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WXPN's live performance and interview program featuring music and conversation from a variety of important musicians
World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
English, Rock, 1 season, 106 episodes, 2 days, 12 minutes
World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
English, Rock, 1 season, 106 episodes, 2 days, 12 minutes
Tré Burt imbued 'Traffic Fiction' with the classic soul, Motown spirit
The Sacramento-based singer-songwriter drew from early memories of listening to music with his late grandfather for his new album, Traffic Fiction.
2/5/2024 • 26 minutes, 50 seconds
Tune in to a mini-concert with Will Butler + Sister Squares
The former member of Arcade Fire plays songs off his band's new album.
2/1/2024 • 23 minutes, 21 seconds
Black Pumas strike again with 'Chronicles of a Diamond'
The Austin, Texas, band talks about the follow-up to their Grammy Award-nominated self-titled debut.
1/31/2024 • 39 minutes, 12 seconds
Dillon Francis isn't done honing his craft
The Los Angeles-based DJ and music producer talks about his latest record, This Mixtape is Fire TOO.
1/29/2024 • 23 minutes, 20 seconds
Sense of Place: Provo rapper JTM is at a creative crossroads
James Curran, who goes by the moniker JTM, talks about striking a balance between making secular hip-hop music while also wanting to share his faith.
1/26/2024 • 18 minutes, 51 seconds
Sense of Place: How The Clingers helped pave the way for women in rock music
The Clinger sisters from Utah, who found success in the the '60s, were one of the first all-girl groups to play their own instruments and be signed to a major label.
1/24/2024 • 18 minutes, 31 seconds
Sense of Place: Discover the 'Dusty Deseret' sound of Provo's music scene
Zach Collier, co-founder of Provo Music Magazine, talks about the unique blend of folk rock heard in Provo.
1/23/2024 • 20 minutes, 40 seconds
Sense of Place: Provo's 'only proper bar within city limits' is a haven for misfits
Step inside ABG's, the only music venue in Provo, Utah with a liquor license.
1/22/2024 • 12 minutes, 29 seconds
Sense of Place: This all-ages venue is at the heart of the Provo music scene
Velour Live Music Gallery and its owner, Corey Fox, have helped launch the careers of bands like Neon Trees, Imagine Dragons and The Moth & The Flame.
1/19/2024 • 13 minutes, 9 seconds
Sense of Place: What's a world-class recording studio doing in suburban Utah?
World Cafe visits June Audio, alongside Provo band The National Parks, to find out what makes this recording studio so key to the local music scene.
1/19/2024 • 13 minutes, 56 seconds
Sense of Place: The Aces reflect on their Utah roots on their latest album
Inspired by their early days as a band, The Aces open up about growing up in the mostly Mormon city of Provo on I've Loved You For So Long.
1/18/2024 • 29 minutes, 21 seconds
Tune in to a mini-concert with Squirrel Flower
The Chicago-based musician performs songs from her latest album, Tomorrow's Fire.
1/17/2024 • 11 minutes, 42 seconds
For his alt rock band Dogstar, Keanu Reeves is just 'the bass player'
First rising to prominence in the mid-'90s, the Southern California outfit says reuniting to make their first album in 23 years felt totally natural.
1/12/2024 • 25 minutes, 51 seconds
Shakey Graves mines limitless potential of the silver screen on 'Movie Of The Week'
The Austin native talks about how songs rejected for a film score led to his latest record.
1/11/2024 • 30 minutes, 34 seconds
Stephen Sanchez weaves a tale of tragic love on 'Angel Face'
The 21-year-old singer finds inspiration in the legendary crooners of the '50s and '60s.
1/8/2024 • 23 minutes, 36 seconds
Nat Myers' 'Yellow Peril' offers a refreshing entry into the blues canon
The Kentucky musician's debut album explores what it means to be a Korean American navigating life in the U.S.
