NPR Tiny Desk Concerts (2008)

Episodes

1. 1 1. Abigail Washburn2011-01-03Watch the singer-songwriter mix American bluegrass and Chinese folk from the NPR Music offices.
2. 2 2. Gyptian2011-01-05The reggae star performs his hit "Hold You" and more from the NPR Music offices in Washington, D.C.
3. 3 3. David Wax Museum2011-01-09The band brings a frenetic, infectious blend of American and Mexican folk to the NPR Music offices.
4. 4 4. Ballake Sissoko And Vincent Segal2011-01-17The masterful kora-and-cello duo performs a transfixing set combining African and European strings.
5. 5 5. Iron And Wine2011-01-21Sam Beam gives a fresh side of his new songs at NPR, and tops it off with a devastating 2004 gem.
6. 6 6. Basia Bulat2011-01-24The Canadian singer-songwriter sings highlights from her two albums, plus a surprise from Poland.
7. 7 7. Richard Thompson2011-02-01Watch the folk-rock legend perform songs from his 20th solo album, Dream Attic, at NPR Music.
8. 8 8. Stars2011-02-03Watch Amy Millan and Torquil Campbell transform three of Stars' songs into spare, pretty folk music.
9. 9 9. Ivan And Alyosha2011-02-07The band showcases its Beatles-esque pop harmonies and sweet melodies from the NPR Music offices.
10. 10 10. Esperanza Spalding2011-02-12The jazz bassist, singer and Best New Artist Grammy winner performs in the NPR Music offices.
11. 11 11. Turtle Island Quartet2011-02-16With an eclectic palette of sounds and styles, the Turtle Island Quartet swings at NPR Music.
12. 12 12. Adele2011-02-17In a three-song set at the NPR Music offices, the U.K. pop star showcases her brilliant voice.
13. 13 13. Local Natives2011-02-21The L.A. band brings its euphoric choruses and clattering Afrobeat rhythms to the NPR Music offices.
14. 14 14. Damien Jurado2011-02-28Hear Jurado's raw, time-worn, authentically graceful music, performed in the NPR Music office.
15. 15 15. Steve Riley And The Mamou Playboys2011-03-07Watch the Grammy-nominated Cajun band play an upbeat yet bittersweet set from the NPR Music offices.
16. 16 16. Lizz Wright2011-03-14In this two-song set at the NPR Music offices, Wright channels the gospel and soul of her past.
17. 17 17. Nellie McKay2011-04-04McKay's bold, audacious personality shines in this set recorded at the NPR Music offices.
18. 18 18. Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars2011-04-06Hear the Refugee All Stars' upbeat reggae grooves, performed live at the NPR Music offices.
19. 19 19. Josh Ritter2011-04-11Ritter can't hide his enjoyment of a performance, even when his songs convey obsession or disaster.
20. 20 20. Otis Taylor2011-04-13Watch the banjo player perform his trademark trance-inducing blues at the NPR Music offices.
21. 21 21. Mount Kimbie2011-04-18Watch the dubstep duo perform our first-ever electronic Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR offices.
22. 22 22. Pokey LaFarge2011-04-20Watch LaFarge play '20s- and '30s-inspired music with the help of his band, The South City Three.
23. 23 23. Steve Earle2011-04-25A singer, author, actor and activist, Earle showcases many of his talents at the NPR Music offices.
24. 24 24. Wu Man2011-04-27Watch the world's reigning pipa virtuoso play ancient music from her Chinese homeland.
25. 25 25. Booker T. Jones2011-05-02Jones' name is synonymous with the Hammond B3 organ. Watch him play one in the NPR Music offices.
26. 26 26. Julieta Venegas2011-05-09After six albums, including last year's Otra Cosa, Venegas is still defying expectations.
27. 27 27. Neil Innes2011-05-11Watch the Rutles alumnus play three of his classic satirical songs in the NPR Music offices.
