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May 28, 2020
It’s Friday, and World Cafe’s "Sense of Place" visit to Los Angeles continues. This week, host Raina Douris takes a tour of South Central, where West Coast hip hop started. Led by L.A. Hood Life Tours, we’ll stop by the garage where N.W.A. recorded Straight Outta Compton and the childhood homes of…
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May 27, 2020
The Los Angeles band Chicano Batman set out to evolve with their latest collection of songs called Invisible People. The sound of the record is big, filled with hooks, and showcases multiple influences. And to get that sound, they enlisted the help of engineer Sean Everett – and maybe got a little…
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May 26, 2020
Pete Townshend, the major creative force behind The Who, has written his first ever novel, titled The Age of Anxiety – And, there are plans to turn it into a rock opera, which he says will be his last solo work. In this encore edition of the World Cafe, we’ll learn just how much of himself…
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May 25, 2020
Mikel Jollett, leader of Airborne Toxic Event, has a new memoir called Hollywood Park— and the band’s new album, by the same name, serves as its soundtrack. On the next World Cafe, Jollett shares his dramatic childhood—being born into the Synanon cult, having to escape and then live life on the…
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May 22, 2020
The prestigious MacDowell Medal recognizes an outstanding contribution to American arts and culture. It’s been awarded to luminaries like Toni Morrison and Stephen Sondheim, and last week, Rosanne Cash was named the latest recipient. World Cafe celebrates Rosanne today, revisiting her session from…
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May 21, 2020
Fridays on the World Cafe, we’ve been joining host Raina Douris for a “Sense of Place” tour of Los Angeles. Today, former frontman of the band Possum Dixon, Rob Zabrecky, talks about working on the band’s final album with Ric Ocasek, and we’ll hear about his career after music as a successful…
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May 20, 2020
If you feel like the days have started to blend together over the past couple of months, you’re not alone. And today, World Cafe’s just going with…
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May 19, 2020
Adam Granduciel, leader of The War on Drugs, has been spending his time at home bonding with his young son and working on a new record. On the next…
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May 18, 2020
Michaela Anne grew up the daughter of a Navy Captain, and by the time she graduated high school, she had lived in 20 different houses. As an artist,…
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May 15, 2020
Brothers Ron and Russel Mael have been making music as the band Sparks for almost 50 years. On the next World Cafe, Ron and Russell tell stories…
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May 14, 2020
World Cafe is taking a trip to LA every Friday with the Sense of Place series. In the first hour, Liz Phair takes the stage to perform live and talk…
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May 12, 2020
The inspiration for an album can come from anywhere. For Hamilton Leithauser, it was a nice man riding a ferry, telling stories. Each song on his new…
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May 11, 2020
World Cafe digs into the archives to revisit a session with one of the greatest jazz performers ever, Sonny Rollins. The saxophone legend stopped by…
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May 06, 2020
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson of The Roots, and bandleader for The Tonight Show, is also an author five times over. His latest book, Mixtape Potluck, is…
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May 05, 2020
Don Vappie grew up in the ‘60s and ‘70s playing string instruments in funk bands, and somewhere along the way, he reached for a banjo. He went on to…
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May 04, 2020
Coldplay were one of the first massive rock bands of the new millennium. Not long after they released their breakthrough album, Parachutes, they…
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Apr 30, 2020
Steve Earle is a songwriter and musician – but he’s also a storyteller. Many of the songs on his upcoming album, Ghosts of West Virginia, were…
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Apr 29, 2020
The White Stripes are now known as one of the most influential indie rock groups of the 2000s – and back in 2003, they were just hitting the peak of…
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Apr 28, 2020
Birmingham-based musician Early James had to stop touring last month just as he was about to put out his debut. That album, called Singing for My…
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Apr 27, 2020
You’ll hear an encore session with Sheryl Crow from 1993. Before She had a huge hit with the song “All I Wanna Do,” she visited World Cafe. We dug…
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Apr 24, 2020
We're going back in time for a Classic Cafe with Phish! They joined original host, David Dye, for a session recorded in early 2000 when they released…
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Apr 24, 2020
Since releasing his debut album two decades ago, prolific singer-songwriter M Ward has rarely taken a break, but now, he suddenly has some unplanned…
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Apr 22, 2020
Like so many of us right now, the three sisters of Haim are self-isolating at home with their lives on hold. And for siblings who spend all their…
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Apr 21, 2020
Angie McMahon On the next World Cafe, Angie McMahon talks to host Stephen Kallao over Zoom from her bedroom in Melbourne, Australia. We’ll find out…
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Apr 20, 2020
Laura Marling wasn’t planning to release her new album until the end of the summer. But when the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world, Laura decided…
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Apr 17, 2020
EOB is the new solo project of Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien. Through the years, some of his bandmates have offered up solo work, and now it’s Ed’s…
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Apr 17, 2020
Not long ago, folk artist Tré Burt was doing pretty much everything on his own. Busking, touring, recording, and releasing his own music, including…
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Apr 15, 2020
It's Public Radio Music Day, where public radio music stations of all kinds celebrate their unique musical genres – from jazz and classical to rock…
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Apr 14, 2020
Encore: Tyler Childers When you think of “country music” - do you picture cowboy hats? Pick-up trucks? Red solo cups? That’s exactly what Kentucky’s…
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Apr 13, 2020
Maggie Koerner was pursuing a master's degree in Child Psychology when a friend heard her sing and convinced her to make a career out of it. As she…
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Apr 10, 2020
Leader of the Philadelphia band Hop Along for 15 years, Frances Quinlan has a voice that’s unique and – in her own words – you either like it or you…
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Apr 10, 2020