1/5/2024 • 52 minutes, 20 seconds
In the '80s, a rollicking indie rock scene took over the Twin Cities
Music record executive Peter Jesperson remembers discovering The Replacements and more in his new memoir, Euphoric Recall.
1/3/2024 • 20 minutes, 49 seconds
McKinley Dixon on his wildly inventive album 'Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?'
The Chicago-based musician talks about how everything from Toni Morrison to animation inspired his latest album.
1/3/2024 • 22 minutes, 26 seconds
All I want for Christmas is My Morning Jacket's holiday album
My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James talks about the band's new record, Happy Holiday!
12/25/2023 • 17 minutes, 16 seconds
The Culture Corner: John Morrison shares his favorite albums of 2023
The World Cafe correspondent shares the records he kept coming back to this year.
12/21/2023 • 18 minutes, 42 seconds
Live from AMERICANAFEST 2023: Jobi Riccio & The Band of Heathens
Today, we bring you live performances from songwriter Jobi Riccio and Americana group The Band of Heathens.
12/19/2023 • 15 minutes, 25 seconds
Hiss Golden Messenger is utterly joyous on the folk band's latest album
Hiss Golden Messenger frontman MC Taylor talks about loosening his creative approach on the band's latest album, Jump for Joy.
12/14/2023 • 37 minutes, 29 seconds
Live from AMERICANAFEST 2023: Brennen Leigh & Bahamas
Today, we bring you live performances from songwriter and mandolin player Brennen Leigh and Canadian folk artist Bahamas.
12/12/2023 • 14 minutes, 57 seconds
Tune in to a mini-concert with Vagabon
The multi-instrumentalist performs songs from her new album, Sorry I Haven't Called.
12/11/2023 • 16 minutes, 12 seconds
The Hives are here to put some childish glee back into rock and roll
The Swedish band talks about their first album in eleven years, The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons
12/7/2023 • 20 minutes, 2 seconds
Live from AMERICANAFEST 2023: Cat Clyde & Adeem the Artist
Today, we bring you live performances from Cat Clyde and Adeem the Artist.
12/5/2023 • 14 minutes, 44 seconds
The song Rush almost nixed and other tales from Geddy Lee's 'Effin' Life'
Rush's frontman and bassist shares highlights from his new memoir, My Effin' Life.
12/4/2023 • 34 minutes, 19 seconds
Before 'GUTS,' Olivia Rodrigo first had to write a lot of 'bad songs'
Under pressure to repeat the success of her debut album, Rodrigo leaned heavily on her songwriting skills to create her latest record. Now, GUTS is up for six Grammys, and she's gearing up for another stint as SNL's musical guest later this month.
12/1/2023 • 33 minutes, 59 seconds
Ring in the holiday season with the sweet sounds of the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles' offensive tackle Jordan Mailata and The War on Drugs' Charlie Hall join us to talk about the football team's latest Christmas album.
11/30/2023 • 26 minutes, 57 seconds
Live from AMERICANAFEST 2023: Brandy Clark & Tommy Prine
Listen to two great performances from this year's festival in Nashville.
11/28/2023 • 17 minutes, 11 seconds
The Culture Corner: 30 years of 'Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)'
World Cafe celebrates one of the most iconic debuts in hip-hop history.
11/27/2023 • 16 minutes, 13 seconds
How Dizzy sharpened their songwriting on the band's third record
The Ontario indie pop band talks about their latest, self-titled record.
11/22/2023 • 28 minutes, 57 seconds
Live from AMERICANAFEST 2023: Sunny War & Logan Ledger
Today, we bring you live performances from Logan Ledger and Sunny War.
11/21/2023 • 21 minutes, 1 second
Devendra Banhart searches for hope on 'Flying Wig'
The singer-songwriter talks about working with Cate Le Bon on his latest album.
11/20/2023 • 25 minutes, 2 seconds
The sky is the limit for Rhiannon Giddens
The musician talks about winning the Pulitzer Prize in Music and her latest album, You're The One.
