Joni Deutsch Published

Mountain Stage's Favorite Performances of 2016

best_of.jpg
Listen

2016 was a big year for NPR Music and West Virginia Public Broadcasting‘s Mountain Stage. We celebrated 33 years of live performance radio, commemorated the 25th anniversary of R.E.M.’s legendary set, and listened to the voices of two new guest hosts

And across seven venues in four states, we recorded over 120 live sets that showcased the best and brightest musicians in the world today. Along the way, we video streamed eight of our shows through VuHaus and made some new #gotowv friends along the way (with posters and glass records in tow!).  Of course, none of this would have happened without your support.

Before we embark on another musical year around the sun, Larry Groce and the Mountain Stage crew have picked out 33 performances that deserve another listen and another round of applause. From A to Z, these are our favorite Mountain Stage performances of 2016. (Hint: click the Episode # for their Mountain Stage podcast episode, where available.)

————————————————————————————————————————

Aoife O’Donovan – In the Magic Hour (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on October 30, 2016 – Episode #883)

DSC_0465.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage
/
Aoife O’Donovan on Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Billy Bragg & Joe Henry – Gentle On My Mind (Byham Theater in Pittsburgh, PA on September 25, 2016 with WYEP & Pittsburgh Cultural Trust – Episode #879)

20160925-60.JPG

Credit Josh Saul/Mountain Stage
/
Mountain Stage
Billy Bragg & Joe Henry on Mountain Stage
2016-10-28_billy_bragg___joe_henry-gentle_on_my_mind.mp3
Billy Bragg & Joe Henry – "Gentle on My Mind" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Bottle Rockets – Dog (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on March 20, 2016 – Episode #866)

20160313-58.JPG

Credit Josh Saul/Mountain Stage
/
Bottle Rockets on Mountain Stage
2016-04-29_bottle_rockets-dog.mp3
Bottle Rockets – "Dog" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Brett Dennen – Cassidy (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on May 8, 2016 – Episode #870)

brett4.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage
/
Brett Dennen on Mountain Stage
2016-06-03_brett_dennen-cassidy.mp3
Brett Dennen – "Cassidy" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Cheryl Wheeler – Estate Sale (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on July 24, 2016 – Episode #874)

DSC_0363.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage
/
Cheryl Wheeler on Mountain Stage
2016-12-06_cheryl_wheeler-estate_sale.mp3
Cheryl Wheeler – "Estate Sale" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Chris Smither – Leave the Light On (Byham Theater in Pittsburgh, PA on September 25, 2016 with WYEP & Pittsburgh Cultural Trust – Episode #879)

20160925-16.JPG

Credit Josh Saul/Mountain Stage
/
Chris Smither on Mountain Stage
mtnstage161028_chris_smither-leave_the_light_on.mp3
Chris Smither – "Leave the Light On" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Darrell Scott – Desperados Waiting for a Train (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on May 22, 2016 – Episode #871)

20160522-23.JPG

Credit Josh Saul/Mountain Stage
/
Darrell Scott on Mountain Stage
mtnstage160610_darrell_scott-desperados_waiting_for_a_train.mp3
Darrell Scott – "Desperados Waiting for a Train" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Foy Vance – Ziggy Looked Me In The Eye (Clay Center in Charleston, WV on October 16, 2016 – Episode #881)

DSC_0466.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage
/
Foy Vance on Mountain Stage
2016-11-11_foy_vance-children_of_the_revolution.mp3
Foy Vance – "Ziggy Looked Me In The Eye" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Hayes Carll – Sake of the Song (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on May 22, 2016 – Episode #871)

DSC_4891.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage
/
Hayes Carll on Mountain Stage
2016-06-10_hayes_carll-sake_of_the_song.mp3
Hayes Carll – "Sake of the Song" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Indigo Girls – Shame on You (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on September 18, 2016 – Episode #878)

DSC_0400.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage
/
Indigo Girls on Mountain Stage
2016-12-06_indigo_girls-shame_on_you.mp3
Indigo Girls – "Shame on You" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Iron & Wine – We Two are Moon (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on December 4, 2016 – Episode #885)

DSC_1083.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage
/
Iron & Wine on Mountain Stage
2016-12-06_iron___wine-we_too_are_moon.mp3
Iron & Wine – "We Too are Moon" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Jerry Douglas presents The Earls of Leicester – Down the Road (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on July 24, 2016 – Episode #874)

DSC_0591.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage
/
Jerry Douglas presents The Earls of Leicester on Mountain Stage
2016-12-06_earls_of_leicester-down_the_road.mp3
Jerry Douglas presents The Earls of Leicester – "Down the Road" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

John Paul White – Once and Future Queen (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on November 20, 2016 – Episode #884)

20161120-47.jpg

Credit Josh Saul/Mountain Stage
/
John Paul White on Mountain Stage
2016-12-09_john_paul_white-once_and_future_queen.mp3
John Paul White – "Once and Future Queen" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Judy Collins with Ari Hest – I Choose Love (West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV on April 17, 2016 – Episode #868)

JudyAri3.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/MountainStage
/
Judy Collins with Ari Hest on Mountain Stage
2016-05-13_judy_collins-i_choose_love.mp3
Judy Collins with Ari Hest – "I Choose Love" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Lake Street Dive – Call Off Your Dogs (Clay Center in Charleston, WV on June 5, 2016 – Episode #872)

20160605-41_0.JPG

Credit Josh Saul/Mountain Stage
/
Lake Street Dive on Mountain Stage
mtnstage160909_lake_street_dive-call_off_your_dogs.mp3
Lake Street Dive – "Call Off Your Dogs" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Lucius – I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on June 26, 2016 – Episode #873)

