Mountain Blog

2011 was an exciting year for Mountain Stage. We made our first trip to the Midwest, and made a whole bunch of new friends when we visited the North House Folk School back in September. Over the summer, we said goodbye to executive producer Andy Ridenour. And in just a couple days, producer Linda McSparin rides off into the sunset. So it was only fitting for Mountain Stage to kick off the year in a big way, beginning our 28^th season in Glasgow, Scotland, as a part of their 2011 Celtic Connections Festival.

This was Mountain Stage's first (and only) trip across the ocean, and we were honored to work with legendary soul-gospel singer Mavis Staples. You’ll hear an extended set from Mavis and her top-notch band in what was her first-ever performance in Scotland at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. You can hear a preview in our Song of the Week, featuring the title track to Staples' Jeff Tweedy produced, Grammy winning album, You Are Not Alone. 

Scottish folk singer Dougie MacLean also stopped by the Royal Concert Hall to record with us for what was his fifth appearance on Mountain Stage. You haven’t heard MacLean’s Scottish anthem “Caledonia” until you’ve heard an ecstatic crowd singing along with him, like they do on this week’s broadcast.

We also welcomed West Virginia native Mollie O’Brien and her husband Rich Moore to perform songs from their new release Saints & Sinners. Naturally, Mollie’s brother Tim, who has appeared on Mountain Stage more times than any other artist, also joined the Mountain Stage Band to performs a duet version of “The Water Is Wide” with pianist Bob Thompson.

And the show kicks off with the white-hot Boston-based string band Joy Kills Sorrow, who was definitely one of the hardest working bands at the Celtic Connections Festival. They do a couple of tunes from their critically album Darkness Sure Becomes This City, and a some new songs from their follow up This Unknown Science.

Check out the Playlist for a list of tunes performed, find a radio station that carries Mountain Stage in your area, and be sure to tell some friends on facebook. If Mountain Stage isn't carried in your area, consider writing to your local public station and let them know you’d like to hear Mountain Stage every week! We thank you for tuning in.