11/17/2023 • 44 minutes, 5 seconds
Arkells strip down their sound on 'Laundry Pile'
The Canadian rock band talk about their latest album, Landry Pile, plus they revisit their favorite sports moments.
11/16/2023 • 30 minutes, 30 seconds
Rosanne Cash's 'The Wheel' celebrates 30 years
World Cafe revisits a session with Cash from 1993, featuring live performances.
11/15/2023 • 31 minutes, 10 seconds
Live from AMERICANAFEST 2023: Nat Myers & Jess Williamson
Today, we bring you live performances from blues singer Nat Myers and singer-songwriter Jess Williamson.
11/14/2023 • 17 minutes, 23 seconds
Tune in to a mini-concert with Lowland Hum
The duo from Charlottesville, Va., perform songs from their new album, From Self, With Love.
11/8/2023 • 15 minutes, 21 seconds
For The Chemical Brothers, joy can be a tricky emotion to get right
Tom Rowlands of the English electronic music duo joins us to talk about For That Beautiful Feeling and his 30+ year partnership with Ed Simons.
11/7/2023 • 25 minutes, 24 seconds
Kevin Drew contemplates the inevitability of 'Aging'
Kevin Drew, a member of the Broken Social Scene, talks about his new solo album, Aging.
11/6/2023 • 42 minutes, 33 seconds
Why Radiohead's Philip Selway put down the drumsticks on his latest album
The English musician talks about recording his new solo record, Strange Dream.
10/27/2023 • 48 minutes, 37 seconds
Courtney Barnett pares down her sound on 'End Of The Day'
The Australian musician talks about her new instrumental record, End Of The Day, and scoring a documentary about her own career, called Anonymous Club.
10/20/2023 • 19 minutes, 3 seconds
Ilsey channels the Laurel Canyon spirit on her debut solo album
She's written songs for big stars, but Ilsey says her debut record, From the Valley, was crafted from her own experience.
10/18/2023 • 29 minutes, 4 seconds
Why America's pastime is the perfect songwriting lens for The Baseball Project
Steve Wynn and Scott McCaughey talk about the supergroup's latest album, Grand Salami Time.
10/16/2023 • 25 minutes, 21 seconds
How Gustavo Santaolalla and his ronroco took the film industry by storm
The small Andean instrument has been core to the success of the Argentine film composer and music producer on projects like The Last of Us video game, 2005's Brokeback Mountain and 2006's Babel.
10/13/2023 • 13 minutes, 36 seconds
Tune in to a mini-concert with Usted Señalemelo
The Argentine indie rock band performs songs off their acclaimed third album, Tripolar.
10/12/2023 • 22 minutes, 22 seconds
Pachyman forges his own version of dub music on 'Switched-On'
The Puerto Rican artist's new album harkens back to a wildly creative era when musicians first started tinkering with synths.
10/11/2023 • 29 minutes, 26 seconds
Remembering Avándaro, a watershed moment in Mexican rock history
In the shadow of a government crackdown on rock music, a music festival in 1971 eclipsed all expectations and eventually helped the genre break free.
10/10/2023 • 7 minutes, 21 seconds
Tune in to a mini-concert with Mireya Ramos and the Poor Choices
The vocalist behind New York City's all-female mariachi band Flor de Toloache teams up with the Kansas City-based country and western band.
10/5/2023 • 17 minutes, 37 seconds
Sense of Place: Riding the changing tides of Lisbon's dance music scene
Music producer Nídia specializes in batida, one of the many exciting electronic subgenres being championed by Lisbon's Príncipe Discos label.
10/4/2023 • 12 minutes, 11 seconds
Sense of Place: How New York City inspired Lisbon band Hause Plants
The Portuguese rock band talks about their latest EP, Field Trip To Coney Island.
10/2/2023 • 30 minutes, 36 seconds
Sense of Place: Lisbon's Salvador Sobral sings with a sense of 'saudade'
Salvador Sobral, the winner of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest talks about his latest album, Timbre, on World Cafe.
