NPR Tiny Desk Concerts

The London band plugs in its drum machine, but sweet simplicity still reigns in the NPR offices.

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Episode 47
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S4 • E1
Abigail Washburn
Watch the singer-songwriter mix American bluegrass and Chinese folk from the NPR Music offices.
2011-01-03
S4 • E2
Gyptian
The reggae star performs his hit "Hold You" and more from the NPR Music offices in Washington, D.C.
2011-01-05
S4 • E3
David Wax Museum
The band brings a frenetic, infectious blend of American and Mexican folk to the NPR Music offices.
2011-01-09
S4 • E4
Ballake Sissoko And Vincent Segal
The masterful kora-and-cello duo performs a transfixing set combining African and European strings.
2011-01-17
S4 • 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.
2011-01-21
S4 • E6
Basia Bulat
The Canadian singer-songwriter sings highlights from her two albums, plus a surprise from Poland.
2011-01-24
S4 • E7
Richard Thompson
Watch the folk-rock legend perform songs from his 20th solo album, Dream Attic, at NPR Music.
2011-02-01
S4 • E8
Stars
Watch Amy Millan and Torquil Campbell transform three of Stars' songs into spare, pretty folk music.
2011-02-03
S4 • E9
Ivan And Alyosha
The band showcases its Beatles-esque pop harmonies and sweet melodies from the NPR Music offices.
2011-02-07
S4 • E10
Esperanza Spalding
The jazz bassist, singer and Best New Artist Grammy winner performs in the NPR Music offices.
2011-02-12
S4 • E11
Turtle Island Quartet
With an eclectic palette of sounds and styles, the Turtle Island Quartet swings at NPR Music.
2011-02-16
S4 • E12
Adele
In a three-song set at the NPR Music offices, the U.K. pop star showcases her brilliant voice.
2011-02-17
S4 • E13
Local Natives
The L.A. band brings its euphoric choruses and clattering Afrobeat rhythms to the NPR Music offices.
2011-02-21
S4 • E14
Damien Jurado
Hear Jurado's raw, time-worn, authentically graceful music, performed in the NPR Music office.
2011-02-28
S4 • E15
Steve Riley And The Mamou Playboys
Watch the Grammy-nominated Cajun band play an upbeat yet bittersweet set from the NPR Music offices.
2011-03-07
S4 • E16
Lizz Wright
In this two-song set at the NPR Music offices, Wright channels the gospel and soul of her past.
2011-03-14
S4 • E17
Nellie McKay
McKay's bold, audacious personality shines in this set recorded at the NPR Music offices.
2011-04-04
S4 • E18
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars
Hear the Refugee All Stars' upbeat reggae grooves, performed live at the NPR Music offices.
2011-04-06
S4 • E19
Josh Ritter
Ritter can't hide his enjoyment of a performance, even when his songs convey obsession or disaster.
2011-04-11
S4 • E20
Otis Taylor
Watch the banjo player perform his trademark trance-inducing blues at the NPR Music offices.
2011-04-13
S4 • E21
Mount Kimbie
Watch the dubstep duo perform our first-ever electronic Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR offices.
2011-04-18
S4 • E22
Pokey LaFarge
Watch LaFarge play '20s- and '30s-inspired music with the help of his band, The South City Three.
2011-04-20
S4 • E23
Steve Earle
A singer, author, actor and activist, Earle showcases many of his talents at the NPR Music offices.
2011-04-25
S4 • E24
Wu Man
Watch the world's reigning pipa virtuoso play ancient music from her Chinese homeland.
2011-04-27
S4 • E25
Booker T. Jones
Jones' name is synonymous with the Hammond B3 organ. Watch him play one in the NPR Music offices.
2011-05-02
S4 • E26
Julieta Venegas
After six albums, including last year's Otra Cosa, Venegas is still defying expectations.
2011-05-09
S4 • E27
Neil Innes
Watch the Rutles alumnus play three of his classic satirical songs in the NPR Music offices.
