February 2012 On The Radio

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B l i n d B oys o f A l a b a m a

February 3, 2012(Rebroadcast from May 6, 2011) Ra Ra Riot; J.J. Grey; Elizabeth & The Catapult; Susan Werner, Khaira Arby

February 10, 2012 (Rebroadcast from May 13, 2011) Bela Fleck; Zakir Hussain & Edgar Meyer; Dar Williams; David Wax Museum; Raul Malo

N e l l i e M cKa y

February 17, 2012(Rebroadcast from June 10, 2011) Amos Lee; Nellie McKay; The Wailin’ Jennys; Lauren Pritchard

February 26, 2012(Rebroadcast from 2011)The Blind Boys of Alabama; Bell X1; Marti Jones & Don Dixon; Amy LaVere; Tristen

On The Radio

February 2012

For the latest information about these artists, visit their websites by clicking on their names.

February 3, 2012Stage Notes

On Today’s ProgramHour 1David Wax Museum -- Born With A

Broken Heart; Let Me Rest; The Least I Can Do; Yes, Maria, Yes

Raul Malo -- Hey Baby; Matter Much To You; San Antonio Baby; Twenty Days

Bob Thompson -- Waltz For Debbie

Hour 2

Dar Williams -- The Easy Way; You Rise And Meet The Day; If I Wrote You; It’s Alright; Buzzer

Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain & Edgar Meyer -- Bubbles; Em; Canon; Happy Drum Drum Monkey Girl; Bahar

Larry Groce & Co. -- Don’t Worry Baby

J J Grey

On Today’s ProgramHour 1Susan Werner -- Kicking The Beehive;

I Know What I Want; Last Words Of Bonnie Parker; Manhattan, Kansas; Red Dress

J.J. Grey -- Hide & Seek; The Sweetest Thing; Brighter Days

Khaira Arby -- Salou; Tchini Tchini; Hala; Sourgou

Hour 2Elizabeth & The Catapult -- Apathy; Go

Away My Lover; Race You; Thank U For Nothing; Taller Children

Ra Ra Riot -- Shadowcasting; Oh, La; Foolish; Can You Tell; St. Peter’s Day Festival; Too Dramatic

Larry Groce & Co. -- Way Down In The Hole

February 2012 On The Radio

Stage NotesFebruary 10, 2012

For the latest information about these artists, visit their websites

by clicking on their names.

Raul Malo

Bela Fleck & Edgar Meyer with Zakir Hussain - This trio, comprised of three masterful genre-benders - each the leading virtuoso on their respective instru-ments - moves between the worlds of classical, bluegrass and world music. Be-ginning in 2009, Bela Fleck (banjo), Edgar Meyer (bass) and Zakir Hussain (tabla), began a series of collaborations that included writing, performing and record-ing. Fleck has been called the world’s premiere banjo player and has virtually reinvented the image and the sound of the instrument through a remarkable performing and recording career. Meyer, a unique and masterful instrumental-ist received a prestigious MacArthur Award in 2002. Hussain is widely consid-ered a chief architect of the contemporary world music movement.

Dar Williams - With a beautiful soprano voice and lovely, intriguing songs, Dar Williams has been a major presence on the folk scene for nearly two decades. Before turning to writing and performing full time, Williams directed plays and served as stage manager for the Opera Company of Boston. In 2010, Williams released a career-spanning two-disc set titled “Many Great Companions,” which featured one compilation disc of fan favorites and another disc of newly recorded songs from her catalog performed in an acoustic format.

Raul Malo - Considered one of music’s finest singers, Raul Malo is best known as the founder and frontman of Grammy-winning, multi-platinum coun-try band the Mavericks. His post-Mavericks’ career has crossed cultures and stretched traditional boundaries. His CD, “Sinners & Saints,” touches on country, blues, jazz and vintage rock ‘n’ roll.

David Wax Museum - Named “Americana Artist of the Year” at the Boston Music Awards, David’s Wax Museum’s creates a vibrant hybrid of traditional Mexican folk and American music. DWM has toured with the Avett Brothers

and the Old 97’s and shared bills with the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Langhorne Slim, Ben Kweller and The Low Anthem. The band’s new release is titled “Everything Is Saved.”

Ra Ra Riot -- Led by guitarist Milo Bonacci, Ra Ra Riot formed while the band’s six members were attending college in Syracuse, NY. Combining indie-rock with chamber pop flourishes (courtesy of a small string section), the band quickly picked up a following. During a lull in the group’s schedule, RRR de-camped to a peach orchard in upstate New York, where the members wrote and recorded songs that eventually comprised the band’s 2010 release, appro-priately titled “The Orchard.”

