Season 2016

Season 2016

NPR Tiny Desk Concerts

2016 Episodes
10.0

Episodes

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Rapsody
EP 1

Rapsody

1/5/2016

Watch the rapper perform three songs from Beauty And The Beast live at the NPR Music offices.

Mariachi Flor De Toloache
EP 2

Mariachi Flor De Toloache

1/8/2016

While on tour with The Arcs, the powerhouse mariachi band performs live in the NPR Music offices.

Natalie Merchant
EP 3

Natalie Merchant

1/12/2016

The singer-songwriter gives a warmhearted performance of two new songs, an old favorite and a hymn.

Guest Stars

Natalie Merchant
Benny Sings
EP 4

Benny Sings

1/15/2016

The Dutch singer layers R&B, jazz and pop over hip-hop beats in his first-ever U.S. appearance.

River Whyless
EP 5

River Whyless

1/19/2016

The North Carolina band fills its rootsy music with unexpected instruments and clever ideas.

Wolf Alice
EP 6

Wolf Alice

1/22/2016

The band's music can be noisy and primal, but at the Tiny Desk it showed a different side.

Guest Stars

Ellie RowsellJoff OddieTheo EllisJoel Amey
The Arcs
EP 7

The Arcs

1/25/2016

It's our 500th show at the Tiny Desk, featuring The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and his new band.

EL VY
EP 8

EL VY

1/29/2016

The National's Matt Berninger and Menomena's Brent Knopf team up in an intimate setting.

Car Seat Headrest
EP 9

Car Seat Headrest

2/8/2016

Will Toledo is a wordsmith with a vision, as well as a DIY sound that's still finely crafted.

Chelsea Wolfe
EP 10

Chelsea Wolfe

2/12/2016

Wolfe takes three songs from the metallic Abyss and makes them howl by their lonesome.

Ben Folds
EP 11

Ben Folds

2/16/2016

Performing solo, Folds performs three songs from his new album and two old favorites.

Guest Stars

Ben Folds
Wilco
EP 12

Wilco

2/23/2016

Bands don't typically get to play the Tiny Desk more than once, but Wilco is a natural exception.

Guest Stars

Jeff Tweedy
Brushy One String
EP 13

Brushy One String

2/27/2016

The word-of-mouth star's sound is made by one big fat E-string and a rich, powerful voice.

Lake Street Dive
EP 14

Lake Street Dive

2/29/2016

Performed live at the Tiny Desk, the band's songs often tilt toward soul or rock danceably.

Guest Stars

Rachael PriceBridget KearneyMike OlsonMike Calabrese
Monsieur Periné
EP 15

Monsieur Periné

3/4/2016

The Colombian band channels an unlikely inspiration: 1920s-era, guitar-driven jazz from the U.S.

Guest Stars

Catalina GarcíaSantiago Prieto
Julien Baker
EP 16

Julien Baker

3/7/2016

The young Tennessee singer performs three of her spare, sad, simple songs at the NPR Music offices.

Guest Stars

Julien Baker
Gaelynn Lea
EP 17

Gaelynn Lea

3/11/2016

Watch the singer and violinist who stood out from 6,000-plus entries in NPR's Tiny Desk Contest.

Guest Stars

Gaelynn Lea
Graham Nash
EP 18

Graham Nash

3/14/2016

In a short set that spans 50 years, the CSNY veteran's voice resonates and cuts to the core.

Guest Stars

Graham Nash
Tedeschi Trucks Band
EP 19

Tedeschi Trucks Band

3/25/2016

Singer-guitarist Susan Tedeschi and guitarist Derek Trucks celebrate the blues, jazz and much more.

Anthony Hamilton
EP 20

Anthony Hamilton

3/28/2016

Hear the soul star and his band perform "Amen," plus three songs that have defined his career.

Ane Brun
EP 21

Ane Brun

4/1/2016

Watch Brun play three new songs, each of which speaks to newfound freedom and fresh opportunities.

Guest Stars

Ane Brun
PWR BTTM
EP 22

PWR BTTM

4/4/2016

The duo has a keen sense of mischief and a gift for honest, punk-infused, tongue-in-cheek pop gems.

Mothers
EP 23

Mothers

4/8/2016

Mothers' members chose a few of their slowest, most languid songs to perform in the NPR offices.

Palehound
EP 24

Palehound

4/11/2016

Ellen Kempner and her band perform tense and evocative songs amid the silence of a rapt crowd.

Seratones
EP 25

Seratones

4/15/2016

The Louisiana band takes gospel into the garage, and what comes out is fiery rock 'n' roll.

Benjamin Clementine
EP 26

Benjamin Clementine

4/18/2016

There are intimate moments of revelation in Clementine's immersive, breathtaking performance.

Julia Holter
EP 27

Julia Holter

4/22/2016

The most minute details become a grandiose spectacle in Holter's cosmic cabaret.

Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds
EP 28

Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds

4/25/2016

The band's punchy horn section, bluesy vocals and harmonica solos instantly demand attention.