28. 28 28. Future Islands2011-05-16Watch the band's short but intense and cathartic set, performed live in the NPR Music offices.
29. 29 29. Low2011-05-22Singers Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker perform three songs from their gorgeous new album, C'mon.
30. 30 30. Jackie Evancho2011-05-23Watch the 11-year-old perform Handel's "Ombra mai fu" at the NPR Music offices.
31. 31 31. The Kopecky Family Band2011-06-06The Tennessee band's sweet, swollen folk-rock songs keep blooming into something irresistible.
32. 32 32. The Black Angels2011-06-08Hear a bold and surprising mix of sensibilities — at once icy and rustic, cavernous and confined.
33. 33 33. Chris Thile And Michael Daves2011-06-13Watch Thile and Daves play traditional bluegrass with New York intensity at the NPR Music offices.
34. 34 34. Charlie Siem2011-06-15Watch the stylish young violinist pull out a bag of tricks in music by Paganini.
35. 35 35. The Decemberists2011-06-20With Chris Funk and Sara Watkins, Colin Meloy plays three sparkling songs from The King Is Dead.
36. 36 36. YACHT2011-06-22Watch the electro-pop band's striking and infectious performance at the NPR Music offices.
37. 37 37. The Civil Wars2011-06-27Watch Joy Williams and John Paul White's swooning chemistry and stirring harmonies at NPR Music.
38. 38 38. Milos2011-06-30Watch the newcomer from Montenegro play Spanish standards and a passionate ode to his homeland.
39. 39 39. The Blind Boys Of Alabama2011-07-05Hear the gospel greats' mix of polished blues, swinging soul and from-the-gut expressions of faith.
40. 40 40. Julian Lage Trio2011-07-07The guitarist, 23, was once called a prodigy. But he's maturing into a distinctive bandleader, too.
41. 41 41. Ben Sollee2011-07-11The genre-bending cellist and songwriter has created a unique take on folk music.
42. 42 42. Joe Boyd And Robyn Hitchcock2011-07-18Boyd reads from White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s, while Hitchcock plays songs from the era.
43. 43 43. Y La Bamba2011-07-21Watch Luzelena Mendoza and Y La Bamba craft joyfully rich vocal harmonies in the NPR Music offices.
44. 44 44. Givers2011-07-24At the NPR offices, the band plays a sunny, exuberant set, suitable for dancing and bobbing along.
45. 45 45. They Might Be Giants2011-07-28Watch the band perform two of its brand-new songs, as well as "Fingertips," a classic 1992 chestnut.
46. 46 46. Amanda Shires2011-08-03The singer plays a charming set featuring songs from Carrying Lightning at the Tiny Desk.
47. 47 47. Noah And The Whale2011-08-10The London band plugs in its drum machine, but sweet simplicity still reigns in the NPR offices.
48. 48 48. Paul Jacobs2011-08-12Watch the miraculous hands (and feet) of the Grammy-winning organist in an all-Bach performance.
49. 49 49. Gaby Moreno2011-08-15Watch the Guatemalan singer's breathtaking and passionate set at the NPR Music offices.
50. 50 50. Other Lives2011-08-18The Oklahoma band brings its spacious minor-key hymns to the NPR Music offices.
51. 51 51. James Vincent McMorrow2011-08-25The Irishman has one of the most arresting voices of any young singer you're likely to hear.
52. 52 52. CALLmeKAT2011-08-29Watch the synth-pop musician perform a hauntingly beautiful set at the NPR Music offices.
53. 53 53. Phosphorescent2011-09-01Watch Matthew Houck play a stirring, road-ragged solo Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR Music offices.
54. 54 54. King Creosote And Jon Hopkins2011-09-04Diamond Mine's unassuming creators lose little of their charm and mystique in the NPR Music office.
55. 55 55. Foster The People2011-09-09Armed with the summer song of 2011, the band brings "Pumped Up Kicks" and more to NPR Music.