9/29/2023 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 1 second
Sense of Place: Maria Reis wants her Portuguese roots front and center
The Lisbon-based musician talks about helping cultivate the music scene in her hometown.
9/28/2023 • 30 minutes, 19 seconds
Margaret Glaspy calls off the search on 'Echo The Diamond'
Glaspy talks about the influences behind her fourth record, from Alanis Morissette to Bruce Lee.
9/21/2023 • 32 minutes, 3 seconds
On 'Sidharth,' Sid Sriram zeroes in on his true path
The Indian star talks about his playback career and creating his first full-length album in English.
9/19/2023 • 27 minutes, 46 seconds
Alt.Latino shares 4 Latinx artists you should have on your radar
Alt.Latino's Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre help us ring in Hispanic Heritage Month with new music picks.
9/18/2023 • 11 minutes, 54 seconds
Enter Mitski's cinematic universe
From Ennio Morricone to sonic "jump scares," Mitski digs into the inspirations and making of The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We.
9/15/2023 • 30 minutes, 4 seconds
Shamir turns grief into gold on 'Homo Anxietatem'
Philly-based Shamir talks about his latest album and exploring an alternative pop rock sound on Homo Anxietatem.
9/11/2023 • 30 minutes, 57 seconds
Hannah Jadagu delivers a jagged, yet warm, performance on 'Aperture'
The Texas musician talks about signing to Sub Pop and making her debut album.
9/5/2023 • 31 minutes, 23 seconds
Splitting up only made the Jonas Brothers' reunion even sweeter
Joe, Kevin and Nick Jonas make their World Cafe debut to talk about The Album, their second record since reuniting in 2019.
9/1/2023 • 32 minutes, 59 seconds
Tune in to a mini-concert with Wilder Woods
The NEEDTOBREATHE frontman performs songs off his latest album, FEVER / SKY.
8/31/2023 • 19 minutes, 28 seconds
Under the heavy guitars, there's Speedy Ortiz returns with
The Philadelphia band returns with their fourth LP, Rabbit Rabbit.
8/30/2023 • 30 minutes, 43 seconds
How a chance encounter kickstarted Abraham Alexander's music career
The musician from Fort Worth, Texas, talks about his debut album, SEA/SONS.
8/29/2023 • 39 minutes, 58 seconds
The Culture Corner: Philadelphia's place in hip-hop history
As we celebrate 50 years of hip-hop, World Cafe takes a look at the history of the genre in Philly.
8/23/2023 • 28 minutes, 29 seconds
Blondshell is Sabrina Teitelbaum at her most honest and vulnerable
Los Angeles musician Sabrina Teitelbaum talks about the making of her self-titled debut album, Blondshell.
8/22/2023 • 28 minutes, 54 seconds
Genesis Owusu's 'Struggler' takes you on a Kafkaesque journey
The Australian musician Genesis Owusu talks about making his sophomore album, Struggler.
8/21/2023 • 25 minutes, 55 seconds
Brandy Clark teams up with Brandi Carlile on her latest, self-titled album
One of country music's go-to songwriters leaned into a more personal, Americana sound with the help of Carlile.
8/18/2023 • 33 minutes, 30 seconds
Bethany Cosentino looked to '90s heartland rock on her solo debut
The vocalist and guitarist for Best Coast strikes out on her own with Natural Disaster.
8/16/2023 • 32 minutes, 3 seconds
The Milk Carton Kids wanted to go back to the start
The Los Angeles-based duo talk about their latest album, I Only See The Moon.
8/14/2023 • 38 minutes, 1 second
'She did everything with me': Bully's beloved dog is at the heart of her new album
Bully's Alicia Bognanno talks about how losing her longtime companion influenced the making of Lucky For You.
8/9/2023 • 30 minutes, 43 seconds
Low Cut Connie is in search of the true self
Frontman Adam Weiner talks about the Philly-based band's new album, Art Dealers.