Drive-By Truckers The Unraveling is the name of the new album from the band Drive-By Truckers. The Truckers’ Patterson Hood says many of the band’s…
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Apr 08, 2020
Sonny Landreth stopped by the World Cafe last fall with a sneak preview performance of his new album, out now, called Blacktop Run. Plus, he talks…
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Apr 07, 2020
Singer Chris Robinson and guitarist Rich Robinson had a rocky relationship as the leaders of influential southern rock band, The Black Crowes. And in…
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Apr 06, 2020
On her new album, Superstar, Caroline Rose tells the story of a person on a quest for fame – a character she says is partly inspired by herself – and…
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Apr 03, 2020
Listening to Logan Ledger is like hopping in a time machine back to the classic recordings of Patsy Cline and Hank Williams. His debut album was…
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Apr 02, 2020
World Cafe closes out this week’s “Sense of Place” visit to Virginia with a stop in Charlottesville, where a tiny shop called Rockbridge Guitars…
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Apr 01, 2020
When you think of Richmond's music scene, the first genre to come to mind probably isn't heavy metal. But today, we’ll meet one of the city’s revered…
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Apr 01, 2020
Spacebomb is a one-stop shop – a record label and a recording studio – that also provides management, publishing, and production services to artists.…
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Mar 30, 2020
We’re visiting Richmond, Virginia this week on the World Cafe, and today, we meet Saw Black. The up-and-coming band is led by Justin Black, who was…
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Mar 27, 2020
Singer and songwriter, Will Marsh, started Gold Connections back at The College of William & Mary when he connected with Car Seat Headrest’s, Will…
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Mar 27, 2020
This week, we’re bringing you a deep dive into Richmond, Virginia’s music scene for World Cafe’s “Sense of Place” series. The Sleepwalkers are one of…
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Mar 25, 2020
Want to explore a new place from home? Then join the hosts of World Cafe, who travelled to Virginia a couple months ago for a musical adventure!…
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Mar 24, 2020
Today on the World Cafe, it’s a mix you won’t want to miss… Since there’s never a bad time for a great Sharon Jones vocal performance, we’ll hear her…
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Mar 23, 2020
Did you know? You can use almost anything to make music. By simply tapping her thighs, Maggie Rogers wrote the rhythm for her song “Alaska”; Sibling…
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Mar 20, 2020
Moby made a seminal record based on the samples of musical archivist Alan Lomax. Dido wrote a song most people wouldn’t know about until Eminem…
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Mar 19, 2020
Winter is officially over. Today is the first day of Spring, and host Raina Douris brings us a playlist celebrating all the new season has to offer –…
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Mar 19, 2020
Guitarist Samantha Fish makes bold and expressive blues music. So, it may come as a surprise that she needed a nudge to perform live at first, when…
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Mar 16, 2020
Members of The Pogues have teamed up with the Louisiana band Lost Bayou Ramblers to form a new act, called Poguetry. Spider Stacy, original member of…
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Mar 13, 2020
Michaela Anne grew up the daughter of a Navy Captain, and by the time she graduated high school, she had lived in 20 different houses. As an artist,…
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Mar 12, 2020
Soccer Mommy has a new album called Color Theory. It’s broken into 3 sections – yellow, blue, and gray – according to what the songs mean to her. On…
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Mar 11, 2020
Singer Jonah Mutono has lived in Uganda, Kenya, Philadelphia, London and New York. Growing up, he says he didn’t have a lot of creative friends. And…
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Mar 10, 2020
Aubrie Sellers It might seem like musicians are flocking to Nashville to seek their fortune– and, a lot of them are. But Aubrie Sellers? She grew up…
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Mar 09, 2020
About a year ago, Marcus King left his home in South Carolina, moved to Nashville, and made his first solo record. It was produced by his buddy, Dan…
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Mar 06, 2020
Katie Pruitt was brought up in a religious household in suburban Atlanta without a lot of gay role models, and with parents who worried she would be…
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Mar 06, 2020
Huey Lewis and the News have released a new original album, called Weather, their first in almost twenty years. But while they were in the process of…
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Mar 05, 2020
At the release of Great Grandpa's first album, they all lived in the same Seattle apartment, and owed their sound in part to that city's roots in the…
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Mar 03, 2020
James Bond has been a spy for almost 60 years now, one of the longest-running film series ever. Since the beginning, with 1962’s Dr. No, we’ve seen…
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Mar 02, 2020
Bonny Light Horseman is a project of three friends who got together to make new folk music, inspired by the spirit of old folk music. That trio is…
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Mar 02, 2020
The Growlers have a sound so unique, they needed to name their own genre for it: “beach goth.” The California band initially got together when asked…
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Feb 28, 2020
After two successful albums, including their 2015 breakout song "S.O.B.", Nathaniel Rateliff has side-tracked from his band The Night Sweats to…
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Feb 27, 2020
Robbie Robertson of The Band visits the World Cafe! Their 1969 self-titled record featured classics like “Up On Cripple Creek” and “The Night They…
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Feb 26, 2020
The live show of Baltimore outfit, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, is an experience similar to seeing Phish or The Grateful Dead…There’s an energy between…
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Feb 25, 2020
Heather Heyer was tragically murdered while peacefully protesting the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville back in 2017. Shortly after, Becca…
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Feb 23, 2020
Chicago band Twin Peaks makes music that feels like you’re hanging out with your best friends, which makes sense, because the band is made up of 5…
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Feb 14, 2020
Hiss Golden Messenger is North Carolina singer-songwriter, MC Taylor. His latest album, Terms of Surrender, almost didn’t become a reality – The…
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Feb 14, 2020
World Cafe's Sense of Place trip to Charlottesville, Virginia wraps up with local bands David Wax Museum and Lowland Hum, who have created a unique…
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Feb 12, 2020
