NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
Intimate musical performances, recorded live at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen.
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Season 4
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1
E1
Abigail Washburn
Watch the singer-songwriter mix American bluegrass and Chinese folk from the NPR Music offices.
Jan 3, 2011 -
2
E2
Gyptian
The reggae star performs his hit "Hold You" and more from the NPR Music offices in Washington, D.C.
Jan 5, 2011 -
3
E3
David Wax Museum
The band brings a frenetic, infectious blend of American and Mexican folk to the NPR Music offices.
Jan 9, 2011 -
4
E4
Ballake Sissoko And Vincent Segal
The masterful kora-and-cello duo performs a transfixing set combining African and European strings.
Jan 17, 2011 -
5
E5
Iron And Wine
Sam Beam gives a fresh side of his new songs at NPR, and tops it off with a devastating 2004 gem.
Jan 21, 2011 -
6
E6
Basia Bulat
The Canadian singer-songwriter sings highlights from her two albums, plus a surprise from Poland.
Jan 24, 2011 -
7
E7
Richard Thompson
Watch the folk-rock legend perform songs from his 20th solo album, Dream Attic, at NPR Music.
Feb 1, 2011 -
8
E8
Stars
Watch Amy Millan and Torquil Campbell transform three of Stars' songs into spare, pretty folk music.
Feb 3, 2011 -
9
E9
Ivan And Alyosha
The band showcases its Beatles-esque pop harmonies and sweet melodies from the NPR Music offices.
Feb 7, 2011 -
10
E10
Esperanza Spalding
The jazz bassist, singer and Best New Artist Grammy winner performs in the NPR Music offices.
Feb 12, 2011 -
11
E11
Turtle Island Quartet
With an eclectic palette of sounds and styles, the Turtle Island Quartet swings at NPR Music.
Feb 16, 2011 -
12
E12
Adele
In a three-song set at the NPR Music offices, the U.K. pop star showcases her brilliant voice.
Feb 17, 2011 -
13
E13
Local Natives
The L.A. band brings its euphoric choruses and clattering Afrobeat rhythms to the NPR Music offices.
Feb 21, 2011 -
14
E14
Damien Jurado
Hear Jurado's raw, time-worn, authentically graceful music, performed in the NPR Music office.
Feb 28, 2011 -
15
E15
Steve Riley And The Mamou Playboys
Watch the Grammy-nominated Cajun band play an upbeat yet bittersweet set from the NPR Music offices.
Mar 7, 2011 -
16
E16
Lizz Wright
In this two-song set at the NPR Music offices, Wright channels the gospel and soul of her past.
Mar 14, 2011 -
17
E17
Nellie McKay
McKay's bold, audacious personality shines in this set recorded at the NPR Music offices.
Apr 4, 2011 -
18
E18
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars
Hear the Refugee All Stars' upbeat reggae grooves, performed live at the NPR Music offices.
Apr 6, 2011 -
19
E19
Josh Ritter
Ritter can't hide his enjoyment of a performance, even when his songs convey obsession or disaster.
Apr 11, 2011 -
20
E20
Otis Taylor
Watch the banjo player perform his trademark trance-inducing blues at the NPR Music offices.
Apr 13, 2011 -
21
E21
Mount Kimbie
Watch the dubstep duo perform our first-ever electronic Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR offices.
Apr 18, 2011 -
22
E22
Pokey LaFarge
Watch LaFarge play '20s- and '30s-inspired music with the help of his band, The South City Three.
Apr 20, 2011 -
23
E23
Steve Earle
A singer, author, actor and activist, Earle showcases many of his talents at the NPR Music offices.
Apr 25, 2011 -
24
E24
Wu Man
Watch the world's reigning pipa virtuoso play ancient music from her Chinese homeland.
Apr 27, 2011 -
25
E25
Booker T. Jones
Jones' name is synonymous with the Hammond B3 organ. Watch him play one in the NPR Music offices.
May 2, 2011 -
26
E26
Julieta Venegas
After six albums, including last year's Otra Cosa, Venegas is still defying expectations.
May 9, 2011 -
27
E27
Neil Innes
Watch the Rutles alumnus play three of his classic satirical songs in the NPR Music offices.