JJ Grey -- JJ Grey’s music mixes raw, rural blues with tough, swampy Southern rock. Growing up in a small town south of Jacksonville, FL, he spent several years wandering the world’s beaches as a surf bum. After returning home, he teamed up with guitarist Daryl Hance to form JJ Grey & Mofro. Their third record is titled “Georgia Warhorse” and features cameos by Derek Trucks and Toots Hibbert.

Susan Werner -- A talented and versatile artist, Susan Werner’s influences range from Nanci Griffith and Thelonious Monk to Joni Mitchell and Sting. In 2008 she was named “Best Contemporary Folk Artist” at the International Folk Alliance music conference. Her album “Kicking the Beehive” was produced by Rodney Crowell and features cameos by Vince Gill, Keb’ Mo’ and lap steel ace Paul Franklin.

Khaïra Arby -- Born in the village of Abaradjou in the Sahara Desert north of Timbuktu, Khaïra Arby’s music reflects her diverse ethnic background. Arby was a schoolgirl when she won her first singing contest and was chosen to represent Mali internationally. With five CD releases, Arby, who still lives in Tim-buktu, has become the voice of Mali.

Elizabeth & The Catapult -- Show-casing the songs of Elizabeth Ziman, the music of Elizabeth & The Catapult incorporates pop, coffeehouse folk, and downtown jazz. After working as a background singers for soul legend Patti Austin, Ziman put together a trio with drummer Danny Molad and gui-tarist Peter Lalish. The group’s latest CD is “The Other Side of Zero.”

Amos Lee

February 2012

February 17, 2012

On The Radio

Stage Notes

For the latest information about these artists, visit their websites by clicking on their names.

February 2012 On The Radio

Stage NotesFebruary 24, 2012

For the latest information about these artists, visit their websites

by clicking on their names.

Blind Boys of Alabama - For more than 65 years, the Blind Boys of Alabama have been singing quartet-styled gospel anywhere people would listen - from churches and concert halls to nightclubs and the White House (they have played for the past three presidents). Formed at Alabama’s Talladega School for the Blind in the late ‘30s, the band’s current release, “Take the High Road,” features cameos by the Oak Ridge Boys, Vince Gill, Lee Ann Womack, Willie Nelson and Hank Williams, Jr. The group has won five Grammys and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The Blind Boys have appeared on “60 Minutes,” “Late Night with David Letterman,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Today Show” and “CBS Saturday Morning.”

Bell X1 - Hailing from Ireland, this quintet quickly became the darlings of the Irish music press - and with good reason. Made up of the former members of Damien Rice’s band Juniper, Bell X1’s third release, “Flock,” debuted at No. 1 on the Irish charts in 2005 and eventually went five-times Platinum and now ranks one of the top-selling Irish releases ever. The group’s current CD is “Bloodless Coup,” was released on its own BellyUp Records.

Marti Jones & Don Dixon- After more than two decades of performing together, “the first family of jangle-pop” continues to stake its claim as great songwriters, singers and musicians. In addition to producing bands ranging from R.E.M. and the Smithereens to James McMurtry and Shirley Caesar, Dixon has opened for Hootie & the Blowfish and played in Mary Chapin Carpenter’s touring band. Jones began her career began with Color Me Gone and has con-tinued with a string of solo releases. Dixon. She toured with singer/songwriter Amy Rigby in 2005 and is also an accomplished painter. The duo’s latest release is “Lucky Stars: New Lullabies for Old Souls.”

Amy LaVere - One of Amy LaVere’s first gigs was playing drums for the punk group Last Minute while in her mid-teens. Her 2006 debut was titled “This World Is Not My Home.” In 2008, she released “Anchors & Anvils.” Her new CD, “Stranger Me,” is rich with the musical textures of woodwinds, strings and a thermin.

Tristen- Nashville based singer and songwriter Tristen Gaspadarek’s de-but album “Charlatans At the Garden Gate” boasts a broad, jangle-pop sound and rich, vocal hooks. Her song “Baby Drugs,” about living with an ad-dict, garnered attention nationwide, leading to an appearance on the inful-ential “Morning Becomes Eclectic” from Santa Monica’s KCRW.