World Cafe continues its Sense of Place trip to Charlottesville, Virginia with the Hackensaw Boys. They've been part of the sound of Charlottesville…
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Feb 10, 2020
World Cafe’s Sense of Place trip to Charlottesville, Virginia continues today with a dose of school spirit! At the University of Virginia, we’ll meet…
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Feb 07, 2020
In a new Sense of Place series, World Cafe hits the road this week to explore Charlottesville, Virginia. To kick things off, we start with…
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Feb 06, 2020
The New York duo, Overcoats, debuted in 2017 with a minimalist sound and otherworldly harmonies that many music critics described as “sweet.” But,…
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Feb 06, 2020
Kingdom in My Mind, the latest album from The Wood Brothers, started from some time spent jamming in a new studio space. The songs didn’t end up as…
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Feb 04, 2020
When you think of actor Jeff Golblum, his notable roles in movies like Jurassic Park and Independence Day may come to mind. But he’s also a jazz…
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Feb 03, 2020
Philadelphia pop-punk band Modern Baseball went on indefinite hiatus back in 2017 following a period of writer’s block from songwriter Jake Ewald. He…
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Jan 31, 2020
The Lone Bellow created their new album in solitude. The trio worked, ate, and slept in an upstate New York studio – away from everything – and left…
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Jan 31, 2020
The Head and The Heart return for a special acoustic performance in front of a live audience who gave us some questions for the band that led to some…
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Jan 29, 2020
After recording their last album with a backing band, The Milk Carton Kids decided to return to their duo roots. On the new record, The Only Ones,…
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Jan 28, 2020
Just before Leif Vollebekk released his 2017 album Twin Solitude, he thought it might be his last…He felt like he wasn’t reaching an audience or…
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Jan 27, 2020
Nashville singer-songwriter, David Olney, passed away on January 18th. He leaves behind a rich collection of songs from his nearly five decades as a…
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Jan 24, 2020
The 62nd annual Grammy Awards are happening this Sunday, and World Cafe hosts Raina Douris and Stephen Kallao review a bunch of their favorite…
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Jan 22, 2020
Michael Kiwanuka’s latest album Kiwanuka is being heralded as among the best of the year. It follows up the success of 2016’s Love & Hate which…
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Jan 20, 2020
The band Big Thief put out two albums in 2019 – U.F.O.F. and Two Hands. The band joins us on the next World Cafe. We’ll hear stories about how the…
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Jan 17, 2020
British musician Yola describes her life as a series of ups and downs – being homeless one day and getting compliments from James Brown the next. She…
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Jan 16, 2020
The 92nd annual Grammy Awards are on Sunday and NPR Music’s Stephen Thompson, co-host of the podcast “Pop Culture Happy Hour”, joins the Raina and…
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Jan 15, 2020
Jeremy Ivey has stepped out with his solo debut, after years of writing and playing on the albums of his wife, country singer-songwriter Margo Price.…
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Jan 14, 2020
Hiss Golden Messenger Hiss Golden Messenger almost didn’t want to release his latest album Terms of Surrender – The songs were just too raw. In the…
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Jan 14, 2020
Son Little’s new songs were in great shape, when his hard drive failed, and he lost everything. That’s the beginning of the story of his new album,…
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Jan 10, 2020
Clairo was a senior in high school when she shot a music video for her song “Pretty Girl” in her bedroom and uploaded it to YouTube, where it’s…
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Jan 10, 2020
The Lumineers have become one of the biggest bands in America since their song “Ho Hey” topped numerous charts in 2012. Their ambitious new album,…
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Jan 08, 2020
The Growlers have a sound so unique, they needed to come up with their own genre for it: “beach goth”. The California band originally got together…
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Jan 07, 2020
Lead singer of The Pretenders for the last four decades, Chrissie Hynde embodies the essence of rock ‘n’ roll. On her new solo album, the sound may…
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Jan 06, 2020
There are currently eight band members in The New Pornographers. And like so much of their catalog, their latest album, In The Morse Code Of Brake…
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Jan 05, 2020
Chicago indie duo Whitney’s sophomore album is called Further Seems Forever, and unlike their debut which was a breakup album, this is a commitment…
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Jan 03, 2020
Michaela Anne grew up the daughter of a Navy Captain, and by the time she graduated high school, she had lived in 20 different houses. As an artist,…
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Jan 01, 2020
Anthony Lamarca fronts a band called The Building when he isn’t busy playing guitar in the Grammy Award winning band, The War on Drugs. When he and…
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Dec 31, 2019
To ring in 2020, host Raina Douris spins a playlist of songs all about new beginnings, changes, and fresh starts. We’ll hear from Tears for Fears,…
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Dec 30, 2019
It’s World Cafe’s final look back at the best interviews of the year today…And Lizzo had a pretty remarkable 2019. We’ll hear her live performance of…
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Dec 29, 2019
World Cafe returns to some of the year’s best interviews as 2019 comes to a close. Today, it’s Pete Townshend, who has a new album with The Who and…
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Dec 26, 2019
Alabama Shakes singer Brittany Howard’s debut solo album is NPR Music’s album of the year. We’ll hear Brittany and her band perform some of her tunes…
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Dec 25, 2019
Vince Gill has won over 20 Grammys and sold over 25 million albums. His latest record Okie is his most personal and autobiographical release yet. He…
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Dec 24, 2019
Los Lobos went through nearly 150 Christmas-related songs from North, South and Central America to pick what to cover on their first ever holiday…
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Dec 23, 2019
A little over a decade ago, friends Norah Jones, Sasha Dobson, and Catherine Popper started playing out together in Brooklyn just for fun. Now, the…
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Dec 22, 2019
Clairo was a senior in high school when she shot a music video for her song “Pretty Girl” in her bedroom and uploaded it to YouTube where it’s racked…
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Dec 19, 2019