May 11, 2011 -
28
E28
Future Islands
Watch the band's short but intense and cathartic set, performed live in the NPR Music offices.
May 16, 2011 -
29
E29
Low
Singers Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker perform three songs from their gorgeous new album, C'mon.
May 22, 2011 -
30
E30
Jackie Evancho
Watch the 11-year-old perform Handel's "Ombra mai fu" at the NPR Music offices.
May 23, 2011 -
31
E31
The Kopecky Family Band
The Tennessee band's sweet, swollen folk-rock songs keep blooming into something irresistible.
Jun 6, 2011 -
32
E32
The Black Angels
Hear a bold and surprising mix of sensibilities — at once icy and rustic, cavernous and confined.
Jun 8, 2011 -
33
E33
Chris Thile And Michael Daves
Watch Thile and Daves play traditional bluegrass with New York intensity at the NPR Music offices.
Jun 13, 2011 -
34
E34
Charlie Siem
Watch the stylish young violinist pull out a bag of tricks in music by Paganini.
Jun 15, 2011 -
35
E35
The Decemberists
With Chris Funk and Sara Watkins, Colin Meloy plays three sparkling songs from The King Is Dead.
Jun 20, 2011 -
36
E36
YACHT
Watch the electro-pop band's striking and infectious performance at the NPR Music offices.
Jun 22, 2011 -
37
E37
The Civil Wars
Watch Joy Williams and John Paul White's swooning chemistry and stirring harmonies at NPR Music.
Jun 27, 2011 -
38
E38
Milos
Watch the newcomer from Montenegro play Spanish standards and a passionate ode to his homeland.
Jun 30, 2011 -
39
E39
The Blind Boys Of Alabama
Hear the gospel greats' mix of polished blues, swinging soul and from-the-gut expressions of faith.
Jul 5, 2011 -
40
E40
Julian Lage Trio
The guitarist, 23, was once called a prodigy. But he's maturing into a distinctive bandleader, too.
Jul 7, 2011 -
41
E41
Ben Sollee
The genre-bending cellist and songwriter has created a unique take on folk music.
Jul 11, 2011 -
42
E42
Joe Boyd And Robyn Hitchcock
Boyd reads from White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s, while Hitchcock plays songs from the era.
Jul 18, 2011 -
43
E43
Y La Bamba
Watch Luzelena Mendoza and Y La Bamba craft joyfully rich vocal harmonies in the NPR Music offices.
Jul 21, 2011 -
44
E44
Givers
At the NPR offices, the band plays a sunny, exuberant set, suitable for dancing and bobbing along.
Jul 24, 2011 -
45
E45
They Might Be Giants
Watch the band perform two of its brand-new songs, as well as "Fingertips," a classic 1992 chestnut.
Jul 28, 2011 -
46
E46
Amanda Shires
The singer plays a charming set featuring songs from Carrying Lightning at the Tiny Desk.
Aug 3, 2011 -
47
E47
Noah And The Whale
The London band plugs in its drum machine, but sweet simplicity still reigns in the NPR offices.
Aug 10, 2011 -
48
E48
Paul Jacobs
Watch the miraculous hands (and feet) of the Grammy-winning organist in an all-Bach performance.
Aug 12, 2011 -
49
E49
Gaby Moreno
Watch the Guatemalan singer's breathtaking and passionate set at the NPR Music offices.
Aug 15, 2011 -
50
E50
Other Lives
The Oklahoma band brings its spacious minor-key hymns to the NPR Music offices.
Aug 18, 2011 -
51
E51
James Vincent McMorrow
The Irishman has one of the most arresting voices of any young singer you're likely to hear.
Aug 25, 2011 -
52
E52
CALLmeKAT
Watch the synth-pop musician perform a hauntingly beautiful set at the NPR Music offices.
Aug 29, 2011 -
53
E53
Phosphorescent
Watch Matthew Houck play a stirring, road-ragged solo Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR Music offices.
Sep 1, 2011 -
54
E54
King Creosote And Jon Hopkins
Diamond Mine's unassuming creators lose little of their charm and mystique in the NPR Music office.
Sep 4, 2011 -
55
E55
Foster The People
Armed with the summer song of 2011, the band brings "Pumped Up Kicks" and more to NPR Music.
