As the red “On the Air” sign glowed, five acts took to the Mountain Stage last night in Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
“I thought it was amazing. It was so much fun and a lot of really good music,” said Hannah Fulton, a senior studying anthropology who attended the show with her family.
Mountain Stage with Larry Groce is a national radio show that records in front of a live audience. Last night was the show’s seventh trip to Athens, which the show’s host Larry Groce said is a favorite city for the show.
“We’ve had a lot of different acts here over the years,” Groce said. “The audience is always very good, and that’s one of the reasons we keep coming back.”
Last night’s performers included John Doyle and Karan Casey, Hot Tuna, Southeast Engine, Ha Ha Tonka and The Jayhawks, as well as a special guest appearance by Todd Burge.
While it was the first visit to Athens for the majority of the performers, two of the acts are far from strangers to the city. Indie-folk rockers Southeast Engine’s roots are in Athens, and despite spending more and more time outside of the city, the band still considers Athens home.
Hot Tuna’s Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady also have a fondness for the city. Since Kaukonen started Fur Peace Ranch in nearby Meigs County, he and Casady have come to know Athens very well.
The crowd was excited to receive the two acts, applauding both as they mentioned their Athens connections.
Despite the audience’s enthusiasm for the local connections, no one received a warmer welcome than Ha Ha Tonka. The band had the entire crowd on its feet multiple times, with everyone clapping in rhythm during an a cappella portion of its performance.
The show was nearly sold-out with 1,252 tickets sold, said Andrew Holzaepfel, associate director of the Campus Involvement Center, adding ticket sales were able to cover the $7,700 cost of bringing the show to Mem Aud.
Last night’s show is set to broadcast on NPR in mid-November, Groce said.
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