Michael Kiwanuka’s latest album Kiwanuka is being heralded as among the best of the year. It follows up the success of 2016’s Love & Hate which…
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Dec 18, 2019
In Rush songs like “Tom Sawyer’ & “Closer to the Heart” singer Geddy Lee shows off his massive vocal range. But it’s the low-end melodies of Lee’s…
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Dec 17, 2019
2019 was an incredible year for music, and hosts Raina Douris and Stephen Kallao look back on the year that was, featuring song from Lizzo, Bruce…
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Dec 16, 2019
Joan Shelley is a proud Kentucky native, but she looked for inspiration far from home in making her new album, Like the River Loves the Sea. Along…
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Dec 12, 2019
Chrissie Hynde embodies the essence of rock ‘n’ roll as the lead singer of The Pretenders over the last four decades. On her new solo album, the…
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Dec 09, 2019
Jessy Wilson was looking for a more rock ‘n’ roll vibe after her former group, the Americana duo Muddy Magnolias, broke up. So, she reached out to…
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Dec 05, 2019
Aubrie Sellers took country music to the garage on her 2016 debut, New City Blues. She has a rock ‘n’ roll swagger that separates her from the more…
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Dec 04, 2019
Bedouine was born in Syria, moved to Saudi Arabia as a child, and then eventually found her way to the United States – her first self-titled album…
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Dec 03, 2019
In Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles in the mid-‘60s, bands like The Byrds, The Mamas and the Papas, and The Beach Boys made music history – They…
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Dec 02, 2019
The veteran bluegrass instrumentalist, Rob Ickes, and the young guitar prodigy, Trey Hensley, have formed an inspired collaboration. Ickes and…
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Nov 29, 2019
Long before Coldplay announced their issues with touring and sustainability, the band Illiterate Light was biking across the mid-Atlantic for…
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Nov 29, 2019
The Britpop icon just released his second solo album, called Why Me? Why Not. And he’s the subject of the new documentary, As It Was, chronicling the…
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Nov 27, 2019
You’re invited to a Thanksgiving potluck with Questlove, the co-founder of The Roots and bandleader for The Tonight Show. Quest stops by to talk…
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Nov 26, 2019
Today, Robbie Robertson of The Band visits the World Cafe! It’s the 50th anniversary of “Up On Cripple Creek” and the rest of the songs on The Band’s…
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Nov 25, 2019
Jade Jackson’s latest collection is a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll. She released her sophomore album, Wilderness, this past…
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Nov 22, 2019
Today on the World Cafe, it’s the unmistakably modern and inventive bluegrass string band, Della Mae. When two-time Grand National Fiddle Champion,…
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Nov 22, 2019
Kelsey Waldon is at the forefront of the neo-traditional country scene in Nashville and, with her latest album, she is the first signing to John…
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Nov 20, 2019
TODAY’S PROGRAM MY BE PRE-EMPTED BY SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE TRUMP IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Shawn Colvin’s debut,…
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Nov 19, 2019
TODAY’S PROGRAM MY BE PRE-EMPTED BY SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE TRUMP IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY. Sonny Landreth tells stories about performing a…
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Nov 18, 2019
TODAY’S PROGRAM MY BE PRE-EMPTED BY SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE TRUMP IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY. The Head and the Heart stop by with a special acoustic…
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Nov 15, 2019
Pete Townshend, the major creative force behind The Who, has written his first ever novel, titled The Age of Anxiety – And, there are plans to turn…
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Nov 15, 2019
TODAY'S PROGRAM MY BE PRE-EMPTED BY LIVE NPR NEWS COVERAGE OF THE TRUMP IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY. Band leader Raul Malo and his band The Mavericks are…
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Nov 13, 2019
Bluegrass up-and-comer, Molly Tuttle, released her full-length debut in April, called When You’re Ready. It established her imaginative songwriting…
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Nov 12, 2019
TODAY'S PROGRAM MY BE PRE-EMPTED BY LIVE NPR NEWS COVERAGE OF THE TRUMP IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY. The Record Company is a blues-rock trio whose gritty…
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Nov 11, 2019
Tanya Tucker was 13 years old when she had her first hit song, 1972’s “Delta Dawn,” and she continued to top the charts throughout her career. Now,…
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Nov 10, 2019
Robert Randolph and The Family Band combine the raucous spirit of Saturday night with the Holy Spirit of Sunday morning! The literal family band’s…
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Nov 07, 2019
Noah Gundersen and his band perform music from Noah’s latest album, Lover on the next World Cafe. Noah also talks about the psychedelic experience he…
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Nov 06, 2019
Jessy Wilson was looking for a more rock ‘n’ roll vibe after her former group, the Americana duo Muddy Magnolias, broke up. So she reached out to…
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Nov 05, 2019
One of the most important voices in R&B today, Raphael Saadiq is host Stephen Kallao’s guest. His new record is named after his brother who died of a…
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Nov 04, 2019
If you only know the Icelandic band Of Monsters & Men for their indie folk hit “Little Talks,” their new album may come as a surprise. Fever Dream…
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Nov 01, 2019
Mwenso & The Shakes make an energetic blend of jazz and R&B, led by the mesmerizing frontman, Michael Mwenso. Originally born in Sierra Leone,…
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Nov 01, 2019
When Edward Norton read Jonathan Lethem’s novel, Motherless Brooklyn, he knew he wanted to play the lead role of Lionel, a detective with Tourette…
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Oct 29, 2019
Jonatha Brooke has been making music for 30 years, first as a part of the duo, The Story, and then as a solo artist since 1994. After several…
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Oct 28, 2019
The band Ranky Tanky is from Charleston, South Carolina, and their music draws on the culture of slave descendants from the region known as the…
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Oct 25, 2019
Quinn Christopherson is the winner of this year’s Tiny Desk Contest, which saw over six thousand applicants all vying for the chance to perform their…
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Oct 24, 2019