8/7/2023 • 43 minutes, 19 seconds
De La Soul want to uphold the legacy of 'this 50-year-old culture called hip-hop'
The legendary hip-hop group's back catalog is finally available on digital platforms. They look back on their genre-shaping career and remember their bandmate Trugoy the Dove.
8/4/2023 • 37 minutes, 42 seconds
Artist To Watch: Denitia
In this bonus episode of WXPN's Artist To Watch, we meet Denitia, a soulful singer-songwriter whose poetic lyrics and retrospective music exhibit elements of country and folk.
8/3/2023 • 30 minutes, 36 seconds
Mountain Stage celebrates 40 years on the air
The live music program celebrates 40 years on air this year, and to celebrate, host Kathy Mattea shares some of her favorite performances and memories from her time as a listener, guest and now host.
8/2/2023 • 29 minutes, 27 seconds
Tune in to a mini-concert with Cut Worms
The Brooklyn-band explores what they call "pop essentialism" on their latest self-titled album.
7/27/2023 • 17 minutes, 50 seconds
Artist To Watch: The Kentucky Gentleman
In this bonus episode of WXPN's Artist To Watch, we meet Nashville-based twin brothers Brandon and Derek Campbell, who harmonize, write and perform as The Kentucky Gentlemen.
7/27/2023 • 25 minutes, 53 seconds
The Culture Corner: Celebrating 25 years of Beastie Boys' 'Hello Nasty'
We dig into a genre-defying album that captured the feel of the final years of the 20th century.
7/26/2023 • 16 minutes, 25 seconds
David Wax Museum re-examines things on 'You Must Change Your Life'
The leader of the folk band talks about their latest album, plus the band performs live for World Cafe.
7/25/2023 • 34 minutes, 9 seconds
Tune into a mini-concert with Little Moon
Plus, Emma Hardyman talks about how her Utah band wrote the song that won them 2023's Tiny Desk Contest.
7/24/2023 • 25 minutes, 55 seconds
The long road to becoming Killer Mike
The Atlanta rapper dives into Michael, his autobiographical new album and his first in a decade.
7/21/2023 • 39 minutes, 25 seconds
Artist To Watch: Grace Givertz
In this bonus episode of WXPN's Artist To Watch, we meet Grace Givertz, a Boston-based folk artist and multi-instrumentalist whose witty and honest lyrics bring a refreshing energy and sound to folk music.
7/20/2023 • 25 minutes, 34 seconds
Tianna Esperanza wields strength and humor to process trauma on 'Terror'
The singer-songwriter talks about her debut album, plus she performs live for World Cafe.
7/19/2023 • 32 minutes, 18 seconds
Sense of Place: Ginebras explains why Madrid is the best place to form a band
The four-piece rock outfit formed in 2019, weathered the pandemic together and came out an even stronger band.
7/18/2023 • 35 minutes, 48 seconds
Sense of Place: Ralphie Choo merges Madrid's past, present and future
The songwriter and producer melds elements of contemporary electronic music and hip-hop with traditional Spanish sounds.
7/17/2023 • 13 minutes, 7 seconds
Sense of Place: How a wild boom of creativity took hold of post-Franco Madrid
Following Francisco Franco's death in the 1975, a counterculture movement known as La Movida Madrileña took root in the Spanish capital.
7/14/2023 • 15 minutes, 44 seconds
Tune in to a mini-concert with Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul
The duo bring vibrant and incisive dance tracks off of their debut album, Topical Dancer, to World Cafe.
7/11/2023 • 13 minutes, 22 seconds
On 'Weathervanes,' Jason Isbell's storytelling turns everyday lives into magic
Jason Isbell talks about his latest album, recorded with his backing band The 400 Unit.
7/7/2023 • 52 minutes, 13 seconds
Tune in to a mini-concert with Wednesday
The North Carolina band Wednesday performs songs off their critically acclaimed record, Rat Saw God.
7/6/2023 • 18 minutes, 49 seconds
Melba Moore is taking a well-deserved victory lap
The singer and actress says her nearly 60 years in show biz is thanks to a series of chance encounters, but her talent is undeniable.
