NPR Music Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

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

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

This week’s 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, March 29 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: Joan Osborne has the Mountain Stage Song of the Week, ‘Shake Your Hips’

Eight-time Grammy nominee Joan Osborne returns to Mountain Stage for the ninth time on this week’s broadcast. Osborne joined us to perform songs from her latest album including her groove-heavy version of Slim Harpo’s “Shake Your Hips,” which we’ve chosen as our Song of the Week.

Eight-time Grammy nominee Joan Osborne returns to Mountain Stage for the ninth time on this week’s broadcast.

Osborne is known as a great song interpreter, putting her unique touch on the songs of Bob Dylan, Allen Touissaint, and The Grateful Dead to name just a few. Her latest album on her Womanly Hips label, Radio Waves, features in-studio radio performances from throughout her career.

Osborne joined us to perform songs from that new release, including her groove-heavy version of Slim Harpo’s “Shake Your Hips,” which we’ve chosen as our Song of the Week.

Elsewhere on this week’s episode we hear from songwriter and singer Griffin House, modern alt-country ring-leaders Abby Hamilton and 49 Winchester, and the driving rock sound of Dave Hause & the Mermaid.

Check out the entire episode when it hits our NPR Music stations starting Friday, Feb. 17, and be sure to register for updates from our email newsletter.

Listen: Tyler Childers Has The Mountain Stage Song of the Week

Our Song of the Week comes from Kentucky’s renowned country artist Tyler Childers.

Childers first appeared on Mountain Stage in 2017 and has been one of the fastest rising stars in all of music. In September of 2020, Tyler surprised many by announcing the release of his fifth studio record, ‘Long Violent History’, which accompanied a 5-minute video calling for justice for Breonna Taylor while encouraging his fans to dig deep into the issues surrounding systemic racism. The album showcases Tyler’s newly acquired fiddle chops and the string band roots that have surrounded him in eastern Kentucky.

1 of 6 — Miss Tess & The Talkbacks

Miss Tess & The Talkbacks made their Mountain Stage debut in 2019 during the show’s 36th anniversary celebration.

Jimmy Downard

2 of 6 — Mary Gauthier

Mary Gauthier and Jaimee Harris perform on Mountain Stage.

Jimmy Downard

3 of 6 — Johnny Staats

West Virginia super-picker Johnny Staats and The Delivery Boys joined the 36th anniversary line-up in 2019.

Jimmy Downard

4 of 6 — Larry Groce

Larry Groce, artistic director, host and co-founder of Mountain Stage opening the show.

Jimmy Downard

5 of 6 — Bil Lepp

Storyteller Bil Lepp made a repeat appearance to commemorate 36 years of Mountain Stage.

Jimmy Downard

6 of 6 — Finale line-up

Finale song closes out the 36th anniversary episode recorded in December of 2019.

Jimmy Downard

On this week’s show we’ll also hear from songwriting great Mary Gauthier, mandolin super-picker Johnny Staats and the Delivery Boys, some jazzy-alt-country from Miss Tess & the Talkbacks, plus we’ll be visited by West Virginia Storyteller Bil Lepp. Click here for the playlist.

Find a station where you can listen here, and check out our video of “All Your’n” via our NPR Music Live Sessions Channel below.

Listen: Birds of Chicago Have our Song of the Week

JT Nero and Allison Russell release music as Birds of Chicago, who made their third appearance on Mountain Stage in 2019, as we’ll hear on this weekend’s encore broadcast, hitting NPR Music stations starting January 15.

Joined by guitarist Steve Dawson, our Song of the Week is Birds of Chicago’s “Lodestar,” which appears on Love in Wartime, the band’s 2018 full-length release.

1 of 5 — San Fermin, 2019

Indie-pop ensemble San Fermin performing on Mountain Stage in 2019.

BRIAN BLAUSER / Mountain Stage

2 of 5 — Birds of Chicago, 2019

Birds of Chicago performing on Mountain Stage in 2019.

BRIAN BLAUSER / Mountain Stage

3 of 5 — Fruit Bats (solo) 2019

A solo appearance by Fruit Bats on Mountain Stage from 2019.

BRIAN BLAUSER / Mountain Stage

4 of 5 — Cataldo, 2019

Cataldo performing on Mountain Stage in 2019

BRIAN BLAUSER / Mountain Stage

5 of 5

Artists gather for the finale song in November 2019. Hear this episode on your favorite public radio station soon.

Brian Blauser / Mountain Stage

Since this recording vocalist and songwriter Alison Russell joined Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, and Leyla McCalla to release “Songs of Our Native Daughters,” and Russell’s first solo album is due on Fantasy Records in 2021.