Grace Potter has sung with country star Kenny Chesney, the Rolling Stones and her former band, The Nocturnals. Four years ago, Grace released her…
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Oct 23, 2019
David Wax Museum is led by husband and wife duo, David Wax and Suz Slezak. Their new album is called Line of Light, and it was born out of the 2017…
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Oct 22, 2019
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson of The Roots, and bandleader for The Tonight Show, is also an author five times over. His latest book, Mixtape Potluck, is…
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Oct 21, 2019
The band Alabama Shakes took home the 2016 Grammy for Best Rock Performance thanks, in large part, to the powerful vocals and guitar work of the…
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Oct 18, 2019
Che Apalache have a take on bluegrass unlike anything you have heard before. When bandleader Joe Trooper moved to Argentina he found a way to combine…
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Oct 18, 2019
The Hold Steady’s first album in five years, called Thrashing Through the Passion, is filled with the character studies the band is known for, with…
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Oct 16, 2019
Orville Peck may perform in disguise as a masked cowboy, but he also pushes at the boundaries of what country music can sound like. We talk about the…
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Oct 15, 2019
The Bird and the Bee, made up of Greg Kurstin and Inara George, is an electronic jazz duo – But they happen to love Van Halen. So what happens when…
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Oct 14, 2019
Singer and guitarist of Vampire Weekend, Ezra Koenig stops by the Cafe! Their latest album, Father of the Bride, is the band’s first since founding…
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Oct 11, 2019
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Shawn Colvin’s debut, Steady On, which won her the first of her Grammys. To celebrate, Shawn re-recorded the…
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Oct 11, 2019
Between 1988 and 1991, the Pixies released four albums that changed the sound of indie rock music. After a long hiatus, the band has been…
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Oct 09, 2019
Tamino, who was born in Egypt and raised in Belgium, started out making punk rock. But by his late teens, he had embraced his voice and a more…
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Oct 08, 2019
The latest album from Shovels & Rope, called By Blood, speaks to their bond as a band, and as a family. Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst are…
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Oct 07, 2019
Vince Gill is of the most accomplished and respected county musicians all of time. He’s also one of the humblest. That’s what makes his latest album…
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Oct 04, 2019
Twenty-two-year-old artist, Madison Cunningham, got started earlier than most. She’s been seriously pursuing her songwriting since age 12 and moved…
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Oct 02, 2019
Americana duo Buddy and Julie Miller have a new album called Breakdown on 20th Ave. South – It’s named after a real address, and a real-life…
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Oct 01, 2019
From designer at MailChimp to musician – that is the creative path Mattiel took, and on the next World Cafe, she shares how her day job helped make…
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Sep 30, 2019
One of the most important voices in R&B today, Raphael Saddiq is host Stephen Kallao’s guest. His new record is named after his brother who died of a…
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Sep 27, 2019
Another World Cafe decades show today! After taking musical journeys through 1979 and 1989, today we go back to the year 1999. The days of Napster,…
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Sep 27, 2019
On Talia Schlanger’s last show as host of the World Cafe, we listen back to a 2018 session with her guest, St. Vincent. The experimental indie rocker…
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Sep 25, 2019
The devil and the delight is in the details on Jenny Lewis’ latest album On the Line. She performs songs, shares the wild story of how Ringo Starr…
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Sep 24, 2019
Macy Gray was a single mother of three when she got the big break that led to her 1999 debut album, which featured the song “I Try”. In the 20 years…
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Sep 23, 2019
Singer, songwriter, and storyteller extraordinaire Margo Price performs music from her socially and politically charged second album, 2017’s All…
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Sep 20, 2019
Rapper, singer, producer and classically trained flute player Lizzo earned her first Billboard number 1 song at the start of September. She popped by…
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Sep 19, 2019
The band Alabama Shakes took home the 2016 Grammy for Best Rock Performance thanks, in large part, to the powerful vocals and guitar work of the…
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Sep 18, 2019
It’s World Cafe's final day in Paris and today we’re joined by Keren Ann. She takes us on a walk around her neighborhood, Montmartre – which was once…
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Sep 17, 2019
Sense of Place, Paris – Delgres Delgres is a 3 piece blues band that draws on a variety of influences – they are based in France, but look to leader…
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Sep 16, 2019
The twin sisters of the duo Ibeyi split their time between Cuba and France as kids. In an interview and performance recorded live in Paris, the pair…
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Sep 13, 2019
After 11 years, The Raconteurs are back with their new album Help Me Stranger. Its packed with the same crunchy rock and roll the band was built on.…
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Sep 11, 2019
Michelle Zauner has an incredibly rich creative life. She makes music as Japanese Breakfast with her collaborator Craig Hendrix, she directs music…
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Sep 10, 2019
After releasing his first single 50 years ago, today’s guest shares songs from his 2019 album, It Rains Love. It’s Lee Fields. He’s holding down the…
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Sep 06, 2019
Craig Finn, frontman of The Hold Steady, has released the third album in a series of solo records that’s become a proper trilogy. It’s called I Need…
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Sep 04, 2019
The powerful voice of Eric Burton caught the attention of Grammy-winning producer Adrian Quesada. At the time, Quesada was searching for a singer to…
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Sep 03, 2019
Guster has been making well-loved alt-rock, including their big hit “Fa Fa”, for over 25 years, and they still manage to surprise themselves with…
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Sep 02, 2019
Today, host Stephen Kallao is joined by blues royalty – It’s Cedric Burnside. He grew up in Benton County in rural Mississippi, where he was raised…
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Sep 02, 2019
An NPR investigation finds low-income neighborhoods in dozens of major cities nationwide are hotter than their wealthier counterparts. And that can…
