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Five Faves: 2005 Edition (Special Episode)

December 31, 2025·2 hr 2 min·11 clips

Ray Wiley Hubbard's Snake Farm changed his career in 2005.

This special episode of Mountain Stage, hosted by executive producer Adam Harris, revisits standout live performances from 2005, the year he joined the show. Harris curates a diverse lineup spanning folk, bluegrass, jazz, and outlaw country, offering a nostalgic audio snapshot. The episode features both emerging artists from that era and legendary figures who have since passed away. The musical journey begins with a 2005 set from Amos Lee, who was promoting his acclaimed Blue Note Records debut at the time. It then includes Ben Lee performing his optimistic singalong "We're All in This Together" from his album *Awake is the New Sleep*. A tribute set honors three late icons: civil rights music pioneer Odetta, folk singer-songwriter Nancy Griffith, and Texas troubadour Guy Clark, who performs "Stuff That Works" with Verlon Thompson. Ray Wiley Hubbard's segment highlights the first Mountain Stage performance of his cult hit "Snake Farm," which he predicted would be a career-changer. The episode also includes jazz and gospel vocalist Liz Wright, promoting her album *Dreaming Wide Awake*. It concludes with bluegrass sets from the Del McCoury Band, playing "1952 Vincent Black Lightning," and Alison Krauss and Union Station at the peak of their popularity. A memorable anecdote recalls Amos Lee and his band watching the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl on an unseasonably warm February day. Ray Wiley Hubbard's witty stage banter includes classifying people as "day people" and "night people," with the latter's job being to get the former's money. Guy Clark shares the humorous origin story of his song "Boats to Build," written for boatbuilder and songwriter Richard Leigh, who is no longer married but "got a hell of a boat." Host Adam Harris reveals his personal connection, noting these were among the first live performances he witnessed as a new intern. The tone is warmly nostalgic and celebratory, blending educational music history with a curator's personal reflection. The style is a curated audio scrapbook, seamlessly weaving full-song performances with insightful host narration and archival artist banter. This episode is a perfect listen for fans of Americana roots music and those interested in the legacy of iconic singer-songwriters. Listeners who prefer contemporary music or uninterrupted sets without host commentary might choose to skip this retrospective.

As heard by us

A warm archival set where live performances and remembrance share the same stage.

Mountain Stage's Five Faves 2005 edition closes out 2025 by looking back at Adam Harris's first year with the show, and it does so with bluegrass, jazz, blues, and gospel performances.

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Why you'd press play

Press play for a live time-capsule set from Mountain Stage's 2005 vault.

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