7/5/2023 • 26 minutes, 14 seconds
Lucinda Williams shares the stories behind her songs in new memoir
Her autobiography, Don't Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You, coincides with the release of a new album, Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart.
6/30/2023 • 40 minutes, 12 seconds
A look back at Public Enemy's 'It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back'
World Cafe celebrates 35 years of one of the most influential albums of all time: Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.
6/28/2023 • 18 minutes, 4 seconds
On 'Time Ain't Accidental,' Jess Williamson sounds as open as the West Texas sky
The musician talks about her new record, and shares exclusive live performances for World Cafe.
6/26/2023 • 39 minutes, 24 seconds
The Watson Twins take center stage on 'Holler'
Highly sought after as backing vocalists, the Nashville duo chat about making their latest album, "Holler."
6/21/2023 • 31 minutes, 41 seconds
The exclusive 'World Cafe' Father's Day interview with ... my dad
Raina's dad, Matt Douris, talks about his days playing in Toronto's rock scene.
6/16/2023 • 22 minutes, 59 seconds
Artist To Watch: Samantha Rise
In this week's bonus episode from WXPN's Artist To Watch podcast, we meet Samantha Rise, a Philadelphia singer-songwriter who was selected for the Black Opry Residency project.
6/15/2023 • 28 minutes, 29 seconds
Artist To Watch: Tylar Bryant
Here's a bonus episode from WXPN's new podcast, 'Artist To Watch.' Black artists in Americana and country music are challenging the outdated notion that their lack of representation is due to a shortage of interest or talent. Their rich melodies, soulful harmonies, and artful lyrics are the newest contributions to a body of work that has for too long been overlooked. Join host John Morrison as he presents five stories of up-and-coming Black Americana musicians seeking to reclaim country music as an inclusive genre. In this episode of Artist To Watch: Tylar Bryant's story.
6/8/2023 • 32 minutes, 50 seconds
Black Opry artists talk challenges, joys of making country and Americana music
Five acts (Tylar Bryant, Grace Givertz, Denitia, Samantha Rise and The Kentucky Gentlemen) joined World Cafe to chat about their young careers and perform live.
6/5/2023 • 1 hour, 22 minutes, 22 seconds
Hear Ben Folds perform songs from his new album 'What Matters Most'
Plus, the North Carolina musician talks about collaborating with symphony orchestras and how a trip to Australia inpsired one of the songs on What Matters Most.
6/2/2023 • 42 minutes, 41 seconds
30A Songwriters Sessions: Abe Partridge
Watch the folk musician from Mobile, Alabama perform songs from his latest album, Love in the Dark.
6/1/2023 • 13 minutes, 55 seconds
30A Songwriters Sessions: Tom Rush
Watch the legendary folk singer-songwriter perform songs from throughout his career.
6/1/2023 • 12 minutes, 57 seconds
Rissi Palmer and Miko Marks are 'Still Here' and making moves in country music
The two country music veterans talk about navigating the industry and how they became friends.
5/31/2023 • 42 minutes, 2 seconds
The Culture Corner: Revisiting The Roots' influential 'Organix'
Hear how The Roots' live band approach to hip hop helped shaped the genre's future.
5/30/2023 • 17 minutes, 7 seconds
Arlo Parks find her strength in softness on her sophomore record
Mercury Prize-winner Arlo Parks chats about her new album, My Soft Machine, plus catch live performances.
5/26/2023 • 27 minutes, 16 seconds
Why Dr. Dog's Scott McMicken called on a band of strangers for his solo record
The musician talks about making Shabang with the help of his group, THE EVER-EXPANDING.
5/16/2023 • 31 minutes, 39 seconds
The key to writing a boygenius song? Tell the truth.
Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus chat about group therapy, Rainer Maria Rilke and the making of their debut album as boygenius.
5/12/2023 • 31 minutes, 30 seconds