Peter Frampton
EP 29

Peter Frampton

4/27/2016

Frampton brought some classic songs to the Tiny Desk. We couldn't help but sing along.

Florist
EP 30

Florist

4/29/2016

Emily Sprague performs three delicate songs with help from members of New York's Epoch collective.

Eighth Blackbird
EP 31

Eighth Blackbird

5/2/2016

Watch the sextet perform new music by David Lang, Bryce Dessner and Robert Honstein.

Monika
EP 32

Monika

5/6/2016

When you hear Monika, life feels good: The singer's performances and presence are simply winning.

Lara St. John
EP 33

Lara St. John

5/9/2016

With her intrepid pianist in tow, the violinist performs rowdy tunes that will leave you breathless.

Daymé Arocena
EP 34

Daymé Arocena

5/13/2016

Arocena's voice combines Aretha Franklin's soul and the sabor of Cuban music queen Celia Cruz.

Steve Kimock
EP 35

Steve Kimock

5/16/2016

The veteran jam-rock guitarist's dedication to his instrument is matched only by his imagination.

Andy Shauf
EP 36

Andy Shauf

5/20/2016

The Saskatchewan singer-songwriter performs three quietly affecting songs in the NPR Music offices.

Robert Ellis
EP 37

Robert Ellis

5/23/2016

Ellis plays thoughtfully stripped-down arrangements from his ambitious country record.

Guest Stars

Robert Ellis
Carrie Rodriguez
EP 38

Carrie Rodriguez

5/27/2016

Watch the singer, guitarist and fiddler play three songs that reflect her many cultural influences.

Guest Stars

Carrie Rodriguez
Andrew Bird
EP 39

Andrew Bird

5/31/2016

For this performance of three new songs, Bird comes with a stripped-down acoustic band.

Guest Stars

Andrew Bird
Barry Douglas
EP 40

Barry Douglas

6/3/2016

Watch the award-winning Irish pianist play traditional songs from the homeland.

Sam Beam & Jesca Hoop
EP 41

Sam Beam & Jesca Hoop

6/6/2016

Iron & Wine's singer performs three songs with the charming, inventive singer Jesca Hoop.

Guest Stars

Sam BeamJesca Hoop
Weaves
EP 42

Weaves

6/10/2016

The band's music is playful and quirky — sometimes loud, sometimes gentle and always a trip.

Chick Corea & Gary Burton
EP 43

Chick Corea & Gary Burton

6/13/2016

The two highly decorated jazz legends could barely fit their instruments behind the Tiny Desk.

Alessio Bax
EP 44

Alessio Bax

6/17/2016

For Father's Day, watch the pianist play lullabies to his daughter, who nearly steals the show.

Brandy Clark
EP 45

Brandy Clark

6/20/2016

The country singer-songwriter has a rare gift for making any room feel warmly human.

Mashrou' Leila
EP 46

Mashrou' Leila

6/24/2016

A rock band from Beirut performs songs that mix hedonism and hyper-literate lyrics.

Charles Lloyd & Jason Moran
EP 47

Charles Lloyd & Jason Moran

6/28/2016

The saxophonist and pianist play three tunes that draw from their past while looking to the future.

Adia Victoria
EP 48

Adia Victoria

6/30/2016

Performing at the NPR Music offices, Adia Victoria's voice is powerful and direct, with no artifice.

Los Hacheros
EP 49

Los Hacheros

7/5/2016

Los Hacheros' members tap into the deep groove of Afro-Caribbean music that inspires modern salsa.

Valley Queen
EP 50

Valley Queen

7/8/2016

Valley Queen plays with nuance and depth, rooted in a California country sound.

Jane Bunnett
EP 51

Jane Bunnett

7/12/2016

The Canadian jazz multi-instrumentalist performs with some of the top young women musicians in Cuba.

Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band
EP 52

Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band

7/15/2016

There's a point when a jam is just a jam, but when a jam becomes a journey... man.

Gregory Porter
EP 53

Gregory Porter

7/18/2016

Porter's music can be serious and heartwarming, but it never loses its sense of wonder and delight.

John Congleton And The Nighty Nite
EP 54

John Congleton And The Nighty Nite

7/22/2016

The decorated producer seizes the spotlight with songs about how extraordinary it is to be ordinary.

Xenia Rubinos
EP 55

Xenia Rubinos

7/25/2016

Rubinos uses her Afro-Caribbean roots as a jumping-off point for inventive, provocative songs.

Lucy Dacus
EP 56

Lucy Dacus

7/29/2016

The Virginia musician writes songs that can be thoughtful, playful and powerful.

Kevin Morby
EP 57

Kevin Morby

8/1/2016

The singer, known for Woods and The Babies, performs carefully crafted songs with powerful lyrics.

Rachel Barton Pine
EP 58

Rachel Barton Pine

8/5/2016

Watch the genial violinist commune with nearly 300-year-old music for solo violin by J.S. Bach.

The Jayhawks
EP 59

The Jayhawks

8/8/2016

The beloved band displays its signature country-tinged rock and close harmonies in four new songs.

