Mountain Stage at WVU Parkersburg

Mountain Stage performers announced for WVU Parkersburg show Oct. 1, 2006.

CONTACT: Connie Dziagwa, Institutional Advancement office, 304-424-8203.

College web site for Mountain Stage show

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Mountain Stage with Larry Groce will take its show on the road to West Virginia University at Parkersburg on Sunday, Oct. 1.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. in the College Activities Center and the show begins at 6.

Featured will be country rock/delta blues group Cracker; jazz/flamenco/rock guitarists Rodrigo and Gabriella; Australian songwriter/guitarist Jeff Lang; folk rock/indie songwriter Matt Keating with Emily Spray; folk/rock/indie/alternative performer Stephen Yerkey, and David Hidalgo & Louie Perez of Los Lobos.

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets may be obtained in the college’s business office or by calling 304-424-8223. Also, patrons may purchase a ticket and a box supper for $20. The picnic-style meals will be available in the cafeteria at 4:30 p.m. the afternoon of the show and picnic seating will be provided in the college’s backyard. Box suppers must be purchased by Sept. 29.

Mountain Stage’s appearance begins a week of activities surrounding WVU Parkersburg’s 45^th anniversary. Theme of the week is "Celebrating the Community’s Commitment." The week will conclude with a free concert, open to the public, with Johnny Staats and the Delivery Boys at 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 7, in the multi-purpose room.

Featured as part of the Oct. 1^st Mountain Stage show will be:

Cracker - Appearing on this program in a special acoustic duo set are Cracker co-founders Johnny Hickman and Camper Van Beethoven founder David Lowery. They created Cracker in the early 1990’s and have released eight albums to date. The band began by taking a post-punk mind set and combining it with country-tinged roots rock – and, in the process emerged as one of the first great bands of the ‘90s. Cracker cracked the mainstream market with songs like “Low,” off of 1993’s Kerosene Hat which was eventually certified gold.

Rodrigo and Gabriella - After meeting in the Mexican thrash metal band Terra Acida while in their late teens, Rodrigo and Gabriella picked up acoustic guitars and traveled through Europe. The two finally settled in Dublin and toured Ireland and the UK with acts as diverse as Courtney Pine, the Buena Vista Social Club, Murray Lachan Young and Damien Rice. In 2004, the duo’s second release became the first live instrumental album to crack the Irish Top 10. Since then, the two have toured with David Gray and recorded "Rodrigo and Gabriella" with producer John Leckie (Muse, Radiohead, Stone Roses). Their music has been described as "high octane jazz/Flamenco/rock."

Jeff Lang - an Australian singer/songwriter who cut his teeth supporting blues artists, including Albert Collins and Rory Gallagher. Writing and recording his own material, he began embracing traditional Celtic and folk elements. In 1996, his "Native Dog Creek" CD was named "Best Australian Blues Album" in a "Rhythms Magazine" reader’s poll. In 2006, Lang released a collaboration with the late Chris Whitley titled "Dislocation Blues" and "Prepare Me Well," a collection of his earlier tracks selected from his Australia-only released albums.

Matt Keating - Following a number of fine indie rock albums and appearances with singer/songwriter Patty Griffith, NYC-based singer/songwriter Matt Keating has switched gears and released "Summer Tonight," a back-to-the-basics CD that is dazzling in its beauty, conviction and simplicity. The chemistry between Keating and his vocalist/wife Emily Spray brings to mind the earthy grace of Gram Parsons and Emmlylou Harris.

Stephen Yerkey - Based in San Francisco, Stephen Yerkey’s father was from Sand Fork in Gilmer County and Stephen was born in Welch in the midst of a family move to Washington, D.C. After years of playing in the band Nonfiction, he pursued a solo career. An enigmatic presence, his songs range from Tom Waits-styled growlers to gritty, swampy tunes that mix equal parts Dylan and Beefheart.

David Hidalgo & Louie Perez - With their band Los Lobos' new disc, "The Town and the City," getting rave reviews, co-founder/guitarist David Hidalgo and multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Louis Perez take a side trip from the band's tour to perform a special set. Given the adventurousness of other Los Lobos side projects like The Latin Playboys and Hound Dog, the two are bound to combine their fresh take on ethnic music with inventive, sonic explorations.

A production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Mountain Stage is a radio show recorded before a live audience. The show has established a long tradition of featuring national and international performers in almost every style of music. Acts range from traditional roots and country music to avant-garde rock and jazz.

cd9/19/2006

For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
WVU Parkersburg
Executive Director
Institutional Advancement
(304-424-8203)