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Aug 30, 2019
World Cafe says goodbye to London today with a showcase of some of the city’s best indie acts. We’ll hear live music from The Amazons – a rock ‘n’…
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Aug 30, 2019
The 86-year-old country icon has a new album, called Ride Me Back Home, and today we’ll hear him talk about the new music, as well as classics that…
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Aug 28, 2019
World Cafe’s Sense of Place series continues with the legendary Nile Rodgers, who you might know from Chic. He’s also the writer, producer and…
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Aug 27, 2019
World Cafe’s Sense of Place series in London continues with the vibrant and funky band, Ibibio Sound Machine. Lead singer Eno Williams was born in…
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Aug 26, 2019
World Cafe’s Sense of Place adventure in London continues – And today is for Beatles fans. Host Talia Schlanger hops around London with tour guide…
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Aug 23, 2019
Today is the 25th anniversary of Jeff Buckley’s only studio album, Grace. The singular artist’s life and career were cut short when he tragically…
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Aug 23, 2019
Today kicks off an entire week of World Cafe in London! First, it’s a weird and wonderful piece of the city’s history – George Frideric Handel, who…
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Aug 21, 2019
Since her days with the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Rhiannon Giddens has explored many rich collaborations – From writing a ballet to performing in a…
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Aug 20, 2019
Since their 2008 debut record, which included the hit song “Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked,” Cage the Elephant has become one of the biggest bands in…
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Aug 19, 2019
King Princess is a young producer, singer, multi-instrumentalist and emerging gay icon. In this encore edition of World Cafe, she talks about…
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Aug 16, 2019
Karl Denson is the leader of Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, who make a fusion of funk, jazz, soul, and rock. He also has one of the coolest side gigs…
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Aug 16, 2019
Siddhartha Khosla is the composer for NBC’s hit series “This Is Us,” and he was recently nominated for an Emmy for his work on the show. Today we'll…
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Aug 14, 2019
Carlos Santana is an astonishing guitarist, from his groundbreaking performance at Woodstock, to his latest album, produced by Rick Rubin, called…
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Aug 13, 2019
T Bone Burnett tells insider stories about working on epic musical projects over three decades – Like playing inspirational records for Brandi…
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Aug 12, 2019
Ever since he was a kid in Santa Fe, Zach Condon has loved skateboarding and longed to see the world. Both came into play when he was making his band…
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Aug 09, 2019
After getting dropped from their label and losing their management team, Sarah Versprille and Daniel Hindman, the Portland duo that is Pure Bathing…
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Aug 09, 2019
The new album from Shovels & Rope, called By Blood, speaks to their bond as a band, and as a family. Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst are partners…
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Aug 07, 2019
Nineties alternative meets roots rock with today's guest, Justin Osborn, who performs as Susto. His chosen stage name, in Latin American culture, is…
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Aug 06, 2019
With the release of her full-length debut, Heard It in a Past Life, Maggie Rogers has been making huge TV appearances, including Saturday Night Live,…
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Aug 05, 2019
Calexico and Iron & Wine have teamed up to make a new record called Years to Burn. On the next World Cafe, we’ll hear performances and get the story…
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Aug 02, 2019
Moving and breaking up – two experiences that can be pretty life changing. Tim Baker experienced them both in a short time after his former band Hey…
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Aug 02, 2019
This year’s theme for NPR Music’s Turning the Tables series is the 8 foundational mothers of modern music. Including Maybelle Carter, Billie Holdiay,…
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Jul 31, 2019
Perry Farrell has fronted the bands Janes Addiction and Porno for Pyros. He also founded a little music festival known as Lollapalooza, which now has…
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Jul 30, 2019
A band of three sisters from Israel, A-WA, mix Yemeni folk traditions with hip hop and electronic music. Their latest album, called Bayti Fi Rasi, is…
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Jul 29, 2019
Austin-based singer-songwriter, Molly Burch, released the loose, moody record, First Flower, last year, and she’s recently been busy with a…
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Jul 26, 2019
Kamasi Washington is a saxophonist with roots in jazz, but he colors way outside the lines of improvised music. He’s collaborated with artists…
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Jul 26, 2019
Camp Cope is a 3-piece rock band from Australia, and they’re also fearless activists. They’ve called out sexism in the music industry and led…
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Jul 24, 2019
Christone Ingram has been dazzling blues fans with his incredible guitar playing since he was a teenager. Now, with the release of his debut album,…
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Jul 23, 2019
What do you get when two World Cafe favorites come together as a new act? Better Oblivion Community Center! Phoebe Bridgers and Conor Oberst’s latest…
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Jul 22, 2019
The new album from Caamp, called By and By, comes out on Friday. Today, we’ll get a preview! Formed around guitarist Taylor Meier and banjo player…
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Jul 21, 2019
Lukas Nelson – He’s been busy, to say the least, since his last visit with his band Promise of the Real in 2017. They continue to play live as Neil…
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Jul 19, 2019
The Black Keys went on hiatus after their 2015 tour but recently returned with a new album called Let’s Rock. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney share…
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Jul 18, 2019
During Guns N’ Roses 2015 tour, bassist Duff McKagan recognized he was headed down a rabbit hole of cable news, so he turned off the television and…
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Jul 16, 2019
The legendary Gloria Gaynor has released a new gospel album. It’s called Testimony and celebrates her faith through original songs and her take on…
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Jul 15, 2019
Briston Maroney was still in high school when he passed the audition for American Idol (Although he’s more Kurt Cobain than Carrie Underwood).…
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Jul 14, 2019