2011-05-11
S4 • E28
Future Islands
Watch the band's short but intense and cathartic set, performed live in the NPR Music offices.
2011-05-16
S4 • E29
Low
Singers Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker perform three songs from their gorgeous new album, C'mon.
2011-05-22
S4 • E30
Jackie Evancho
Watch the 11-year-old perform Handel's "Ombra mai fu" at the NPR Music offices.
2011-05-23
S4 • E31
The Kopecky Family Band
The Tennessee band's sweet, swollen folk-rock songs keep blooming into something irresistible.
2011-06-06
S4 • E32
The Black Angels
Hear a bold and surprising mix of sensibilities — at once icy and rustic, cavernous and confined.
2011-06-08
S4 • E33
Chris Thile And Michael Daves
Watch Thile and Daves play traditional bluegrass with New York intensity at the NPR Music offices.
2011-06-13
S4 • E34
Charlie Siem
Watch the stylish young violinist pull out a bag of tricks in music by Paganini.
2011-06-15
S4 • E35
The Decemberists
With Chris Funk and Sara Watkins, Colin Meloy plays three sparkling songs from The King Is Dead.
2011-06-20
S4 • E36
YACHT
Watch the electro-pop band's striking and infectious performance at the NPR Music offices.
2011-06-22
S4 • E37
The Civil Wars
Watch Joy Williams and John Paul White's swooning chemistry and stirring harmonies at NPR Music.
2011-06-27
S4 • E38
Milos
Watch the newcomer from Montenegro play Spanish standards and a passionate ode to his homeland.
2011-06-30
S4 • E39
The Blind Boys Of Alabama
Hear the gospel greats' mix of polished blues, swinging soul and from-the-gut expressions of faith.
2011-07-05
S4 • E40
Julian Lage Trio
The guitarist, 23, was once called a prodigy. But he's maturing into a distinctive bandleader, too.
2011-07-07
S4 • E41
Ben Sollee
The genre-bending cellist and songwriter has created a unique take on folk music.
2011-07-11
S4 • E42
Joe Boyd And Robyn Hitchcock
Boyd reads from White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s, while Hitchcock plays songs from the era.
2011-07-18
S4 • E43
Y La Bamba
Watch Luzelena Mendoza and Y La Bamba craft joyfully rich vocal harmonies in the NPR Music offices.
2011-07-21
S4 • E44
Givers
At the NPR offices, the band plays a sunny, exuberant set, suitable for dancing and bobbing along.
2011-07-24
S4 • E45
They Might Be Giants
Watch the band perform two of its brand-new songs, as well as "Fingertips," a classic 1992 chestnut.
2011-07-28
S4 • E46
Amanda Shires
The singer plays a charming set featuring songs from Carrying Lightning at the Tiny Desk.
2011-08-03
S4 • E47
Noah And The Whale
The London band plugs in its drum machine, but sweet simplicity still reigns in the NPR offices.
2011-08-10
S4 • E48
Paul Jacobs
Watch the miraculous hands (and feet) of the Grammy-winning organist in an all-Bach performance.
2011-08-12
S4 • E49
Gaby Moreno
Watch the Guatemalan singer's breathtaking and passionate set at the NPR Music offices.
2011-08-15
S4 • E50
Other Lives
The Oklahoma band brings its spacious minor-key hymns to the NPR Music offices.
2011-08-18
S4 • E51
James Vincent McMorrow
The Irishman has one of the most arresting voices of any young singer you're likely to hear.
2011-08-25
S4 • E52
CALLmeKAT
Watch the synth-pop musician perform a hauntingly beautiful set at the NPR Music offices.
2011-08-29
S4 • E53
Phosphorescent
Watch Matthew Houck play a stirring, road-ragged solo Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR Music offices.
2011-09-01
S4 • E54
King Creosote And Jon Hopkins
Diamond Mine's unassuming creators lose little of their charm and mystique in the NPR Music office.
