World Cafe

Essential and Emerging Artists

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Hear the confessional folk-rock singer and rapidly rising star perform her songs in the studio.

Sharon Van Etten.Elisabeth Vitalehide caption

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Sharon Van Etten On World Cafe WXPN

Hear the roots-rock band cover the Warren Zevon song it deems the best ever written about L.A.

Dawes.Rocco Peditto/WXPNhide caption

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Dawes On World Cafe WXPN

Hear the 2014 Americana Awards' Emerging Artist of the Year play at the Philadelphia Folk Festival.

Sturgill Simpson.Reto Sterchi/Courtesy of the artisthide caption

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Sturgill Simpson On World Cafe WXPN

Vetiver. Alissa Anderson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Vetiver On World Cafe

XPN

June 14, 2016 • Hear Andy Cabic's freak-folk band play songs from Complete Strangers live in the World Cafe studio.

Vetiver on World Cafe

17:12

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KUTX in Austin, Texas, loves A Giant Dog's new song "& Rock & Roll." Sean Daigle/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Heavy Rotation: 10 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing

June 14, 2016 • Hear new music by A Giant Dog, Vic Mensa, Michael Kiwanuka, Ryley Walker and more in June's mix of public-radio favorites.

Thelma and the Sleaze. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Nashville Sessions

Nashville Sessions: Thelma And The Sleaze

XPN

by Ann Powers

June 13, 2016 • After doing everything from punk karaoke to slinging tacos, Lauren Gilbert now leads one of Music City's wildest live acts.

Nashville Sessions: Thelma and the Sleaze

46:50

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Psychic Ills. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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World Cafe Next

World Cafe Next: Psychic Ills

XPN

June 13, 2016 • The New York City band ably incorporates blues and gospel inflections into its hazy psych-rock.

World Cafe Next: Psychic Ills

10:17

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White Denim Drew Anthony Smith/Courtesy of the artst hide caption

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Studio Sessions

White Denim On World Cafe

XPN

June 10, 2016 • The Austin band has emerged from a roster change with its frenetic guitar-rock sound fully renewed.

White Denim on World Cafe

23:33

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Lakou Mizik. Thomas Freteur /Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Lakou Mizik On World Cafe

XPN

June 9, 2016 • The nine-piece Haitian band hopes its message of strength is heard worldwide. Watch Lakou Mizik perform live in the World Cafe studio.

Lakou Muzik

21:18

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Animal Collective. Hisham Akira Bharoocha & Abby Portner/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Animal Collective On World Cafe

XPN

June 8, 2016 • Panda Bear, Avey Tare and Geologist adopted a new approach to recording their new album, Painting With. Hear an interview and performance.

Animal Collective on World Cafe

21:55

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Eric Bachmann. Jeremy M. Lange/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Eric Bachmann On World Cafe

XPN

June 7, 2016 • The Archers of Loaf and Crooked Fingers leader performs songs from his first solo album in a decade.

Eric Bachman on World Cafe

22:11

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Kelsey Waldon. Laura E. Partain/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Nashville Sessions

Nashville Sessions: Kelsey Waldon

XPN

by Ann Powers

June 6, 2016 • Waldon has become a key player in the East Nashville music community by penning songs that capture the heartland through twentysomething eyes.

Nashville Sessions: Kelsey Waldon

42:36

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Oliver John-Rodgers. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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World Cafe Next

World Cafe Next: Oliver John-Rodgers

XPN

June 6, 2016 • The music on John-Rodgers' new album, Nashville Demos, ranges from grunge to alt-country.

World Cafe Next: Oliver John-Rogers

9:05

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Paul Simon. Mary Ellen Matthews/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Paul Simon On World Cafe

XPN

June 3, 2016 • At 74, the legendary songwriter is still searching for sounds he hasn't heard before.