This month marks 20 years since Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks met. They share why starting a band together felt more intimidating than getting…
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Jul 12, 2019
Today on the World Cafe, we have a special slice of New Orleans, King James and the Special Men. After living out west his entire life, bandleader…
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Jul 10, 2019
Today on the World Cafe, it’s the incredible dual guitars of Rodrigo Y Gabriela. Their new album, titled Mettavolution, draws on the Sanskrit word…
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Jul 09, 2019
The National made an album, called I Am Easy To Find, and in the process, wrote a film score as well. The movie of the same title stars Alicia…
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Jul 08, 2019
Tank and the Bangas were the unanimous winners of NPR Music’s 2017 Tiny Desk Contest. This band is full of musical surprises, and frontwoman Tank…
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Jul 05, 2019
Molly Tuttle became the first woman to ever be nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Guitar Player of the Year award. And…
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Jul 05, 2019
With 1972’s “Back Stabbers,” and then the song “Love Train” the following year, The O’Jays hit the charts and helped take Philadelphia soul…
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Jul 03, 2019
This 4th of July, World Cafe takes a road trip across the USA for an all-American adventure! We’ll stop at Asbury Park with Bruce Springsteen, spend…
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Jul 02, 2019
Emerging superstar Lizzo is a jack of all trades – From songwriting and rapping, to playing the flute and producing, and of course, singing. Her many…
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Jul 01, 2019
For the recording of her latest album, Scenery, Emily King wanted to change up her own scenery a bit with a new location. Specifically, a freezing…
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Jun 28, 2019
Andrew Bird’s last album, Are You Serious, was very inward-looking, inspired by pivotal moments in his personal life. And now, his latest album…
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Jun 27, 2019
We’re just over halfway through 2019, and today host Talia Schlanger takes a look back at some of her favorite songs of the year so far. It’s a year…
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Jun 26, 2019
Jenny Lewis performs music from her latest album, On The Line. Jenny started writing the album after a significant break-up with her long-time…
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Jun 25, 2019
Shortly after releasing his first solo record, roots singer-songwriter Ben Dickey also debuted as an actor. He starred as outlaw country musician…
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Jun 24, 2019
Talia Schlanger’s guest today is Cat Power, performing songs from an album that almost didn’t see the light of day. First, Chan found out she was…
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Jun 20, 2019
Host Talia Schlanger joins one of the most recognized artists in country music, Willie Nelson on his tour bus to talk about his new album Ride Me…
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Jun 19, 2019
Brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum sound like they’ve been harmonizing since they were kids, but it wasn’t until they formed their band “The Cactus…
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Jun 18, 2019
Singer-songwriter Marissa Nadler puts an original twist on old school country. That twist has allowed her to step into broad musical territory over…
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Jun 17, 2019
Orville Peck makes country music in the spirit of the standards he grew up with, from Johnny Cash, to Merle Haggard, and Dolly Parton, but mixed in…
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Jun 13, 2019
Since her days with the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Rhiannon Giddens has explored many rich collaborations, from writing a ballet to performing in a…
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Jun 12, 2019
Ace of Cups performs for World Cafe Live (YouTube)Ace of Cups recently released a debut album 50 years in the making. The all-female band formed in…
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Jun 11, 2019
Hayes Carll on World Cafe. Courtesy of the artist/via NPRTexas roots rocker Hayes Carll’s new album, What It Is, came together with the help of an…
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Jun 10, 2019
Lizzo. Credit: Courtesy of the Artist/via NPRLizzo is having a moment. Her songs have been burning up the charts and she was recently nominated for…
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Jun 09, 2019
Roberto Finizio/Courtesy of the Artist/via NPRCarlos Santana is one of the most influential guitarists of the last 50 years, from his groundbreaking…
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Jun 06, 2019
The National. Credit: Diedre O'Callaghan/Courtesy of the artist/via NPRThe National aren’t strangers to creating art in unconventional ways - like…
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Jun 05, 2019
Come Away with Me turned Norah Jones from a total unknown to a multi-Grammy Award-winning artist. That early fame has allowed her maximum artistic…
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Jun 04, 2019
Considered the Godfather of Newgrass, Sam Bush has had a profound influence on the evolution of bluegrass and modern Americana music. He’s the…
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Jun 03, 2019
Josh Ritter has released a new album, called Fever Breaks. He stops by the World Cafe for a special stripped-down performance of his new songs –…
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May 30, 2019
Today on the World Cafe, we’re setting the clock back 40 years to 1979! It’s the year that gave us one of the most famous and sampled bass lines…
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Apr 21, 2019
King Princess, whose real name is Mikaela Strauss, grew up in the recording studio her dad, Oliver, built.
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Apr 07, 2019
A bright rising star from England, Nilüfer Yanya wrote songs throughout her childhood, and by 18 started to capture some attention.
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Mar 10, 2019
Hozier In the Fall Hozier released his the highly anticipated EP “Nina Cried Power” - on the title track he paid tribute to those who try to create…
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Mar 09, 2019
If you’re headed to South by Southwest this week, an act you have to see is Jealous of the Birds, the band project of Naomi Hamilton.
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Mar 09, 2019
If you’re headed to South by Southwest this week, an act you have to see is Jealous of the Birds, the band project of Naomi Hamilton.
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Mar 02, 2019
With the release of her full-length debut, Heard It In a Past Life, Maggie Rogers has been making huge TV appearances, including Saturday Night Live,…
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Feb 25, 2019
For the final installment of the Gospel roots of Rock and Soul series, today World Cafe explores how gospel was absorbed into mainstream music and…
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Feb 24, 2019
By the mid-20th century, gospel music was a force in America. It was capturing the attention of record companies and audiences across the nation.