René Marie
EP 60

René Marie

8/12/2016

Joined by her Experiment In Truth band, the jazz singer performs songs from Sound Of Red.

Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals
EP 61

Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals

8/15/2016

Watch the invigorating, genre-busting bandleader, drummer, singer and rapper perform four songs.

Eddie Palmieri
EP 62

Eddie Palmieri

8/19/2016

An icon for modern and Latin jazz, the veteran performer continues to break tradition and innovate.

Margaret Glaspy
EP 63

Margaret Glaspy

8/22/2016

No overplaying, no frills, just great music and an artist who sounds thrilled to be playing it.

Guest Stars

Margaret Glaspy
Nina Diaz
EP 64

Nina Diaz

8/26/2016

As a solo artist on leave from Girl In A Coma, the singer finds new ways to sound ferocious.

Big Thief
EP 65

Big Thief

8/29/2016

The band's songs exude muscular warmth, with lyrics that are both memorable and meaningful.

William Bell
EP 66

William Bell

9/7/2016

The 77-year-old blues and soul hitmaker returns to the spotlight with the aid of a 12-piece band.

The Secret Sisters
EP 67

The Secret Sisters

9/12/2016

The Alabama sibling duo's music can be hymn-like: plain but powerful, heartsick and hopeful.

Saul Williams
EP 68

Saul Williams

9/16/2016

You can feel the singer and poet's passion in every sharp, thoughtful, powerful, provocative word.

Corinne Bailey Rae
EP 69

Corinne Bailey Rae

9/19/2016

The genre-defying English singer-songwriter performs material from her first album in six years.

Blue Man Group
EP 70

Blue Man Group

9/26/2016

The world-famous entertainers retrofitted their instruments and confetti cannons to fit the desk.

Joshua Bell & Jeremy Denk
EP 71

Joshua Bell & Jeremy Denk

9/30/2016

Two A-list classical artists work up a sweat as they revel in the turbulent, tender music of Brahms.

Common At The White House
EP 72

Common At The White House

10/4/2016

The veteran rapper fronts an all-star band at the White House.

Haley Bonar
EP 73

Haley Bonar

10/11/2016

The Minnesota singer-songwriter achieves a nifty balance of intimacy and impeccable polish.

RDGLDGRN
EP 74

RDGLDGRN

10/14/2016

A striking mix of rock, hip-hop, funk, go-go and Brazilian sounds, fused with energy and humor.

Billy Bragg & Joe Henry
EP 75

Billy Bragg & Joe Henry

10/17/2016

The two songwriters celebrate the romance and vitality of the modern railroad.

Blind Pilot
EP 76

Blind Pilot

10/21/2016

The folk-pop band performs four songs from its shimmery new album, And Then Like Lions.

Drive-By Truckers
EP 77

Drive-By Truckers

10/24/2016

The long-running rock band holds a mirror to the hard realities of America right now.

Joseph
EP 78

Joseph

10/28/2016

The trio strips anthemic songs down to the essentials: just sisterly harmonies and acoustic guitar.

The Westerlies
EP 79

The Westerlies

11/2/2016

The self-described "accidental brass quartet" swims comfortably in jazz, classical and pop music.

Ta-ku & Wafia
EP 80

Ta-ku & Wafia

11/7/2016

The two Australians' chemistry is apparent the instant you hear their voices intertwined in song.

Adam Torres
EP 81

Adam Torres

11/11/2016

The Austin singer-songwriter showcases his high, lonesome voice and atmospheric storytelling.

John Paul White
EP 82

John Paul White

11/14/2016

Formerly half of The Civil Wars, White returns to perform three songs from his solo debut, Beulah.

Attacca Quartet
EP 83

Attacca Quartet

11/18/2016

The young quartet navigates smoke rings, alligators and the stormy fluctuations of the 18th century.

Tegan And Sara
EP 84

Tegan And Sara

11/21/2016

The Canadian pop duo crafts acoustic versions of pop anthems like "Closer and "Boyfriend."

Margo Price
EP 85

Margo Price

11/28/2016
10.0

On the morning after Election Day, Price sang three cathartic country songs loaded with new meaning.

Guest Stars

Margo Price
Pinegrove
EP 86

Pinegrove

12/2/2016

Watch the New Jersey band squeeze four songs into a scrappy, warmhearted 13-minute set.

Ro James
EP 87

Ro James

12/5/2016

The R&B singer performs three funky, sexy, stripped-down songs from his debut album, Eldorado.

Alsarah & The Nubatones
EP 88

Alsarah & The Nubatones

12/9/2016

In the band's hands, East African music comes alive in a mix of tradition and contemporary sounds.

Gucci Mane
EP 89

Gucci Mane

12/12/2016

The rapper has spent the year on an extended victory tour. Here are the spoils.

Derek Gripper
EP 90

Derek Gripper

12/16/2016

The classically trained guitarist performs songs originally written for the kora.

The Oh Hellos
EP 91

The Oh Hellos

12/19/2016

The nine-piece band returns to the Tiny Desk to fill the air with fake snow and real joy.