Powerful 'Pretty' Is Our Song Of The Week From Mountain Stage

This week's encore broadcast of Mountain Stage with host Kathy Mattea features bluegrass favorites The SteelDrivers, Pokey Lafarge, alt-pop songwriter Seth Glier, country-tinged songwriter Stephanie Lambring and modern finger-style guitarist Yasmin Williams. Listen starting this Friday, August 12 on these NPR stations to hear the entire show.

This weeks encore broadcast of Mountain Stage with host Kathy Mattea features bluegrass favorites The SteelDrivers, indie-alt darling Pokey LaFarge, pop-leaning songwriter and singer Seth Glier, country-tinged songwriter Stephanie Lambring and fingerstyle guitarist Yasmin Williams. Listen starting this Friday on these NPR stations to hear the entire show, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast so you don’t miss a note.

Our Song of the Week comes from Nashville based songwriter Stephanie Lambring. A confessional song with vivid imagery, “Pretty” appears on Lambring’s enthralling debut album Autonomy.

Stephanie Lambring – "Pretty," performed live on Mountain Stage

Nashville-based singer songwriter Stephanie Lambring performs a song from her debut album, "Autonomy", recorded live on Mountain Stage.

We’re also treated to a powerful set from The SteelDrivers, who performed some of their best-loved songs from their catalog and some new songs from their latest on Rounder Records, Bad For You. Retro-tinged songwriter Pokey LaFarge spent his time during the pandemic working on songs from his latest, available on New West Records, called In The Blossom Of The Shade, and he performs some songs from that release in a special solo performance. Multi-instrumentalist Seth Glier joins us for the third time, accompanied by violinist Kelly Halloran, for another powerful performance of songs from his latest, The Coronation.

Innovative guitarist Yasmin Williams, whose path to her primary instrument started with Guitar Hero 2, has a sound that you may not think can come from just one person. She builds sonic landscapes using her unique finger-style approach, as well as a string hammer (dulcimer style!) and some tap shoes. Look for videos of her on our LiveSessions Channel. We’ve embedded one below the photos in this post. Her album on Spinster Sounds is called Urban Driftwood.

1 of 5 — The SteelDrivers on Mountain Stage

Bluegrass greats The SteelDrivers perform on Mountain Stage in 2021. This episode hits stations starting November 19

Amos Perrine / Mountain Stage

2 of 5 — Pokey LaFarge

Pokey LaFarge performing on Mountain Stage in 2021. Hear the show staring Nov. 19 on our affiliates.

Amos Perrine / Mountain Stage

3 of 5 — Seth Glier By Amos Perrine

Seth Glier joins us this week, along with Kelly Halloran. Listen starting November 19.

Amos Perrine / Mountain Stage

4 of 5 — Yasmin Williams on Mountain Stage

Guitarist Yasmin Williams on Mountain Stage in 2021.

Amos Perrine / Mountain Stage

5 of 5 — Finale Song 11-7-21

Artists gather with host Kathy Mattea for the finale song of this week’s episode. Hear the show starting November 19 on our affiliate stations.

Amos Perrine / Mountain Stage

LISTEN: Tim O’Brien Has Our Song Of The Week, Recorded At The Kennedy Center

This week’s encore episode was recorded at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Mountain Stage and host Kathy Mattea were a part of the Center’s 50th Anniversary Season, and welcomed Texas Swing legends Asleep at the Wheel, soul-blues singer Ruthie Foster, multi-cultural folk singer Leyla McCalla, indie-pop songwriter Carsie Blanton, and Grammy-winning West Virginian Tim O’Brien with Jan Fabricius. Join us starting Friday, August 5, 2022 on our NPR affiliates.

This week’s episode was recorded at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Mountain Stage and host Kathy Mattea were a part of the Center’s 50^th Anniversary Season, and welcomed Texas Swing legends Asleep at the Wheel, soul-blues singer Ruthie Foster, multi-cultural folk singer Leyla McCalla, indie-pop songwriter Carsie Blanton and Grammy-winning West Virginian Tim O’Brien with Jan Fabricius. Join us starting Friday, August 5 on our NPR affiliates.

Our Song of the Week comes from the duo of O’Brien and Fabricius who perform “Nervous,” a timely commentary about modern times that appears on O’Brien’s latest album He Walked On.

In this new world they say digital is best But I need to take a rest, I just can’t find the fun In all the zeros and the ones, I’m nervous

Tim O'Brien – "Nervous"

Tim O'Brien & Jan Fabricius "Nervous," Live on Mountain Stage

Recorded at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Mountain Stage, as part of the 50th Anniversary Season.

Listeners will also hear a special performance by Kathy Mattea and our pianist Bob Thompson, accompanied by a string quartet of National Symphony Orchestra Youth Fellows, of Dave Mallet’s touching ballad “Summer of My Dreams.”

Kathy Mattea performs with National Youth Symphony fellows during a live taping of the NPR program ‘Mountain Stage’ at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, October 24, 2021. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR)

It just so happened that our final guests, Asleep at the Wheel, were celebrating their 50^th anniversary as well. They treated us to a career spanning set of Texas Swing that only they can deliver. Too bad you can’t hear juggling on the radio!

1 of 7 — Asleep At The Wheel celebrated 50 years on Mountain Stage, recorded at The Kennedy Center in 2021.

The band Asleep at the Wheel performs during a live taping of the NPR program ‘Mountain Stage’ at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, October 24, 2021. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for NPR)