'Mountain Stage' radio show to record program in Grand Marais - Duluth News Tribune
A nationally syndicated radio program will record two shows in Grand Marais during the 10th anniversary of the North House Folk School's annual music event.
"Mountain Stage," a longtime music program that features live folk, roots and Americana music, will be on hand for performances on Thursday and Friday by John Gorka, Michael Johnson, Great Lake Swimmers, Tim O'Brien, Kathy Mattea and more. The programs are scheduled to air at the end of October and early November. "Mountain Stage" plays locally on Saturdays, at 8 a.m. on KUMD-FM 103.3 in the Duluth area and at noon on WTIP- FM 90.7 in Grand Marais.
"Mountain Stage" is based out of West Virginia but tours for almost half of the 26 two-hour shows it records per year. The program's producer, Adam Harris, said Grand Marais will be a good fit.
"I would say that the overall feeling is that Grand Marais is our kind of place," he said. "Small, community-oriented, very much about folk life and folk art."
"Unplugged: the Northern Harvest" is a three-day event that includes music-themed workshops during the day and concerts under a big white tent at night. Saturday's finale, which won't be part of the "Mountain Stage" program, includes the songwriters in a casual setup, trading songs and banter.
North House Folk School and "Mountain Stage" have a mutual friend in Grammy Award-winning musician Jon Vezner, a Minnesota native who started the fundraising event a decade ago.
Vezner was en route to Canada with his father for a fishing trip
11 years ago when his father got sick and was hospitalized in Grand Marais. During his stay, Vezner wandered over to the North House Folk School, which provides classes in northern crafts, lured in by a couple teaching canoe-building. Later, Vezner talked with a doctor who was on the nonprofit organization's board of directors.
"I was asking how (Northern House Folk School) was doing and he said, 'We have 13 dollars in the bank,' " Vezner said. "I said, 'You know what? We should do a benefit.' "
Vezner is a bit of a sucker for the area. He is from the Minneapolis area but spent time in Grand Marais when he was growing up. He continues to visit a few times a year.
Vezner, a songwriter, is part of the Nashville music scene with his wife, the country star Kathy Mattea — and they know plenty of people.
For the first festival he brought in Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers and Bernie Leadon of the Eagles. Greg Wright, the director of North House Folk School, called the experience "a pinch-me moment."
"So away we went," Wright said. "Over the years he has brought all these people — Michael Johnson, Paul Williams, Dougie MacLean, Kathy Mattea — all these people. Why are they in Grand Marais, Minnesota? Because of Jon Vezner."
The stage is set beneath a tent close to the water, and Wright said it has a similar feel to Big Top Chautauqua.
Mattea was performing on "Mountain Stage" before she was famous, and Vezner has known the radio show's crew for 20 years, he said. He wanted to do something special for the festival's 10-year anniversary, so he asked if they ever recorded the two-hour program from the road.
The program's Ryder truck full of gear already is on its way.
"Unplugged" took a few years to catch on, but it definitely has: The 700-plus capacity venue is sold out for Saturday's performance, and Friday's show has a few tickets remaining.
Tags: arts and entertainment, life, news, arts, entertainment
11 Sep, 2011--
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHn9VVng3N2x65Kee5LC2mKQdAeNg&url=http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/209036/
~
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
