NPR Tiny Desk Concerts - Season 4
Episode List
E1 - Abigail Washburn
Aired: January 03, 2011
Watch the singer-songwriter mix American bluegrass and Chinese folk from the NPR Music offices.
E2 - Gyptian
Aired: January 05, 2011
The reggae star performs his hit "Hold You" and more from the NPR Music offices in Washington, D.C.
E3 - David Wax Museum
Aired: January 09, 2011
The band brings a frenetic, infectious blend of American and Mexican folk to the NPR Music offices.
E4 - Ballake Sissoko And Vincent Segal
Aired: January 17, 2011
The masterful kora-and-cello duo performs a transfixing set combining African and European strings.
E5 - Iron And Wine
Aired: January 21, 2011
Sam Beam gives a fresh side of his new songs at NPR, and tops it off with a devastating 2004 gem.
E6 - Basia Bulat
Aired: January 24, 2011
The Canadian singer-songwriter sings highlights from her two albums, plus a surprise from Poland.
E7 - Richard Thompson
Aired: February 01, 2011
Watch the folk-rock legend perform songs from his 20th solo album, Dream Attic, at NPR Music.
E8 - Stars
Aired: February 03, 2011
Watch Amy Millan and Torquil Campbell transform three of Stars' songs into spare, pretty folk music.
E9 - Ivan And Alyosha
Aired: February 07, 2011
The band showcases its Beatles-esque pop harmonies and sweet melodies from the NPR Music offices.
E10 - Esperanza Spalding
Aired: February 12, 2011
The jazz bassist, singer and Best New Artist Grammy winner performs in the NPR Music offices.
E11 - Turtle Island Quartet
Aired: February 16, 2011
With an eclectic palette of sounds and styles, the Turtle Island Quartet swings at NPR Music.
E12 - Adele
Aired: February 17, 2011
In a three-song set at the NPR Music offices, the U.K. pop star showcases her brilliant voice.
E13 - Local Natives
Aired: February 21, 2011
The L.A. band brings its euphoric choruses and clattering Afrobeat rhythms to the NPR Music offices.
E14 - Damien Jurado
Aired: February 28, 2011
Hear Jurado's raw, time-worn, authentically graceful music, performed in the NPR Music office.
E15 - Steve Riley And The Mamou Playboys
Aired: March 07, 2011
Watch the Grammy-nominated Cajun band play an upbeat yet bittersweet set from the NPR Music offices.
E16 - Lizz Wright
Aired: March 14, 2011
In this two-song set at the NPR Music offices, Wright channels the gospel and soul of her past.
E17 - Nellie McKay
Aired: April 04, 2011
McKay's bold, audacious personality shines in this set recorded at the NPR Music offices.
E18 - Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars
Aired: April 06, 2011
Hear the Refugee All Stars' upbeat reggae grooves, performed live at the NPR Music offices.
E19 - Josh Ritter
Aired: April 11, 2011
Ritter can't hide his enjoyment of a performance, even when his songs convey obsession or disaster.
E20 - Otis Taylor
Aired: April 13, 2011
Watch the banjo player perform his trademark trance-inducing blues at the NPR Music offices.
E21 - Mount Kimbie
Aired: April 18, 2011
Watch the dubstep duo perform our first-ever electronic Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR offices.
E22 - Pokey LaFarge
Aired: April 20, 2011
Watch LaFarge play '20s- and '30s-inspired music with the help of his band, The South City Three.
E23 - Steve Earle
Aired: April 25, 2011
A singer, author, actor and activist, Earle showcases many of his talents at the NPR Music offices.
E24 - Wu Man
Aired: April 27, 2011
Watch the world's reigning pipa virtuoso play ancient music from her Chinese homeland.
E25 - Booker T. Jones
Aired: May 02, 2011
Jones' name is synonymous with the Hammond B3 organ. Watch him play one in the NPR Music offices.
E26 - Julieta Venegas
Aired: May 09, 2011
After six albums, including last year's Otra Cosa, Venegas is still defying expectations.
E27 - Neil Innes
Aired: May 11, 2011
Watch the Rutles alumnus play three of his classic satirical songs in the NPR Music offices.