Paul Simon on World Cafe

23:56

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Joe Bataan Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Latin Roots

Latin Roots: Boogaloo With Joe Bataan

XPN

June 2, 2016 • Bataan's many boogaloo hits in the 1960s included "Gypsy Woman." Hear a live set recorded at Philadelphia's Prince Theater.

Latin Roots: Joe Bataan

16:26

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Car Seat Headrest performs live at WXPN's 16th annual Non-Comm, recorded live for World Cafe. Jeremy Zimmerman/WXPN hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Car Seat Headrest On World Cafe

XPN

June 2, 2016 • Hear Will Toledo and his band perform new songs from Teens Of Denial live in Philadelphia.

Car Seat Headrest on World Cafe

28:05

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Parker Millsap (center) and bandmates Michael Rose (left) and Daniel Foulks (right) in the World Cafe performance studio. Galea McGregor/WXPN hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Parker Millsap On World Cafe

XPN

June 1, 2016 • The Oklahoma songwriter's new album, The Very Last Day, lays bare his blues influences. Hear him play live in the studio.

Parker Millsap on World Cafe

20:44

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Boogarins performing at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. Breanna Keohane/WXPN hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Boogarins On World Cafe

XPN

May 31, 2016 • The Brazilian psychedelic-rock band performs live for its World Cafe debut.

Boogarins on World Cafe

23:47

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Bonnie Bishop. Jason Lee Denton/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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World Cafe Next

World Cafe Next: Bonnie Bishop

XPN

May 30, 2016 • The Nashville singer and songwriter reinvents herself with her new album, Ain't Who I Was.

World Cafe Next: Bonnie Bishop

8:26

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Rich Cohen's new book is The Sun & The Moon & The Rolling Stones. Pascal Perich/Courtesy of the author hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Rich Cohen Tells The Stones Stories You've Never Heard

XPN

May 30, 2016 • The writer's new book, The Sun & The Moon & The Rolling Stones, stems from his experience touring with the band in the mid-'90s.

Rich Cohen on World Cafe

25:43

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Charles Bradley. John Vettese/WXPN hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Charles Bradley On World Cafe

XPN

May 27, 2016 • Hear the "Screaming Eagle of Soul" perform songs from his new album, Changes, live in Philadelphia.

Charles Bradley

29:37

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Quilt outside of the World Cafe performance studio. Sydney Schaefer/WXPN hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Quilt On World Cafe

XPN

May 26, 2016 • The Brooklyn band has solidified its psychedelic sound on its new album, Plaza. Hear a conversation and performance.

Quilt on World Cafe

18:33

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Songhoy Blues. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Songhoy Blues On World Cafe

XPN

May 25, 2016 • With Music In Exile, the forward-thinking desert-blues band raises awareness of war in its home country, Mali. Hear an interview and performance.

Sonhoy Blues on World Cafe

21:06

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Bob Dylan as seen on the cover of Barney Hoskyns' Small Town Talk. Courtesy of the author hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Author Barney Hoskyns On Bob Dylan And 'Small Town Talk'

XPN

May 24, 2016 • To celebrate Dylan's 75th birthday, hear about his special relationship with Woodstock, N.Y., the subject of Hoskyns' book.

Barney Hoskyns on Bob Dylan & Small Town Talk

15:42

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Clockwise from top left: Car Seat Headrest, Band of Horses, Shawn Colvin & Steve Earle. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Performances

Watch Live: Car Seat Headrest, Band Of Horses And More, Live In Philadelphia

XPN

May 20, 2016 • Shawn Colvin and Steve Earle, Esmé Patterson and Soul Asylum will also perform at World Cafe Live. Watch live starting at 7 p.m. EDT.

Snarky Puppy. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Snarky Puppy On World Cafe

XPN

May 20, 2016 • The Brooklyn band's music fuses rock, jazz and funk. Hear a live in-studio performance by a 12-piece incarnation of the instrumental powerhouse.

Snarky Puppy on World Cafe

29:33

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