20160626-111.JPG

Credit Josh Saul/Mountain Stage
/
Lucius on Mountain Stage

2016-09-16_lucius-i_can_t_help_falling_in_love.mp3
Lucius – "I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Margaret Glaspy – Emotions and Math (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on June 26, 2016 – Episode #873)

20160626-31.JPG

Credit Josh Saul/Mountain Stage
/
Margaret Glaspy on Mountain Stage
mtnstage160916_lucius_margaret_glaspy-emotions_and_math.mp3
Margaret Glaspy – "Emotions and Math" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Mike Cooley – Made Up English Oceans (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on March 20, 2016 – Episode #866)

20160313-29.JPG

Credit Josh Saul/Mountain Stage
/
Mike Cooley on Mountain Stage
mtnstage2016_mike_cooley-english_oceans.mp3
Mike Cooley – "English Oceans" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Ona – Sleep, Rinse, Repeat (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on February 21, 2016 – Episode #864)

DSC_1971.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/MountainStage
/
Ona on Mountain Stage
mtnstage2016_ona-sleep_rinse_repeat_fix.mp3
Ona – "Sleep, Rinse, Repeat" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Overcoats – Smaller Than My Mother (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on February 21, 2016 – Episode #864)

DSC_1951.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/MountainStage
/
Overcoats on Mountain Stage
mtnstage2016_overcoats-smaller_than_my_mother.mp3
Overcoats – "Smaller Than My Mother" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Rhiannon Giddens – At the Purchaser’s Option (Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, WV on August 13, 2016 – Episode #876)

201607813-38.JPG

Credit Josh Saul/Mountain Stage
/
Rhiannon Giddens on Mountain Stage
2016-10-07_rhiannon_giddens-the_purchaser_s_dillema.mp3
Rhiannon Giddens – "At the Purchaser's Option" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Robbie Fulks – Aunt Peg’s Old Man (University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY on April 3, 2016, with WUKY – Episode #867)

20160403-9_0.JPG

Credit Josh Saul/Mountain Stage
/
Robbie Fulks on Mountain Stage

2016-12-09_robbie_fulks-aunt_peg_s_new_old_man.mp3
Robbie Fulks – "Aunt Peg's Old Man" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Robert Ellis – California (Byham Theater in Pittsburgh, PA on September 25, 2016 with WYEP & Pittsburgh Cultural Trust – Episode #879)

20160925-53.JPG

Credit Josh Saul/Mountain Stage
/
Robert Ellis on Mountain Stage

mtnstage161028_robert_ellis-california.mp3
Robert Ellis – "California" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Sarah Jarosz – House of Mercy (University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY on April 3, 2016 with WUKY – Episode #867)

sarah20.JPG

Credit Josh Saul/Mountain Stage
/
Sarah Jarosz on Mountain Stage
2016-06-17_sarah_jarosz-house_of_mercy.mp3
Sarah Jarosz – "House of Mercy" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Steve Poltz – Folksinger (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on May 1, 2016 – Episode #869)

poltz5.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/MountainStage
/
Steve Poltz on Mountain Stage
2016-12-06_steve_poltz-folksinger.mp3
Steve Poltz – "Folksinger" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Suzzy Roche and Lucy Wainwright Roche – Bleeker Street (Clay Center in Charleston, WV on June 5, 2016 – Episode #872)

DSC_0014.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage
/
Suzzy Roche and Lucy Wainwright Roche on Mountain Stage

2016-12-06_lucy_wainwright_roche___suzy_roche-bleeker_street.mp3
Suzzy Roche and Lucy Wainwright Roche – "Bleeker Street" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

The Wood Brothers – Never and Always (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on May 1, 2016 – Episode #869)

wood2.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/MountainStage
/
The Wood Brothers on Mountain Stage
2016-05-20_the_wood_brothers-never_and_always.mp3
The Wood Brothers – "Never and Always" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Tift Merritt – Heartache is an Uphill Climb (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on December 4, 2016 – Episode #885)

DSC_1039.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage
/
Tift Merritt on Mountain Stage

2016-12-06_tift_merrit-heartache_is_an_uphill_climb.mp3
Tift Merritt – "Heartache is an Uphill Climb" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Todd Burge – Time to Waste Time (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on December 4, 2016 – Episode #885)

DSC_1010.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage
/
Todd Burge on Mountain Stage
2016-12-06_todd_burge-time_to_waste_time.mp3
Todd Burge – "Time to Waste Time" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Todd Snider – Stuck on the Corner (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on October 23, 2016 – Episode #882)

DSC_0836.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage
/
Todd Snider on Mountain Stage
2016-12-06_todd_snider-sanity___madness.mp3
Todd Snider – "Stuck on the Corner" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Wilco – Space Oddity (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on February 14, 2016 – Episode #863)

DSC_1515.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage
/
Wilco on Mountain Stage
2016-04-01_wilco-space_oddity.mp3
Wilco – "Space Oddity" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

William Matheny – Living Half to Death (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on June 26, 2016 – Episode #873)

20160626-62.JPG

Credit Josh Saul/Mountain Stage
/
William Matheny on Mountain Stage
2016-09-16_william_matheny-living_half_to_death.mp3
William Matheny – "Living Half to Death" – Live from Mountain Stage

————————————————————————————————————————

Wynonna & the Big Noise – These Are The Things That I Lean On (Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV on September 18, 2016 – Episode #878)

DSC_0306.jpg

Credit Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage
/
Wynonna & the Big Noise on Mountain Stage

2016-10-21_wynonna-things_that_i_lean_on_.mp3
Wynonna & the Big Noise – "These Are The Things That I Lean On" – Live from Mountain Stage