Closing the show are indie-pop mini-orchestra San Fermin, whose immersive set includes songs from the first volume of their two-part series, The Cormorant I. The Cormorant I & II are the first releases from composer and songwriter Ellis Ludwig-Leone and vocalist Allen Tate’s new label venture with Sony Masterworks called Better Company. The Cormorant II was released in February of 2020 and both albums can be purchased and streamed at San Fermin’s website.

We’ll also hear solo sets from Fruit Bats’ Eric D. Johnson and one from Eric Anderson- who records as Cataldo, plus New York City indie-quartet Office Culture, on this week’s broadcast of Mountain Stage with Larry Groce.

Click here to find a station that carries Mountain Stage in your area. Be sure to check out our page at NPR Music and sign up for our newsletter for periodic updates in your inbox.

Listen: Cave Twins Have the Mountain Stage Song of the Week

This week’s broadcast comes from November 2019, when we recorded in Charleston, W.Va. with Ohio based duo Cave Twins. Featuring David Mayfield on mandolin and Abby Rose on guitar, the pair sing beautiful harmony on a heartfelt dose of encouragement for our Song of the Week, “Keep on Singing.”

Though it was recorded a little over a year ago, the song is a nice anthem for starting a new year.

"Then life gets tough, and you've had enough And it brings it to your knees Open up a window and let the blues fly out on the wings of a melody- Keep on Singing"

Cave Twins

The song appears on the duo’s debut recording Best Friends for Now. Last month Cave Twins released a new single, “Mighty Mountain Monster,” as well as a holiday tune to support a main streets program in their home state of Ohio. You can hear the songs and support Cave Twins on BandCamp.

1 of 5 — Chely Wright, 2019

Chely Wright performing on Mountain Stage, 2019

2 of 5 — Michaela Anne, 2019

Michaela Anne, performing on Mountain Stage in 2019

3 of 5 — The Claudettes

The Claudettes take a bow on Mountain Stage, 2019

4 of 5 — Andrew Combs, 2019

Andrew Combs performing on Mountain Stage in 2019

5 of 5 — Finale Song 11-3-2019

Artists gather for the finale song. Hear the show starting Jan. 8

Tune in to this week’s broadcast for the entire set from Cave Twins, plus live performances by country music star Chely Wright, breakout Americana singer and songwriter Michaela Anne, contemplative folk singer and writer Andrew Combs, and genre-blurring, piano-driven power-houses The Claudettes, on this week’s episode of Mountain Stage starting Friday, January 8.

Click here for the list of stations that carry Mountain Stage, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for all the latest.

Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams Have the Mountain Stage Song of the Week

After being a part of the band for legendary drummer and singer Levon Helm- and frequently guesting with heavyweights like Phil Lesh, Little Feat, and Hot Tuna’s Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady- multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter Larry Campbell and singer-guitarist Teresa Williams make their most beautiful music together. The duo appears on Mountain Stage for the second time during this week’s broadcast, recorded in October of 2019 in Charleston, W.Va.

Together, Larry and Teresa have released two exceptional albums, including their most recent Contraband Love. Our Song of the Week is the pair’s rousing version of the gospel blues tune “Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning,” which is featured on their debut, self-titled album.

Larry and Teresa recently launched “It Was The Music”, a film in 10 episodes chronicling the lives and love of Larry Campbell and Teresa Willams, directed by award-winning filmmaker Mark Moskowitz. The all-star cast includes Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Lucinda Williams and many more. Watch the trailer here and find out where you can see the film, available on multiple platforms, at this link.

1 of 6 — Robert Randolph and the Family Band, 2019

Robert Randolph & the Family Band appear on this week’s broadcast, starting January 1, 2021

BRIAN BLAUSER / Mountain Stage

2 of 6 — Larry & Teresa, 2019

Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams performing on Mountain Stage in 2019.

BRIAN BLAUSER / Mountain Stage

3 of 6 — Allison Moorer, live on Mountain Stage 2019

Allison Moorer, appearing on Mountain Stage in 2019.

BRIAN BLAUSER / Mountain Stage

4 of 6 — Mick Flannery, 2019

Mick Flannery joins us on Mountain Stage starting New Years Day, 2021

BRIAN BLAUSER / Mountain Stage

5 of 6 — Hayes Carll, with Allison and Band, 2019

Hayes Carll is joined by Allison Moorer on this week’s broadcast, recorded in October of 2019.

BRIAN BLAUSER / Mountain Stage

6 of 6 — Kathy Mattea Hosting 2019

Kathy Mattea is our guest host for this week’s broadcast, recorded in October 2019.

BRIAN BLAUSER / Mountain Stage

Hear the entire set from Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, as well as energetic performances from Robert Randolph & The Family Band, songwriter Hayes Carll, singer-songwriter and new author Allison Moorer, and Ireland’s Mick Flannery, on this week’s episode of Mountain Stage with guest host Kathy Mattea.

Listen to Mountain Stage on one of these stations across the country, and be sure to follow our Facebook page for more live musical performances.