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