E28 - Future Islands
Aired: May 16, 2011
Watch the band's short but intense and cathartic set, performed live in the NPR Music offices.
E29 - Low
Aired: May 22, 2011
Singers Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker perform three songs from their gorgeous new album, C'mon.
E30 - Jackie Evancho
Aired: May 23, 2011
Watch the 11-year-old perform Handel's "Ombra mai fu" at the NPR Music offices.
E31 - The Kopecky Family Band
Aired: June 06, 2011
The Tennessee band's sweet, swollen folk-rock songs keep blooming into something irresistible.
E32 - The Black Angels
Aired: June 08, 2011
Hear a bold and surprising mix of sensibilities — at once icy and rustic, cavernous and confined.
E33 - Chris Thile And Michael Daves
Aired: June 13, 2011
Watch Thile and Daves play traditional bluegrass with New York intensity at the NPR Music offices.
E34 - Charlie Siem
Aired: June 15, 2011
Watch the stylish young violinist pull out a bag of tricks in music by Paganini.
E35 - The Decemberists
Aired: June 20, 2011
With Chris Funk and Sara Watkins, Colin Meloy plays three sparkling songs from The King Is Dead.
E36 - YACHT
Aired: June 22, 2011
Watch the electro-pop band's striking and infectious performance at the NPR Music offices.
E37 - The Civil Wars
Aired: June 27, 2011
Watch Joy Williams and John Paul White's swooning chemistry and stirring harmonies at NPR Music.
E38 - Milos
Aired: June 30, 2011
Watch the newcomer from Montenegro play Spanish standards and a passionate ode to his homeland.
E39 - The Blind Boys Of Alabama
Aired: July 05, 2011
Hear the gospel greats' mix of polished blues, swinging soul and from-the-gut expressions of faith.
E40 - Julian Lage Trio
Aired: July 07, 2011
The guitarist, 23, was once called a prodigy. But he's maturing into a distinctive bandleader, too.
E41 - Ben Sollee
Aired: July 11, 2011
The genre-bending cellist and songwriter has created a unique take on folk music.
E42 - Joe Boyd And Robyn Hitchcock
Aired: July 18, 2011
Boyd reads from White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s, while Hitchcock plays songs from the era.
E43 - Y La Bamba
Aired: July 21, 2011
Watch Luzelena Mendoza and Y La Bamba craft joyfully rich vocal harmonies in the NPR Music offices.
E44 - Givers
Aired: July 24, 2011
At the NPR offices, the band plays a sunny, exuberant set, suitable for dancing and bobbing along.
E45 - They Might Be Giants
Aired: July 28, 2011
Watch the band perform two of its brand-new songs, as well as "Fingertips," a classic 1992 chestnut.
E46 - Amanda Shires
Aired: August 03, 2011
The singer plays a charming set featuring songs from Carrying Lightning at the Tiny Desk.
E47 - Noah And The Whale
Aired: August 10, 2011
The London band plugs in its drum machine, but sweet simplicity still reigns in the NPR offices.
E48 - Paul Jacobs
Aired: August 12, 2011
Watch the miraculous hands (and feet) of the Grammy-winning organist in an all-Bach performance.
E49 - Gaby Moreno
Aired: August 15, 2011
Watch the Guatemalan singer's breathtaking and passionate set at the NPR Music offices.
E50 - Other Lives
Aired: August 18, 2011
The Oklahoma band brings its spacious minor-key hymns to the NPR Music offices.
E51 - James Vincent McMorrow
Aired: August 25, 2011
The Irishman has one of the most arresting voices of any young singer you're likely to hear.
E52 - CALLmeKAT
Aired: August 29, 2011
Watch the synth-pop musician perform a hauntingly beautiful set at the NPR Music offices.
E53 - Phosphorescent
Aired: September 01, 2011
Watch Matthew Houck play a stirring, road-ragged solo Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR Music offices.
E54 - King Creosote And Jon Hopkins
Aired: September 04, 2011
Diamond Mine's unassuming creators lose little of their charm and mystique in the NPR Music office.
E55 - Foster The People
Aired: September 09, 2011
Armed with the summer song of 2011, the band brings "Pumped Up Kicks" and more to NPR Music.