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Feb 23, 2019
In a special three-day series starting today, World Cafe explores the Gospel roots of Rock and Soul. We’ll begin with the foundation of Black gospel,…
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Feb 19, 2019
Gary Clark Jr. was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live last weekend.
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Feb 16, 2019
Macy Gray’s 1999 hit song “I Try” made her into a massive star and Grammy award-winner.
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Feb 11, 2019
Celebrating Black History Month, it’s a special roundtable discussion today about the black artists and creators who are shaping the future.
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Oct 03, 2018
Ray LaMontagne is known for keeping his personal life quite personal, but on the next World Cafe, he opens up about his music, his family and his…
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Oct 02, 2018
Dolly Parton, Devendra Banhart, and They Might Be Giants all contributed original songs to a new compilation of music inspired by the amendments to…
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Oct 01, 2018
Dessa’s latest album was inspired by a unique experiment. She recruited a team of scientists to locate the spot in her brain responsible for a…
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Sep 30, 2018
Aaron Lee Tasjan is a singer-songwriter with an unconventional Nashville sound and a new album, Karma for Cheap.
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Sep 29, 2018
Aaron Lee Tasjan is a singer-songwriter out of Nashville, but when you think Americana his sound might not be what comes to mind.
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Sep 26, 2018
Nobody sounds quite like DeVotchKa. The band surrounds the striking voice of singer Nick Urata with sousaphone, accordion, theremin and violin.
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Sep 23, 2018
Chris of Christine and the Queens describes herself as pop music’s weird cousin. But World Cafe's Talia Schlanger thinks of her as pop’s bright,…
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Sep 22, 2018
Grab your walkman, because World Cafe is going back to 1988! It's the year that introduced us to Rain Man and The Wonder Years, the Iran-Contra…
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Sep 18, 2018
On the eve of Paul Simon’s retirement from recording music and touring, renowned music critic and author Robert Hilburn joins us to discuss his…
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Sep 17, 2018
When Leon Bridges debuted in 2015 to widespread acclaim, he was called “the new Sam Cooke.
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Sep 17, 2018
Caroline Rose's latest album is a departure from the alt-country sound of her first two albums.
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Sep 15, 2018
For 57 years, the Philadelphia Folk Festival has presented a diversity of artists, as well as icons like Bonnie Raitt and John Prine.
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Sep 13, 2018
Jennifer Pyken is a music supervisor who has worked on over 500 episodes of TV shows, like "Lost," "One Tree Hill," and "Smallville," and this…
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Sep 12, 2018
Dawn Landes wanted to capture the sound of classic Nashville for her latest record, so she tracked down one of her heroes; Country Music Hall of…
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Sep 10, 2018
This week, the biggest brightest stars, and most exciting emerging artists of Americana gather together in Nashville to showcase their stuff for…
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Sep 09, 2018
The Newport Folk Festival takes place every year at the end of July, 3 days, 4 stages, and a whole bunch of amazing musicians.
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Sep 06, 2018
Ry Cooder has been playing music for fifty years, with everybody from The Rolling Stones to Neil Young, and made some pretty impressive albums along…
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Sep 05, 2018
A disarming young talent named Sunny War recently joined host Talia Schlanger in the studio.
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Sep 03, 2018
You may know Wayne Kramer for his time playing guitar for the radical rock group MC5, who broke up in 1972.
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Sep 03, 2018
Juno Award winner Matt Mays has been on the road for nearly two decades, wowing audiences with his amazing rock growl.
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Sep 01, 2018
World Cafe is produced by WXPN, and each Summer the Philadelphia station presents the three-day XPoNential Music Festival.
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Aug 30, 2018
On Take Me To The Disco, Meg Myers makes explosive, aggressive rock, coupled with synthesizers, strings and plenty of distortion.
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Aug 29, 2018
Amos Lee’s new record comes out on Friday, and to celebrate we'll hear live music from his recent concert in Seattle and hang out with the muse who…
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Aug 27, 2018
David Byrne tells stories about the songs on his latest solo album, American Utopia, which zoom in on the mind of a dog, the forgotten regions of the…
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Aug 27, 2018
The Squirrel Nut Zippers are back with Beasts of Burgundy, their first new album of original songs in 18 years.
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Aug 26, 2018
Bermuda Triangle started harmonizing together on porches as pals and turned into one of the most storied new groups in Nashville.
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Aug 23, 2018
We’ll talk with Damon Albarn and hear live songs from the new album The Now Now recorded in Japan and written as Gorillaz traveled through the U.S.
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Aug 22, 2018
Dermot Kennedy has been called onstage by Glen Hansard and collaborated with Kanye West’s go-to producer – it seems clear why the moment you hear the…
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Aug 19, 2018
Engineer Vanessa Parr has worked on records with Rhiannon Giddens, Elton John, the Dixie Chicks, John Mayer and more.
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Aug 19, 2018
It’s an encore presentation of our session with the grateful and warm Jack Johnson! Johnson flew in from Hawaii and walked into our studio wearing…
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Aug 13, 2018
On their new fifth record, Off to the Races, Jukebox the Ghost are at their pop-rock best – The songs are filled with inventive melodies, big hooks,…
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Aug 11, 2018
Check out the sound of new Nashville today on the World Cafe! Liz Cooper & The Stampede have just released a debut that showcases their take on…
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Aug 09, 2018
Courtney Marie Andrews left home at age 16 to pursue music. She spent years touring the country and learning how to get by on her own, which involved…
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Aug 08, 2018
Nick Lowe has been making music for over 50 years, with highlights like "Cruel to Be Kind" and "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love, and…
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Aug 07, 2018
Jill Sternheimer of the Lincoln Center and World Cafe's Nashville correspondent Ann Powers just released a list of the 200 Greatest Songs of the 21st…
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