2011-09-04
S4 • E55
Foster The People
Armed with the summer song of 2011, the band brings "Pumped Up Kicks" and more to NPR Music.
2011-09-09
S4 • E56
Diego Garcia
Watch the former Elefant frontman perform songs from his album Laura at the NPR Music offices.
2011-09-12
S4 • E57
Sean Rowe
Rowe brings his booming voice and ever-louder acoustic-guitar set-ups to the NPR Music offices.
2011-09-16
S4 • E58
Jeremy Messersmith
The Twin Cities singer is a pop genius, with creative ambition to match his considerable charm.
2011-09-19
S4 • E59
Beirut
Beirut performs worldly, inspired songs from its new album The Rip Tide at the NPR Music offices.
2011-09-21
S4 • E60
Jenny Lin
The pianist usually plays eight-foot Steinways. See what she does on an electronic keyboard.
2011-09-26
S4 • E61
The Klezmatics
Ring in Rosh Hashanah with three globe-trotting tunes from one of the world's greatest Jewish bands.
2011-09-28
S4 • E62
Trombone Shorty
The New Orleans native achieved stardom with his voice and his horn. But he just wants you to dance.
2011-09-29
S4 • E63
Mates Of State
The band's performance in the NPR Music offices creates a vibe of ragged, awkward intimacy.
2011-10-05
S4 • E64
Fountains Of Wayne
These songs showcase a band with tremendous narrative gifts and a flair for subtle beauty.
2011-10-06
S4 • E65
JEFF The Brotherhood
Of course, the power-punk duo took off their shirts at the NPR Music offices, because why not?
2011-10-08
S4 • E66
Grouplove
The upstart band brings youthful, infectious energy to the NPR Music offices.
2011-10-11
S4 • E67
Chris Bathgate
The Michigan native's deliberately paced music is too rustic and pretty to be a true downer.
2011-10-14
S4 • E68
Wilco
Armed with tiny amps and a ton of grace, Wilco plays new songs and an old favorite at the Tiny Desk.
2011-10-17
S4 • E69
Hilary Hahn
The classical violinist blends Bach and Charles Ives with flair, then tops it off with a fedora.
2011-10-21
S4 • 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.
2011-10-24
S4 • E71
Lisa Hannigan
Exuding both musical and personal warmth, the Irish singer mesmerized at the NPR Music offices.
2011-10-29
S4 • E72
Juanes
Watch the charismatic Colombian superstar give an intimate performance at the NPR Music offices.
2011-11-03
S4 • E73
Jens Lekman
The Swedish singer shows off his humor and charm in this intimate set at the NPR Music offices.
2011-11-07
S4 • E74
Marketa Irglova
At the NPR Music offices, Irglova mixes the exotic and the familiar; sweetness and longing.
2011-11-10
S4 • 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.
2011-11-17
S4 • E76
Joe Henry
Asking the fearless, easygoing singer to perform in a crowded office never felt like an imposition.
2011-11-21
S4 • E77
Hospital Ships
Hospital Ships' beautiful, crushing songs pack an emotional punch in this performance at NPR Music.
2011-11-23
S4 • E78
Gabriel Kahane
Hear the agile musician's rigorously crafted songs, which fall somewhere between classical and pop.
2011-11-26
S4 • E79
tUnE-yArDs
tUnE-yArDs sings of rage and inequality, but also celebrates the joy of letting out a wild sound.
2011-12-01
S4 • E80
I Wayne
As the cameras rolled, the reggae star came to life, showcasing his smooth voice and vibrant energy.
2011-12-12
S4 • E81
Gem Club
Maybe you couldn't hear a pin drop when Gem Club played, but you could hear the click of a keyboard.
2011-12-16
S4 • E82
The Music Tapes
The Elephant 6 alum plays a holiday set compete with bowed banjos, singing saws and tape machines.
2011-12-20
S4 • E83
Maria Volonte
The Argentine singer blends tango, Latin blues and the traditional music of Brazil and Peru.
2011-12-27