E56 - Diego Garcia
Aired: September 12, 2011
Watch the former Elefant frontman perform songs from his album Laura at the NPR Music offices.
E57 - Sean Rowe
Aired: September 16, 2011
Rowe brings his booming voice and ever-louder acoustic-guitar set-ups to the NPR Music offices.
E58 - Jeremy Messersmith
Aired: September 19, 2011
The Twin Cities singer is a pop genius, with creative ambition to match his considerable charm.
E59 - Beirut
Aired: September 21, 2011
Beirut performs worldly, inspired songs from its new album The Rip Tide at the NPR Music offices.
E60 - Jenny Lin
Aired: September 26, 2011
The pianist usually plays eight-foot Steinways. See what she does on an electronic keyboard.
E61 - The Klezmatics
Aired: September 28, 2011
Ring in Rosh Hashanah with three globe-trotting tunes from one of the world's greatest Jewish bands.
E62 - Trombone Shorty
Aired: September 29, 2011
The New Orleans native achieved stardom with his voice and his horn. But he just wants you to dance.
E63 - Mates Of State
Aired: October 05, 2011
The band's performance in the NPR Music offices creates a vibe of ragged, awkward intimacy.
E64 - Fountains Of Wayne
Aired: October 06, 2011
These songs showcase a band with tremendous narrative gifts and a flair for subtle beauty.
E65 - JEFF The Brotherhood
Aired: October 08, 2011
Of course, the power-punk duo took off their shirts at the NPR Music offices, because why not?
E66 - Grouplove
Aired: October 11, 2011
The upstart band brings youthful, infectious energy to the NPR Music offices.
E67 - Chris Bathgate
Aired: October 14, 2011
The Michigan native's deliberately paced music is too rustic and pretty to be a true downer.
E68 - Wilco
Aired: October 17, 2011
Armed with tiny amps and a ton of grace, Wilco plays new songs and an old favorite at the Tiny Desk.
E69 - Hilary Hahn
Aired: October 21, 2011
The classical violinist blends Bach and Charles Ives with flair, then tops it off with a fedora.
E70 - Ben Williams And Sound Effect
Aired: October 24, 2011
The jazz star and his band perform two songs from their album State of Art at the NPR Music offices.
E71 - Lisa Hannigan
Aired: October 29, 2011
Exuding both musical and personal warmth, the Irish singer mesmerized at the NPR Music offices.
E72 - Juanes
Aired: November 03, 2011
Watch the charismatic Colombian superstar give an intimate performance at the NPR Music offices.
E73 - Jens Lekman
Aired: November 07, 2011
The Swedish singer shows off his humor and charm in this intimate set at the NPR Music offices.
E74 - Marketa Irglova
Aired: November 10, 2011
At the NPR Music offices, Irglova mixes the exotic and the familiar; sweetness and longing.
E75 - Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile And Stuart Duncan
Aired: November 17, 2011
The genre-bending cellist heads a dream team of string players who borrow from bluegrass.
E76 - Joe Henry
Aired: November 21, 2011
Asking the fearless, easygoing singer to perform in a crowded office never felt like an imposition.
E77 - Hospital Ships
Aired: November 23, 2011
Hospital Ships' beautiful, crushing songs pack an emotional punch in this performance at NPR Music.
E78 - Gabriel Kahane
Aired: November 26, 2011
Hear the agile musician's rigorously crafted songs, which fall somewhere between classical and pop.
E79 - tUnE-yArDs
Aired: December 01, 2011
tUnE-yArDs sings of rage and inequality, but also celebrates the joy of letting out a wild sound.
E80 - I Wayne
Aired: December 12, 2011
As the cameras rolled, the reggae star came to life, showcasing his smooth voice and vibrant energy.
E81 - Gem Club
Aired: December 16, 2011
Maybe you couldn't hear a pin drop when Gem Club played, but you could hear the click of a keyboard.
E82 - The Music Tapes
Aired: December 20, 2011
The Elephant 6 alum plays a holiday set compete with bowed banjos, singing saws and tape machines.
E83 - Maria Volonte
Aired: December 27, 2011
The Argentine singer blends tango, Latin blues and the traditional music of Brazil and Peru.