Brandi Carlile, Logan Venderlic, Kat Edmonson, Ben Taylor and The Trishas will perform Oct. 21 at the West Virginia University Creative Arts Center as part of West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Mountain Stage with Larry Groce. The concert starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at the Mountainlair and Creative Arts Center box offices, online at ticketmaster.com, or by calling 304-293-SHOW and 800-745-3000.

Brandi Carlile is an American original. Since her 2005 self-titled debut landed her on Rolling Stone’s Top 10 list of artists to watch, she has steadily built a loyal fanbase won over by her critically acclaimed albums and her band’s non-stop touring. Her sophomore album, 2007’s The Story, was produced by T Bone Burnett and elicited praise from Elton John, who appeared on the track Give Up the Ghost, which was produced by Rick Rubin and debuted at No. 26 on The Billboard 200. In 2011 Carlile released her first live album, Live at Benaroya Hal” with the Seattle Symphony. She has toured with such artists as Ray LaMontagne, Dave Matthews Band, The Avett Brothers and Sheryl Crow, and her songs have been heard in Grey’s Anatomy, The Good Wife, American Idol and Parenthood. Her latest release, Bear Creek, reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200 album chart, No. 1 on the Folk Albums chart and No. 3 on the Rock Albums chart.

A West Virginia native and West Virginia University graduate, Logan Venderlic weaves his own brand of modern, indie-infused hooks and applies it to contemporary Appalachian folk, dubbing the creation “Folk Wave.” Venderlic’s self-titled debut long player follows his 2010 breakout, Manic EP, which elicited the quick and telling quip from the likes of The Wall Street Journal: “Tom Petty meets Appalachia.” Venderlic says his new album is “much more full and well-rounded than the EP. There are some big, orchestral drum sounds, some Aretha Franklin-esque ‘shoops,’ and plenty of little mellotron flourishes, all wrapped up into an indie/folky mix.” Initially rebelling in teenhood angst against his “Jerkwater Town,” he began using music as his personal shrink. Venderlic delivers magnetic songs that swing on a temperamental pendulum between the mania of childhood’s purity and the depression of adulthood concession, growing as an individual along with his music and coming to terms in appreciation of his humble upbringing.

Kat Edmonson is a singer-songwriter from Texas whose tiny stature belies a powerful voice. Edmonson makes smart, familiar pop; though steeped in vintage tradition, her style leans left of center. Her biggest strength is her rich vocal control: alternately coy, elegant, and poignant, she often shifts tone effortlessly from one note to another, and she’s not afraid to leave in the occasional touch of gravel in her recordings. She’s performed with Willie Nelson, opened for Smokey Robinson, toured with Boz Scaggs and Lyle Lovett; and headlined the Taichung Jazz Festival in Taiwan. She also recorded Baby It’s Cold Outside with Lovett for his new album. Her 2009 record Take To The Sky is an homage to songwriters. Edmonson says the record questions “what a record actually is, and what popular music is – taking tunes and using them as canvases for self-expression.” On it, Edmonson re-interprets such storied works as Summertime alongside more recent pop gems such as The Cardigans’ Lovefool and The Cure’s Just Like Heaven.

Music has always played a central role in Ben Taylor’s life. His wit and skill as a singer-songwriter showcase an artist who is comfortable in both his own skin and with his impressive musical legacy. His releases include debut album Famous Among The Barns (2003), Another Run Around The Sun, (2005) and The Legend of Kung Folk, Part 1 (The Killing Bite) (2008). Highlights from his previous albums include appearances on Good Morning America, The Tonight Show, The CBS Early Show, Last Call with Carson Daly and Howard Stern. Taylor also made his acting debut with a recurring role on NBC’s American Dreams and has appeared in the pages of People magazine, Vogue and even on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Taylor’s latest album, Listening, seamlessly merges the sounds and styles of folk, pop, soul, urban, reggae and country/western, running the gamut from sonically spacious acoustic numbers to multi-layered vocals and fresh beats.

The first time The Trishas’ Jamie Wilson (singer-guitarist), Liz Foster (singer/harmonica), Kelley Mickwee (singer-mandolinist) and Savannah Welch (singer-guitarist) ever shared a stage together, something magical happened. Originally supposed to be a one-off gig in tribute to Savannah’s father and famed songwriter Kevin Welch, the group knew they were onto something good. Their comfort level with one another is obvious: they laugh frequently and easily together, and even on tiny stages they smoothly switch among a variety of stringed and percussion instruments, including drums. They change vocal parts – and genres – with equal ease. Wilson characterizes their Americana country-folk sound as “eclectic” and says their latest release, “High, Wide and Handsome” mixing “pretty country and jug-bandy-sounding, to spooky and creepy to kinda rockin’, within 14 songs.”

General admission tickets for the Oct. 21 show are $18 in advance and $23 on the day of the show, and are on sale now 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 the Wal Mart in Bridgeport.

This event is presented by WVU Arts & Entertainment. For additional event information, call 304-293-SHOW, or visit events.wvu.edu. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/wvuevents and follow us on Twitter at @wvuevents for the most up-to-date show information.

-WVU-

dr/09/14/12

CONTACT: David Ryan; WVU Arts & Entertainment
304.293.8222: David.Ryan@mail.wvu.edu