Carnegie Hall begins its 41st Mainstage Season on Sunday, October 6, at 7 p.m. with Mountain Stage with host Kathy Mattea. Guests are invited to come early for the free Mainstage Lounge Preshow Reception from 6 – 6:45 p.m. in the Board Room located adjacent to the Hamilton Auditorium. A cash bar and snacks are available.
Host Kathy Mattea will welcome guest artists American Patchwork Quartet, Kyshona, The Brother Brothers, Stephanie Lambring, and more. Attendees will be a part of Mountain Stage’s live radio audience as they record a new episode for NPR Music.
Mountain Stage has been known as the home of live music on public radio for 40 years, growing to be a household name and a bucket list event for many musicians and live music fans from around the world.
The show was created by Andy Ridenour, Larry Groce, and the late Francis Fisher and began regular production in December 1983. All three of the show’s founders continued in their original roles until 2011 when Executive Producer Ridenour retired after 28 years, passing his role down to Adam Harris, who began his tenure with the program as an intern in 2005. The show continues to grow each year, and in 2021, long-time host Larry Groce passed the hosting baton to West Virginia native, country music star, and Grammy-award-winning musician Kathy Mattea. Larry Groce continues in his role as Artistic Director.
“Over the years, Mountain Stage has garnered respect and support from the artists they’ve championed, and it’s a privilege and an honor to keep this train going and give Larry some much-deserved time off,” said host Kathy Mattea.
For four decades, Mountain Stage has been West Virginia’s calling card to the world and has reached hundreds of thousands of people around the globe with live music from the Mountain State. Produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting and distributed by NPR Music, each two-hour episode of Mountain Stage can be heard every week on over 290 stations across America, and around the world via NPR Music and mountainstage.org.
With an average annual production of 24 live events with over 110 guest artists, Mountain Stage has grown from a state-wide, regional music experience to a showcase of world-renowned talent. Today the show features performances from seasoned legends like Bela Fleck and Patti Smith and emerging stars like Tyler Childers and Sierra Ferrell in genres ranging from folk, blues, and country to indie rock, synth pop, world music, alternative, and beyond. In addition, international acts regularly perform—in 2022, 11 guest artists traveled from Ireland, Haiti, Columbia, Canada, and Italy.
Most shows are recorded at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, West Virginia; however, Mountain Stage has traveled to New York, NY; Boston, MA; Philadelphia, PA; Ann Arbor, MI; Ashland, KY; Athens, GA; Athens, OH; Bristol, TN/VA; Winnipeg Folk Festival (Canada), Lexington, KY; Pittsburgh, PA; Kerrville Folk Festival (TX); Harrisonburg, VA; Fairbanks, AK; Pittsburg, KS; Glasgow, Scotland; and many more venues throughout West Virginia.
Currently, there are a limited number of tickets available to the performance. Tickets start at $35/adult and $20/student, and discounts are available for Carnegie Hall members, students, senior citizens, and military.
To purchase tickets, call Carnegie Hall Box Office at 304.645.7917, visit www.carnegiehallwv.org, or stop by at 611 Church Street, Lewisburg, West Virginia. Carnegie Hall Box Office is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Carnegie Hall WV is a nonprofit organization supported by individual contributions, grants, and fundraising efforts such as TOOT and The Carnegie Hall Gala. The Hall is located at 611 Church Street, Lewisburg, WV. For more information, please call 304.645.7917 or visit www.carnegiehallwv.org.
