Mountain Stage hosted by Kathy Mattea
PROJECTS:
LIVE PERFORMANCE RADIO FROM THE MOUNTAIN STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
For 40 years, Mountain Stage has been an institution, standing as one of the most beloved and enduring programs in public radio history, broadcasting thousands of unforgettable live performances by rising stars and veteran legends alike. Typically produced out of the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV Mountain Stage is heard weekly on nearly 300 public radio stations nationwide.
Each year Mountain Stage “hits the road” for a select number of dates, recording shows for broadcast with organizations across the country such as The John F. Kennedy Center of Performing Arts, Town Hall NYC, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, universities including University of Georgia Athens, Ohio University, and James Madison University, and in cities as far away as Fairbanks, Alaska.
Each two-hour episode of Mountain Stage is recorded in front of a live audience and features a variety of musical styles in genres ranging from traditional roots, folk, blues, americana and country to indie rock, alternative, global music, and beyond. Some of their most iconic guests over the years have included John Prine, Odetta, Wilco, R.E.M., Angélique Kidjo, Phish, Mavis Staples, Allen Toussaint, Alison Krauss, Townes Van Zandt, Patti Smith, Allen Ginsberg, Miriam Makeba, Dr. John, Buddy Guy, and recently Josh Ritter, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Amythyst Kiah, and Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn.
In 2021, Mountain Stage announced that two-time Grammy Award winner and West Virginia native Kathy Mattea would take over as the new host of the show. Mattea has performed on the show more times than any other female artist (only second overall to fellow WV native Tim O’Brien) as well as guest-hosted many times over the years.
Mountain Stage on the Road includes Kathy Mattea as host, Mountain Stage’s beloved house band, and 4-5 featured guest artists specifically tailored to the local market and presenting organization – running the gamut of living legends and emerging artists.
Mountain Stage is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting and distributed by NPR Music.
PRESS QUOTES:
“There's something quintessentially West Virginia about Mountain Stage. Beyond the world-class performances, beyond the collaborative atmosphere, beyond how much fun it is, I think the show offers a really important insight into the people and the culture that make West Virginia so special, and I'm always thrilled to help share that with the world.”
Kathy Mattea