Amy LaVereOn Today’s ProgramHour 1Amy LaVere -- Damn Love Song; Great

Divide; Cry My Eyes Out; You Can’t Keep Me

Tristen -- Eager For Your Love; New Punching Bag; Avalanche; Wicked Heart

Marti Jones & Don Dixon -- Feels Like 1972; You Remind Me; Trouble Is As Trouble Does; I’m Hanging My Laundry

Hour 2Bell X1 -- Hey Anna Lena; Velcro; Eve; The

Great Defector; 4 Minute Mile

Blind Boys Of Alabama -- People Get Ready; I Know A Place; Jesus Built A Bridge To Heaven; Amazing Grace; Look Where He Brought Me From

Larry Groce & Co. -- I Saw The Light

Amos Lee - Influenced by classic ‘70s soul and folk artists, Amos Lee has an easy-going soulful style that’s touches the edges of both rock, soul and pop. A longtime Philadelphian, Lee has a nimble, lilting voice that recalls the smooth soul of Bill Withers and Al Green. Eventually landing a high-profile opening slot for Norah Jones, Lee released his self-titled debut on Blue Note Records in 2005. His fourth and current release, “Mission Bell,” is a tour de force with musi-cal backing by Calexico. Guests - and fans - include Lucinda Williams, Willie Nel-son, Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam, Priscilla Ahn, Pieta Brown, and James Gadson.

Nellie McKay - Born in London and raised in bohemian Harlem by her actress mother, vivacious and multi-talented Nellie McKay quickly set a new standard for diversity and creativity. Just 27, her resumé would be impressive for some-one twice her age. To date, McKay has done Brecht on Broadway, opened for Lou Reed at Carnegie Hall, sung Woody Allen movie songs at the Hollywood Bowl, performed on “A Prairie Home Companion,” and played Hilary Swank’s sister in the film “P.S. I Love You.” Her CD “Normal As Blueberry Pie,” (2009) paid tribute to her longtime inspiration Doris Day. In 2010, she released, “Home Sweet Mobile Home,” featuring production from her mother Robin Pappas and creative input from David Byrne.

The Wailin’ Jennys - Formed in 2002, this award-winning Canadian trio is made up of classically trained vocalist/pianist Ruth Moody, multi-instrumental-ist and dancer Nicky Mehta, and Brooklyn-based Heather Masse, a jazz voice graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music. In 2005, The Jennys’ first full-length album “40 Days” won a Juno Award for “Roots & Traditional Album of the Year” and led to sold-out shows in North America and abroad. Of the group’s current release, “Bright Morning Stars,” one reviewer noted that “the Jennys’ ability to harmonize like the family acts of old sets them apart from many of their contemporaries.”

Lauren Prtichard - Born in Tennessee, Pritchard moved to Los Angeles in her early teens before landing the role of Ilse in the off-Broadway production of “Spring Awakening.” After relocating to England, Pritchard scored a record-ing contract with Universal/Island Re-cords and released her debut “Wasted in London.” An intensely soulful singer, “The London Sunday Times” said the CD “showcases a beautiful, soaring voice and a set of songs that roll and swell with Carole King and Norah Jones.”

On Today’s ProgramHour 1Lauren Pritchard -- Wasted In Jackson;

One By One; Photograph; Not The Drinking

The Wailin’ Jennys -- Bird Song; By Way Of Sorrow; Bring Me L’il Water Sylvie; Deeper Well; Begin; Glory Bound

Hour 2Nellie McKay -- Dispossessed; Coosada

Blues; One’s On The Way; Adios; The Portal; Bodega

Amos Lee -- El Camino; Violin; Cup Of Sorrow; Learned A Lot; The Wind; Jesus; Windows Are Rolled Down

Larry Groce & Co. -- You’ll Get No More Out Of Me

February 2012 On The Radio

Credits:The photos in this newsletter are from the artists media kits or by Brian Blauser of B&B Studios based in Athens, Ohio, and are used with permission.

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Ricky McKinnie of the Blind Boys of Alabama sits down with host Larry Groce “Backstage at Mountain Stage.” The leg-endary gospel group recently released a country-flavored album, “Take the High Road,” produced by Jamey Johnson. The Mountain Stage radio program featuring the Blind Boys of Alabama first aired in June 2011 and repeats this month on your local public radio station. The Blind Boys of Ala-bama appeared on Mountain Stage with Bell X1, Marti Jones & Don Dixon, Amy LaVere, and Tristen.

Over 100 interviews with performers from the past two years may be viewed on Mountains Stage’s YouTube chan-nel.

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Backstage at Mountain Stage

Stage Highlights

Lauren Pritchard

Ra Ra Riot

The Wailin’ Jennys

Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain & Edgar Meyer