Live on Stage · an impressive resume - including winning the “Best Jazz Vocal” and “Best Original Song” from the 2003 Down Beat Student Music Awards with her song “Romance.”

�February 4, 2011

This live performance will be distributed as a radio program by NPR Music in March 2011. Check your local listings for broadcast times. Guests, ticket prices and dates may change without notice.

Showtime: 7 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.

Advance tickets are $15/At the door $25

Tickets for these performances are available online, by calling 800-594-TIXX (8499), and Taylor Books.

Mountain Stage®

Live on StageFebruary 13, 201 Culture Center Theater - Charleston, WV

Mark Olson

Ron Sexsmith

The Civil WarsThe Steel Wheels

Sonya Kitchell featuringBrooklyn Strings

�  February 4, 2011

Setting the Stage

Ron Sexsmith -- The music of Canadian singer/song-writer Ron Sexsmith won acclaim not only from crit-ics but from fellow artists like Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan and John Hiatt - some of the same artists who initially inspired him. Among the artists who have covered Ron’s songs are: Rod Stewart, Michael Bublé, k.d. lang, Nick Lowe, Feist, The Brodsky Quartet, Cur-tis Stigers, Anne Sofie von Otter and Mary Black.

For his 11th release, “Long Player Late Bloomer,” he found an unlikely collaborator in fellow Canadian Bob Rock, whose credits include Metallica, Mötley Crüe and The Cult. “Love Shines,” a documentary by filmmaker Douglas Arrowsmith about the making of “Long Player, Late Bloomer,” was commissioned by The Movie Network and Movie Central.

Mark Olson -- After a decade as one of the principals in alt-country icons the Jayhawks, Mark Olson left the group in 1995. Taking a decidedly indie route, Olson released a series of acclaimed solo efforts. Along with his solo albums, Olson recorded with the Creekdippers with then-wife Victoria Williams and violinist Mike Russell.

For Olson’s 2007 release, the lavishly packaged “The Salvation Blues,” he reunited with former Jayhawks bandmate Gary Louris on three songs. The reunion gelled, and the two released “Ready for the Flood” as a duo in 2009. His current release is titled “Many Colored Kite.”

�February 4, 2011

Sonya Kitchell -- Released when she was 15, “Words Come Back to Me” established singer Sonya Kitchell as an artist to watch. She had been performing since age 11 and had already amassed an impressive resume - including winning the “Best Jazz Vocal” and “Best Original Song” from the 2003 Down Beat Student Music Awards with her song “Romance.” Her CD “The Storm” was produced by Daniel Lanois cohort Malcolm Burn. Her career took yet another turn when she was tapped by jazz legend Herbie Hancock for a world tour in 2007.

Kitchell has performed with everyone from An-gelique Kidjo and Ben Harper to Jamie Cullum, India.Arie, and Madeleine Peyroux. Now 21, the Massa-chusetts native’s current release is titled “Convict Of Conviction.”

The Civil Wars -- This Nashville-based duo, com-prised of Muscle Shoals native John Paul White and Santa Cruz native Joy Williams, formed after a “chance songwriting blind date.” The duo’s second performance was released as a free, online live al-bum and, to date, has more than 80,000 downloads. The Civil Wars’ debut single, “Poison & Wine,” was featured in “Grey’s Anatomy” and “USA Today.” The four-song EP, “Poison & Wine,” settled in the Top 25 of the iTunes Singer/Songwriter Top Albums chart.

The group’s full length debut, “Barton Hollow,” will be released in February, 2011.

The Steel Wheels -- Led by singer/guitarist Trent Wagler, The Steel Wheels from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia specialize in music rooted in between bluegrass and blues, with old-time sing-a-longs, four part harmony and foot-stompin’ fiddle tunes. They count among their fans former Statler Brother Jimmy Fortune and indie folk darlings Over the Rhine.

The band has built a buzz based on the strength of their latest CD “Red Wing.”

� 

Upcoming Live ShowsFebruary 27 at 7 p.m.

Charleston Civic Center Little Theater - Charleston, WV

Lucinda Williams (acoustic)Red Horse (John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, Eliza Gilkyson)The Low AnthemSarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny IrionIvan & Alyosha

March 6 at 7 p.m.

WVU Creative Arts Center - Morgantown, WV

Todd SniderRailroad EarthGreat American TaxiCorey SmithSean Rowe

March 13 at 7 p.m.

Paramount Center for the Arts -- Bristol, TN

Nitty Gritty Dirt BandCarolina Chocolate DropsDale Jett & Hello Stranger

February 4, 2011

Mountain Stage® is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting and distributed by NPR.

A note from the Editor

“Setting the Stage” is a newsletter for Mountain Stage® fans and is intended for informational purposes only. West Virginia Public Broadcasting provides links to artist Web sites as provided by the artists, many of whom use MySpace, Facebook and similarly non-secure sites which may include cookies, pop-ups, viral marketing, etc. Please be aware of this possibility when choosing to go to any of the links provided.Photo Credits:Unless otherwise noted all photos are from the artists’ Web sites or press kits.

Additional support provided by

National Sponsors

Local support provided by:The Greater Kanawha Valley FoundationState of West Virginia

March 20 at 7 p.m.

Culture Center Theater - Charleston, WV

JJ Grey (solo)Susan WernerElizabeth & the CatapultKhaira Arby

March 27 at 7 p.m.

Culture Center Theater - Charleston

Béla Fleck & Edgar Meyer withZakir HussainDar WilliamsDavid Wax Museum

April 24 at 7 p.m.

Culture Center Theater - CharlestonAmos LeeNellie McKayThe Wailin’ Jennys

Visit our website for ticket prices and other details.