The latest album from Kentucky’s Joan Shelley was produced by Wilco bandleader and songwriter Jeff Tweedy, in his Chicago studio. The pair met backstage at a Mountain Stage taping in February 2016, and the resulting album, Joan Shelley, is a beautiful testament to Shelley’s enchanting vocals and timeless, heartfelt songwriting. You can hear all of Shelley’s charms in “The Push and Pull,” our Song of the Week.
You’ll hear Shelley’s entire set, plus performances from Robyn Hitchcock, Pere Ubu, Susan Werner and The Chandler Travis Philharmonic on this week’s encore episode of Mountain Stage with Larry Groce.
Mountain Stage host Larry Groce got together with staff for the daunting task of choosing some of their favorite performances from the year 2017. We truly enjoy all our guests, and choosing favorites can seem subjective. So here are our 34 Highlights from the 34th Season of Mountain Stage. Curated by Larry and our staff- Executive Producer Adam Harris, Associate Producers Jeff Shirley and Vasilia Scouras, and our Digital Engineer Patrick Stephens- the list is presented in alphabetical order, from Andrew Bird to Mokoomba to Tyler Childers.
From 26 shows, recorded in six different cities, including 10 road shows across three states, you’ll find two Andrews, two Pauls, and one Will & Grace star.
Not seeing your favorite? Leave us a note in the comments, send us a Tweet (@MountainStage), or share your thoughts on Facebook.
Thanks to all the artists we worked with in 2017, to our colleagues at WVPB and NPR Music, and to each and every radio listener, ticket holder and public radio member out there.
Thank you, and Happy New Year.
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Andrew Bird– Are You Serious (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on January 27, 2017- Episode #888)
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Andrew Combs– Better Way (WVU Creative Arts Center in Morgantown, WV on September 10, 2017 – Episode #905)
2017-10-27_andrew_combs-better_way.mp3
Andrew Combs- Better Way, live on Mountain Stage
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Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn– Divine Bell (The Clay Center in Charleston, WV on May 14, 2017- Episode #897)
Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn- Divine Bell, live on Mountain Stage
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Bill Kirchen- The Times They are A-Changin’(Harper-McNeely Center during the Augusta Heritage Festival on August 12, 2017 at Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, WV- Episode #903)
Kishi Bashi with strings- Can’t Let Go, Juno (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on June 25, 2017- Episode #899)
2017-09-15_kishi_bashi-can_t_let_go_juno.mp3
Kishi Bashi with Strings – "Can't Let Go, Juno" – Live from Mountain Stage
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Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands- Millionaire (Harper-McNeely Center during the Augusta Heritage Festival on August 12, 2017 at Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, WV- Episode #903)
Margo Price- Hurtin’ (on the Bottle) (Little Theater – Charleston Civic Center in Charleston, WV on February 26, 2017- Episode #890)
2017-04-07_margo_price-hurtin_on_the_bottle.mp3
Margo Price – "Hurtin' (on the Bottle)" – Live from NPR's Mountain Stage
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Mokoomba- Kumukanda (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on July 23, 2017- Episode #901)
2017-09-29_Mokoomba-Kumukanda.mp3
Mokoomba- Kumukanda, live on Mountain Stage
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Nancy And Beth- Waiting for My Child (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on May 7, 2017 – Episode #896)
2017-06-02_nancy___beth-waiting_for_my_child.mp3
Nancy And Beth – "Waiting for My Child" – Live from NPR's Mountain Stage
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Otis Gibbs- Sputnik Monroe (ETSU in Johnson City, TN – April 2, 2017 – Episode #893)
mtnstage170505_otis_gibbs-sputnik_monroe.mp3
Otis Gibbs- Sputnik Monroe, live on Mountain Stage.
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Paul Kelly – Rising Moon (Clay Center in Charleston, WV on October 8, 2017- Episode #907)
2017-11-10_paul_kelly-rising_moon.mp3
Paul Kelly sings "Rising Moon," live on Mountain Stage.
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Paul Thorn’s Mission Temple Fireworks Revival – Mission Temple Fireworks Stand (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV November 5, 2017 – Episode #910)
Tim O'Brien – Where the River Meets the Road, live on Mountain Stage.
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Tyler Childers- Universal Sound (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on June 29, 2017- Episode #899)
2017-09-15_tyler_childers-universal_sound.mp3
Tyler Childers- Universal Sound, live on Mountain Stage
We kick off our 35th season of live shows starting January 14 in Morgantown, WV and we’ll be back to fresh broadcasts and podcasts starting in March 2018. Subscribe below so you don’t miss a note!
Thanks to everyone out there listening because without you there would be no Mountain Stage and we never forget that.
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.
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.
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).