On this week's broadcast of Mountain Stage, we revisit an episode from 2019 featuring Gregory Alan Isakov, Elysian Fields, Mandolin Orange, The Brother Brothers and Hush Kids. Recorded in Morgantown, West Virginia at the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center with host Larry Groce.
Wassailing, Folk Art And Grandma’s Potato Candy, Inside Appalachia
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This week, we go a-wassailing in Asheville, North Carolina. It’s kind of like Christmas caroling, with a kick.
We also visit Kentucky’s Minnie Adkins. She’s had a long career as a folk artist, which began with a pocket knife.
And, family recipes bring generations together. But what happens when you’ve got grandma’s potato candy recipe, and it doesn’t have exact measurements?
You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
It’s the time of year when merrymakers roam the streets to sing and bring good cheer. In Asheville, North Carolina, one group of friends has taken up the English tradition of wassailing to connect to their roots.
Folkways Reporter Rebecca Williams has this story.
A Visit With A Matriarch Of Folk Art
Minnie Adkins has elevated whittling to an art. In fact, some people have even described the 89-year-old Kentucky woodcarver as “the matriarch of Appalachian Folk Art.” But Adkins? She says she’s just a whittler.
Randy Yohe sat down with Adkins to talk with her about her craft.
Reverse Engineering Grandma’s Candy
Treasured family recipes get passed down, but not all of these old recipes used standard measurements. So how do you know you’re getting the mix right, especially if you’ve never tried it?
For Brenda Sandoval in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, an old family recipe involved some trial and error – and an assist from a cousin. Folkways Reporter Capri Cafaro has more.
Story Wars
Over the holidays, lots of people break out the party games. West Virginia native Harrison Reishman has developed a card game he’s hoping becomes a favorite at your next get-together. It’s called Story Wars, where players try to come up with the wildest, craziest story. Bill Lynch has more.
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by The Sycomores, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, the Cappella Bell Choir and Bob Thompson. Special thanks to Roxy Todd for recording Jim Bartlett playing the pipe organ with an assortment of goats.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
On this week's broadcast of Mountain Stage, we revisit an episode from 2019 featuring Gregory Alan Isakov, Elysian Fields, Mandolin Orange, The Brother Brothers and Hush Kids. Recorded in Morgantown, West Virginia at the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center with host Larry Groce.
A local history preservation group is working to rehabilitate the battered First Zion Baptist Church, a historic Black church in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.
On this West Virginia Morning, we hear from Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, chair of the West Virginia Democratic Party, on the efforts to rebuild the party and restore Democrats to state offices ahead of this primary election. Also, we hear about preservation efforts for a historic Black church in Harpers Ferry.
Homelessness is not just an issue for big cities like San Francisco or New York City. Across America, communities large and small are struggling to provide shelter to people without housing. In Charleston, West Virginia, government and community approaches to help the unhoused have created more debate on an issue that is already divisive. Earlier this year, this episode received a second place award from the Virginias AP Broadcasters for Best Podcast.