West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Mountain Stage with Larry Groce returns to the WVU Creative Arts Center on Sunday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. Scheduled to appear are Joey & Rory, Stan Ridgway, Peter Case and Hot Rize along with their alter-ego band Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers. Tickets are on sale now at the Mountainlair and CAC box offices, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 304-293-SHOW.
Joey & Rory – The perfect example of a dynamic duo, husband and wife Joey Martin Feek and Rory Lee Feek’s distinctive talents have come together to create a unique country sound. Both were individually involved in the music industry before meeting; Joey was already pursuing a solo career and Rory had begun to forge a career as a successful songwriter for country greats like Blake Shelton and Clay Walker. The two have continued to develop their musical identities as a couple, and springboarded to fame after winning over the crowds on CMT’s Can You Duet? Since then, Joey & Rory have been touring with the Zac Brown Band and have released two albums together. Their first album debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard Charts and was nominated for the Academy of Country Music Awards Top Vocal Duo award, an accolade that their second album took home. The pair is also nominated for the 2010 Country Music Association’s Vocal Duo of the Year award. The vibrant combination of talent that makes up this duo is sure to continue to command crowds and charm critics along the way.
Hot Rize/Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers – Spanning over thirty years in bluegrass history, Hot Rize has been making a name for themselves through more than just their musical talent. The bluegrass phenomena has been known to play a classic “set within a set,” creating an alter-ego country swing band known as Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers, with West Virginia-born Tim O’Brien taking on the moniker Red Knuckles. Hot Rize has seen many of their singles rise to No.1 on bluegrass airplay charts, such as “Walk the Way the Wind Blows” and “Just Like You,” and the band continued to see commercial success throughout the ‘90s. The band was the first to receive the Entertainer of the Year award from the International Bluegrass Music Association at the organization’s first annual awards show, and were later selected to host IBMA’s 20th annual awards show. Having taken their whimsical bluegrass all over the United States as well as overseas to Japan, Europe and Australia, Hot Rize has certainly gone quite a bit further than their simple cornmeal-inspired name would have ever suggested.
Stan Ridgway – Former founder of the new wave group Wall of Voodoo, (“new wave” being an experimental variation of the punk category) Stan Ridgway has gone beyond his roots to find a voice in a variety of genres. Today he devotes most of his time to film scores, a preoccupation that has given his sound the influence of sophistication and intrigue. Ridgway has also discovered a fascination in the visual representation of his songs, saying: “Music is more than just chords and notes to me, it has the ability to make pictures in the mind. My records are designed to be seen as well as heard.”
His work in this vein of thought has included a quasi-cinematic project in which the songs he released were accompanied by individual short films, as well as a musical accompaniment project for Mark Ryden’s paintings and his new album Neon Mirage. This effort on his part to blur the lines between senses when experiencing music is ground-breaking, and the progressive influence is noticeable on top of his already experimental sound.
Peter Case – A man of eclectic talent and prevailing ambition, Peter Case has forged through more musical varieties than most people have heard of, from country to new wave to blues. Case has floated from group to group during his career, including The Nerves and The Plimsouls, though his most powerful success came as an individual. Peter Case has the distinction of being nominated for a Grammy for the song “Old Blue Car” on his first solo release, as well as Grammy nominations for both his 2007 album Let’s Now Praise Sleepy John and the collaborative Mississippi John Hurt tribute album he organized and produced. His new album Wig! has succeeded as a bold reaction to a few hard years, for both Peter Case and the world. Case has always been a “musician’s musician,” devoting much time to musicology and songwriting workshops, a passionate manifestation of his love for sound that explains why he has always been a unique favorite.
General admission tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the show and may be purchased at the Mountainlair and CAC box offices, online at ticketmaster.com and by phone at 304-293-SHOW or 800-745-3000. Tickets may also be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, including Giant Eagle on Greenbag Rd.
This event is produced by WVU Arts & Entertainment. For more event information, please call 304-293-SHOW, or visit us online at events.wvu.edu.
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CONTACT: Ali Daly, Arts & Entertainment
304-293-SHOW; alison.daly@mail.wvu.edu
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