West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Mountain Stage with Larry Groce

+ Mountain Stage Web site

When

Sunday, February 11

Where

WVU Creative Arts Center

Show Performers

Iris Dement
Helping usher in the era of “new traditionalists,” the Arkansas native has a voice as honest as it is pure and a sound reminiscent of music that has washed around the hills for generations. DeMint’s indie debut “Infamous Angel” earned her a deal with Warner Bros., which reissued it in 1993. In 1996, her eclectic “The Way I Should” showcased a more rock-influenced sound and a newfound political and social outspokenness. In 1999, she recorded four duets with folk icon John Prine which earned her a Grammy nomination the following year. In 2004, after an eight-year hiatus from recording, Dement released “Lifeline,” a collection of age-old gospel and church tunes from the 19th Century.

J. D. Crowe & The New South
A perennial on the bluegrass circuit since the early '70s, banjoist J.D. Crowe had a profound influence on what would come to be called “progressive bluegrass”—melding traditional bluegrass with more contemporary influences. Inspired by a Flatt & Scruggs' show at the Kentucky Barn Dance, the Lexington, Kentucky native began studying Scruggs' technique when he was a teenager. When Jimmy Martin hired him as one of his Sunny Mountain Boys, Crowe quickly began adding a variety of songs to the set. His first solo venture, the Kentucky Mountain Boys, featured Red Allen and Doyle Lawson. His next band, the New South, featured Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas and Bobby Sloan—and, incorporating electric instruments, effectively changed the face of bluegrass. The next lineup featured Keith Whitley on guitar and vocals. In 1980, Crowe formed the Bluegrass Album Band with Rice, Bobby Hicks, Doyle Lawson and Todd Phillips. Meanwhile, the New South continued to tour and record. His latest release is titled “Lefty's Old Guitar.”

Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
One of the top mandolinists in bluegrass since the early-1960s, Doyle Lawson cut his teeth working with Jimmy Martin & the Sunny Mountain Boys and J.D. Crowe & the Kentucky Mountain Boys. He then spent eight years playing with progressive bluegrass group, the Country Gentlemen. When Lawson formed Quicksilver in 1980, he incorporated traditional gospel quartet singing into his fiery bluegrass style. At various times, Quicksilver has featured Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and Mike Auldridge. Over the years, Lawson has recruited new members for Quicksilver but always maintained the group's high standard. Lawson is the longtime host of the Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver bluegrass festival in Denton, North Carolina.

The Greencards
With just three years under its collective belt, this Austin-based, multi-national bluegrass trio, comprised of Australians Kym Warner and Carol Young, and British fiddler Eamon McLoughlin, has been racking up serious accolades: The group was voted Best New Band at the 2004 Austin Music Awards and nominated for Best New Emerging Talent at the 2004 Americana Awards. Texas singer/songwriter Robert Earl Keen said of the Greencards' music, “It's the best bluegrass I've heard in 20 years.” The Greencards won New/Emerging Artist of the Year at the 2006 Americana Music Association Awards and Favorite International Artist by popular vote in the 2006 HEMI Awards.

Freeman, Bloom & Shank
This accomplished and incredibly talented trio expands the vocabulary of a dizzying array of traditional instruments. Longtime West Virginian Alan Freeman is a master of the dulcimer whose repertoire includes everything from traditional and Celtic to ragtime and swing. He has conducted dulcimer workshops at Ohio University, Appalachian State University, and the Augusta Heritage Festival. Freeman has taken first place honors at five Galax Fiddler's Conventions, numerous West Virginia State Folk Festivals and seven consecutive Vandalia Gatherings. A member of Wheeling, West Virginia's "“WWVA Jamboree USA,” Freeman is the only full-time dulcimer player on any major country music radio show. Playing instruments ranging from bandura, concert zither and dobro to balalaika, Irish flute and Northumbrian Pipes, Ken Bloom has been a regular performer at festival and clubs throughout the U.S. and Canada. Bloom builds obscure instruments like the Bandura and Kantel and has taught “Playing the Bowed Dulcimer” at the Western Carolina University Mountain Dulcimer Week. Bob Shank is a multi-instrumentalist whose band Hickory Wind recorded for Chicago's now-defunct Flying Fish label. He now operates Otter Slide Studios and plays with several bands including The Curmudgeonly Old Hickory Winded Frothy Slosh Band and Stewed Mulligan.

Morgantown Rounders
The Morgantown Rounders are an Old-Time string band of eclectic proportions. They are traditionalists pushing the envelope of tradition, infusing high-energy square dance exhilaration into a mix of vintage songs. Unlike bluegrassers, their goal is not to be the fastest trick players but they have plenty of tricks up their sleeves. With a brew of Appalachian tunes at the core you will hear cajun, honky tonk, folk, outlaw country, and other things that rock in varying degrees. From Woody to Hank to Willie to Beau Soleil in the blink of a set, all done as an acoustic string band.

Ticket Information

General Admission
$15 in advance; $20 day-of-show
Buy Tickets online