Appalachia has a rich history of protest music. Today, some regional musicians are using their voices to oppose data centers being built across Appalachia and the artificial intelligence they power. Folkways Reporter Andrea “river” Peterson has more.
WATCH LIVE: St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Mac McAnally and More on Mountain Stage
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Tickets have been sold out for more than a month to this Sunday’s live recording of Mountain Stage with Larry Groce featuring St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Mac McAnally, Chastity Brown, Sarah Siskind and The Wild Reeds.
The good news is that now you can join us from wherever you, no ticket required, thanks to our partners at VuHaus and the video production department here at West Virginia Public Broadcasting, as we record Mountain Stage episode #902. Of course, no one will stop you from making a contribution to say “Thanks”‘ for the live stream.
Just point your browser to MountainStage.org or VuHaus.com at 7pm EST and enjoy the show. We’ll open with a performance by Sarah Siskind, whose songs have been recorded by Alison Krauss (the GRAMMY-nominated “Simple Love”) and Bon Iver (“Lovin’s For Fools”), among many others.
Singer and songwriter Sarah Siskind returns to Mountain Stage this Sunday and you can watch live from anywhere at MountainStage.org.
Next we will hear The Wild Reeds, fresh off an appearance at this year’s Newport Folk Festival. Built around the vocals of Kinsey Lee, Sharon Silva and Mackenzie Howe, The Wild Reeds are supporting their latest release for Dualtone records, “The World We Built.” The hour will end with the genre-spanning sounds of Minneapolis-based singer, songwriter and instrumentalist Chastity Brown, who we first met while hanging around at the Gun Flint Tavern in Grand Marais, MN. Her latest, “Silhouettes of Sirens” is out now on Red House Records.
The second hour of the program will begin with a set from Singer-Songwriter Hall of Fame member Mac McAnally, who is taking a break as the guitarist in Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band to appear on Mountain Stage for the third time. Mac’s latest release, “Southbound,” is due August 25 and is the first of his 14 albums to present all-original material in McAnally’s newly arranged orchestral context.
Mac McAnally made his first appearance on Mountain Stage in 1989. His latest, “Southbound,” features his songs performed with an orchestra.
After our pianist Bob Thompson’s featured song, we will welcome back St. Paul and The Broken Bones who have been a tour de force of modern soul influenced rock and R&B. Their latest, “Sea of Noise” was released last September. The band is just back from a European tour.
For those of you watching along online, make sure to share your listening/watching experience with us! Use #MountainStage and #gotowv.
Mountain Stage is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting and distributed by NPR Music. This episode is scheduled for national distribution starting October 6, 2017.
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Mountain Stage is changing locations for its final two live events of 2026. The Sunday, Nov. 15 show will now take place at the Charleston Theater at the Convention Center, and the Sunday, Dec. 6 show will be held at the Capitol Theater in Downtown Charleston.
Since her estate made the announcement of her passing on Aug. 25, grieving fans have written tributes and fond remembrances. Mountain Stage Host and fellow country music star Kathy Mattea, who has spent a little time with Dolly, shared a few memories with Inside Appalachia Host Mason Adams.
On this West Virginia Week, a second data center is coming to Mason County, the Rural Health Transformation Program Funds are beginning to be distributed in the state, and remembering Dolly Parton.
This week, we remember the one and only Dolly Parton. Dolly used her musical success to help others. She started the Imagination Library, a free book program for children that included some of her favorites, like the "Little Engine that Could." And, Dolly’s kindness touched people from all walks of life.