Sep 9, 2011 -
56
E56
Diego Garcia
Watch the former Elefant frontman perform songs from his album Laura at the NPR Music offices.
Sep 12, 2011 -
57
E57
Sean Rowe
Rowe brings his booming voice and ever-louder acoustic-guitar set-ups to the NPR Music offices.
Sep 16, 2011 -
58
E58
Jeremy Messersmith
The Twin Cities singer is a pop genius, with creative ambition to match his considerable charm.
Sep 19, 2011 -
59
E59
Beirut
Beirut performs worldly, inspired songs from its new album The Rip Tide at the NPR Music offices.
Sep 21, 2011 -
60
E60
Jenny Lin
The pianist usually plays eight-foot Steinways. See what she does on an electronic keyboard.
Sep 26, 2011 -
61
E61
The Klezmatics
Ring in Rosh Hashanah with three globe-trotting tunes from one of the world's greatest Jewish bands.
Sep 28, 2011 -
62
E62
Trombone Shorty
The New Orleans native achieved stardom with his voice and his horn. But he just wants you to dance.
Sep 29, 2011 -
63
E63
Mates Of State
The band's performance in the NPR Music offices creates a vibe of ragged, awkward intimacy.
Oct 5, 2011 -
64
E64
Fountains Of Wayne
These songs showcase a band with tremendous narrative gifts and a flair for subtle beauty.
Oct 6, 2011 -
65
E65
JEFF The Brotherhood
Of course, the power-punk duo took off their shirts at the NPR Music offices, because why not?
Oct 8, 2011 -
66
E66
Grouplove
The upstart band brings youthful, infectious energy to the NPR Music offices.
Oct 11, 2011 -
67
E67
Chris Bathgate
The Michigan native's deliberately paced music is too rustic and pretty to be a true downer.
Oct 14, 2011 -
68
E68
Wilco
Armed with tiny amps and a ton of grace, Wilco plays new songs and an old favorite at the Tiny Desk.
Oct 17, 2011 -
69
E69
Hilary Hahn
The classical violinist blends Bach and Charles Ives with flair, then tops it off with a fedora.
Oct 21, 2011 -
70
E70
Ben Williams And Sound Effect
The jazz star and his band perform two songs from their album State of Art at the NPR Music offices.
Oct 24, 2011 -
71
E71
Lisa Hannigan
Exuding both musical and personal warmth, the Irish singer mesmerized at the NPR Music offices.
Oct 29, 2011 -
72
E72
Juanes
Watch the charismatic Colombian superstar give an intimate performance at the NPR Music offices.
Nov 3, 2011 -
73
E73
Jens Lekman
The Swedish singer shows off his humor and charm in this intimate set at the NPR Music offices.
Nov 7, 2011 -
74
E74
Marketa Irglova
At the NPR Music offices, Irglova mixes the exotic and the familiar; sweetness and longing.
Nov 10, 2011 -
75
E75
Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile And Stuart Duncan
The genre-bending cellist heads a dream team of string players who borrow from bluegrass.
Nov 17, 2011 -
76
E76
Joe Henry
Asking the fearless, easygoing singer to perform in a crowded office never felt like an imposition.
Nov 21, 2011 -
77
E77
Hospital Ships
Hospital Ships' beautiful, crushing songs pack an emotional punch in this performance at NPR Music.
Nov 23, 2011 -
78
E78
Gabriel Kahane
Hear the agile musician's rigorously crafted songs, which fall somewhere between classical and pop.
Nov 26, 2011 -
79
E79
tUnE-yArDs
tUnE-yArDs sings of rage and inequality, but also celebrates the joy of letting out a wild sound.
Dec 1, 2011 -
80
E80
I Wayne
As the cameras rolled, the reggae star came to life, showcasing his smooth voice and vibrant energy.
Dec 12, 2011 -
81
E81
Gem Club
Maybe you couldn't hear a pin drop when Gem Club played, but you could hear the click of a keyboard.
Dec 16, 2011 -
82
E82
The Music Tapes
The Elephant 6 alum plays a holiday set compete with bowed banjos, singing saws and tape machines.
Dec 20, 2011 -
83
E83
Maria Volonte
The Argentine singer blends tango, Latin blues and the traditional music of Brazil and Peru.
Dec 27, 2011