Mountain Stage: Where Musicians Come to Play

catullus · #1 January 30th, 2006

I am from just outside of Charleston, WV and frequently get tickets for "West Virginia's best kept secret" (althought my girlfriend claims its her) at our capitol complex. Mountain Stage, as its called, has a vast array of award winning performers ranging from bluegrass, to blues, rock, jazz, and country. For 10-15$ you get a 3-hour show, in a very intimate setting, with these artists. I am fortunate enough to be the son of an employee at their biggest sponsor, so I end up with free tickets whenever I want. Lucky me!

I just went to a show this evening featuring; Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, The Biscuit Burners, Shawn Camp, Alecia Nugent, and Jon Randall.

This year I have watched (and talked to/mingled with) well known artists such as Buddy Guy, John Pizzarelli (amazing performance), Beausoleil, Bruce Hornsby, Travis Tritt & Ricky Skaggs, Bruce Cockburn, a last minute secretive and very special guest appearance by John Mayer Trio, Jerry Douglas, and many others. There are also other lesser-known appearances. I was very fortunate to meet a very talented young artist by the name of David Jacobs-Strain. He turned out to be one of the best resonator/slide players Ive ever heard live, not to mention that he has the singing/soulfull voice of a well versed blues singer.

This evening there were people in the audience as far away as Northern California, Northern Canada, and even New Zealand. So if you are in the area, stop by to discover West Virginia's biggest secret. www.mountainstage.org

catullus · #2 January 30th, 2006

oh yeah, and even if you cant come in person, Mountain Stage is broadcast worldwide through XM satilite radio, as well as through radio stations state-side. http://www.mountainstage.com/html/radio_stations.html

You can always check a show online as well.

Clancy · #3 January 30th, 2006

Wow, it must be cool to have a venue so close by where you can see such talented artists in an intimate setting. Lucky you!

Clancy

nagukush · #4 January 30th, 2006

Hey buddy, You're really lucky !

danthelion · #5 January 30th, 2006

Hi Catullus

New Zealand is not that far away, it's less than 20 hours flying to WV. :-)
We actually have Mountain Stage on TV here, it's on a free channel that has all the foreign stuff like all the various news programs & movies in different languages etc...
In fact it's on tonight at 8pm! (31/01/06)
Hey Jean, if you're reading this check it out at:
http://www.tritv.co.nz/fortnightly-schedule.htm

I will be out, but will try to tape it. Last night we went down to the Auckland harbour (where they had the last 2 America's Cup yatch races) as they are currently having a buskers festival, some amazingly talented people there, as we were leaving 2 guys were sitting on opposite sides of the street, one with a banjo & the other with a guitar, and you probably guessed it, they did duelling banjos. (The only guitar I saw)

Dan

Alfcarguy · #6 January 31st, 2006

I watch this show on tv every weekend/weekday. And this is no little place these people are playing at. I would say its like a 10 thousand people size place. Its not small.Or it don't look small. Alot of its folk style, don't need all the musician's in the world backing you. And I like that aspect of it. I can't get enough of it, unless its like bluesgrass stuff. But they show alot of blues stuff and I really like that.

catullus · #7 January 31st, 2006

Nah, the venue isnt that large at all (most area high school auditoriums are larger! lol). They have, in the past held shows at Charleston's new Clay Center, which does house around 10,000. Some of their better shows have been hosted there, one at which the so called "Mutual Admiration Society" played. Also, two or three shows, one including Buddy Guy, were hosted in Huntington, WV which also has a larger venue. To be more specific, the Cultural Center where Mountain Stage is usually housed, at full capacity (which Ive only seen once or twice... as with Ricky Skaggs and Travis Tritt) has 986 seats. At a normal show, youll have half that.

Yeah, I agree, I love the bluegrass, and especially the jazz and blues shows.... I loved John Pizzarelli and his 7-string. :-)

P.S. - Now that I think of it, Andy Ridenour, Executive Producer (l) & host Larry Groce, have only announced filming of preformances during the larger shows Ive been to. They always make it clear that we are "on the air". lol