56. 56 56. Diego Garcia2011-09-12Watch the former Elefant frontman perform songs from his album Laura at the NPR Music offices.
57. 57 57. Sean Rowe2011-09-16Rowe brings his booming voice and ever-louder acoustic-guitar set-ups to the NPR Music offices.
58. 58 58. Jeremy Messersmith2011-09-19The Twin Cities singer is a pop genius, with creative ambition to match his considerable charm.
59. 59 59. Beirut2011-09-21Beirut performs worldly, inspired songs from its new album The Rip Tide at the NPR Music offices.
60. 60 60. Jenny Lin2011-09-26The pianist usually plays eight-foot Steinways. See what she does on an electronic keyboard.
61. 61 61. The Klezmatics2011-09-28Ring in Rosh Hashanah with three globe-trotting tunes from one of the world's greatest Jewish bands.
62. 62 62. Trombone Shorty2011-09-29The New Orleans native achieved stardom with his voice and his horn. But he just wants you to dance.
63. 63 63. Mates Of State2011-10-05The band's performance in the NPR Music offices creates a vibe of ragged, awkward intimacy.
64. 64 64. Fountains Of Wayne2011-10-06These songs showcase a band with tremendous narrative gifts and a flair for subtle beauty.
65. 65 65. JEFF The Brotherhood2011-10-08Of course, the power-punk duo took off their shirts at the NPR Music offices, because why not?
66. 66 66. Grouplove2011-10-11The upstart band brings youthful, infectious energy to the NPR Music offices.
67. 67 67. Chris Bathgate2011-10-14The Michigan native's deliberately paced music is too rustic and pretty to be a true downer.
68. 68 68. Wilco2011-10-17Armed with tiny amps and a ton of grace, Wilco plays new songs and an old favorite at the Tiny Desk.
69. 69 69. Hilary Hahn2011-10-21The classical violinist blends Bach and Charles Ives with flair, then tops it off with a fedora.
70. 70 70. Ben Williams And Sound Effect2011-10-24The jazz star and his band perform two songs from their album State of Art at the NPR Music offices.
71. 71 71. Lisa Hannigan2011-10-29Exuding both musical and personal warmth, the Irish singer mesmerized at the NPR Music offices.
72. 72 72. Juanes2011-11-03Watch the charismatic Colombian superstar give an intimate performance at the NPR Music offices.
73. 73 73. Jens Lekman2011-11-07The Swedish singer shows off his humor and charm in this intimate set at the NPR Music offices.
74. 74 74. Marketa Irglova2011-11-10At the NPR Music offices, Irglova mixes the exotic and the familiar; sweetness and longing.
75. 75 75. Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile And Stuart Duncan2011-11-17The genre-bending cellist heads a dream team of string players who borrow from bluegrass.
76. 76 76. Joe Henry2011-11-21Asking the fearless, easygoing singer to perform in a crowded office never felt like an imposition.
77. 77 77. Hospital Ships2011-11-23Hospital Ships' beautiful, crushing songs pack an emotional punch in this performance at NPR Music.
78. 78 78. Gabriel Kahane2011-11-26Hear the agile musician's rigorously crafted songs, which fall somewhere between classical and pop.
79. 79 79. tUnE-yArDs2011-12-01tUnE-yArDs sings of rage and inequality, but also celebrates the joy of letting out a wild sound.
80. 80 80. I Wayne2011-12-12As the cameras rolled, the reggae star came to life, showcasing his smooth voice and vibrant energy.
81. 81 81. Gem Club2011-12-16Maybe you couldn't hear a pin drop when Gem Club played, but you could hear the click of a keyboard.
82. 82 82. The Music Tapes2011-12-20The Elephant 6 alum plays a holiday set compete with bowed banjos, singing saws and tape machines.
83. 83 83. Maria Volonte2011-12-27The Argentine singer blends tango, Latin blues and the traditional music of Brazil and Peru.