NPR Tiny Desk Concerts 2008
★ 7.0/10 · 10 votes NR 19 seasons · 1786 eps Returning Series
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Quick answer
What is NPR Tiny Desk Concerts?
NPR Tiny Desk Concerts is a television series featuring intimate musical performances recorded live at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen. The series began in 2008 and has since grown to include more than 1,100 concerts as of August 2024.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 2008
- Status
- Returning Series
- Episodes
- 1,786
- First aired
- Apr 22, 2008
- Last aired
- Jun 29, 2026
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- NPR
- Updated
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How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 1,786 episodes and an average 45-minute runtime.
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Overview
NPR Tiny Desk Concerts is a television series featuring intimate musical performances recorded live at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen. The series began in 2008 and has since grown to include more than 1,100 concerts as of August 2024. These performances take place in a small office space at NPR in Washington, D.C. The series hosts a diverse range of musicians, from large bands like Dr. Dog, who adapt their loud and chaotic sound to the confined area, to unique acts such as 31 Minutos, which featured a guitar-playing puppet. Artists often perform fan favorites and debut new material during their sessions. Following a period of pandemic-related restrictions, the series resumed hosting audiences at the desk in 2022 with a performance by contest winner Alisa Amador. The concerts are distributed online, where the series maintains a significant viewership, averaging 45 million views per month on YouTube. The archive of these performances is available to the public through the official NPR Music channel.
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Should you watch it?
“Experience intimate live musical performances recorded directly at the desk of host Bob Boilen.”
Reasons to watch
- stripped-back performances
- diverse artist selection
Keep in mind
- limited physical space
- minimal production value
Watch it if you enjoy discovering live music in a raw and personal setting.
The series features musical performances suitable for general audiences.
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Cast
Comprehensive Directory
Episode guide
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Season 1 · 10 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 Laura Gibson Mytharc Apr 22, 2008
- E2 Vic Chesnutt Core Jun 5, 2008
- E3 Sam Phillips Core Jun 25, 2008
- E4 Sera Cahoone Core Jul 10, 2008
- E5 Thao Nguyen Core Sep 4, 2008
- E6 Lambchop's Kurt Wagner Core Oct 8, 2008
- E7 Dr. Dog Core Oct 20, 2008
- E8 Jim White Core Nov 7, 2008
- E9 Shearwater Mytharc Nov 14, 2008
- E10 Dave Dondero Mytharc Dec 30, 2008
Season 2 · 30 episodes
- E1 Woven Hand Mytharc Jan 7, 2009
- E2 Super XX Man Core Jan 27, 2009
- E3 Tom Jones Core Mar 2, 2009
- E4 Horse Feathers Core May 8, 2009
- E5 Benjy Ferree Core May 29, 2009
- E6 Great Lake Swimmers Core Jun 8, 2009
- E7 Jason Vieaux Core Jun 15, 2009
- E8 The Avett Brothers Core Jun 22, 2009
- E9 Maria Taylor Core Jun 29, 2009
- E10 Julie Doiron Core Jul 6, 2009
- E11 Bill Callahan Core Jul 13, 2009
- E12 Dave Douglas Brass Ecstasy Core Jul 20, 2009
- E13 Sarah Siskind Core Jul 27, 2009
- E14 The Swell Season Core Aug 10, 2009
- E15 Dark Meat Core Aug 24, 2009
- E16 The Tallest Man On Earth Core Sep 14, 2009
- E17 Telekinesis Core Sep 21, 2009
- E18 Raphael Saadiq Core Sep 28, 2009
- E19 John Vanderslice Core Oct 4, 2009
- E20 Rodrigo y Gabriela Core Oct 10, 2009
- E21 Ralph Stanley Core Oct 19, 2009
- E22 Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros Core Oct 26, 2009
- E23 Sondre Lerche Core Nov 2, 2009
- E24 K'naan Core Nov 9, 2009
- E25 Bowerbirds Core Nov 16, 2009
- E26 Zee Avi Core Nov 23, 2009
- E27 Andrew W.K. Core Nov 30, 2009
- E28 Lightning Dust Core Dec 7, 2009
- E29 Fanfarlo Mytharc Dec 16, 2009
- E30 Australian Chamber Orchestra Mytharc Dec 21, 2009
Season 3 · 60 episodes
- E1 The Mountain Goats Mytharc Jan 3, 2010
- E2 Adam Arcuragi Core Jan 10, 2010
- E3 The Low Anthem Core Jan 20, 2010
- E4 Brooklyn Rider Core Jan 26, 2010
- E5 Dave Rawlings Machine With Gillian Welch Core Feb 1, 2010
- E6 Edmar Castaneda Core Feb 8, 2010
- E7 Abaji Core Feb 15, 2010
- E8 Alec Ounsworth Core Feb 22, 2010
- E9 Laura Veirs Core Mar 1, 2010
- E10 Omara Portuondo Core Mar 8, 2010
- E11 The Antlers Core Mar 15, 2010
- E12 Wye Oak Core Mar 29, 2010
- E13 Jakob Dylan Core Apr 2, 2010
- E14 Regina Carter Core Apr 11, 2010
- E15 David Russell Core Apr 19, 2010
- E16 Lionel Loueke Core Apr 26, 2010
- E17 Fredrik Core May 3, 2010
- E18 Moby And Kelli Scarr Core May 4, 2010
- E19 Tarrus Riley Core May 11, 2010
- E20 Phoenix Core May 18, 2010
- E21 Bettye LaVette Core May 21, 2010
- E22 Roger McGuinn With Amy Tan, Dave Barry And More: Authors At The Tiny Desk Core Jun 1, 2010
- E23 Zuill Bailey Core Jun 4, 2010
- E24 The Mynabirds Core Jun 21, 2010
- E25 'Weird Al' Yankovic Core Jun 22, 2010
- E26 Gogol Bordello Core Jun 28, 2010
- E27 Los Campesinos! Core Jul 5, 2010
- E28 Jimmy Cliff Core Jul 12, 2010
- E29 Villagers Core Jul 19, 2010
- E30 Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Zakir Hussain Core Jul 26, 2010
- E31 The Holmes Brothers Core Aug 2, 2010
- E32 Mavis Staples Core Aug 9, 2010
- E33 Frazey Ford Core Aug 15, 2010
- E34 Peter Wolf Crier Core Aug 17, 2010
- E35 Lawrence Arabia Core Aug 23, 2010
- E36 Brian Courtney Wilson Core Aug 25, 2010
- E37 Ana Tijoux Core Aug 30, 2010
- E38 The Nels Cline Singers Core Sep 7, 2010
- E39 Seu Jorge Core Sep 13, 2010
- E40 Alisa Weilerstein Core Sep 15, 2010
- E41 Eef Barzelay Of Clem Snide Core Sep 20, 2010
- E42 Lost In The Trees Core Sep 23, 2010
- E43 Tom Tom Club Core Oct 6, 2010
- E44 Lower Dens Core Oct 10, 2010
- E45 Hey Marseilles Core Oct 17, 2010
- E46 Stile Antico Core Oct 25, 2010
- E47 Nick Lowe Core Nov 1, 2010
- E48 Rana Santacruz Core Nov 2, 2010
- E49 Black Dub Core Nov 8, 2010
- E50 Los Lobos Core Nov 10, 2010
- E51 Sharon Van Etten Core Nov 14, 2010
- E52 The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger Core Nov 17, 2010
- E53 Olof Arnalds Core Nov 22, 2010
- E54 Khaira Arby Core Nov 29, 2010
- E55 Buke And Gass Core Dec 6, 2010
- E56 Yolanda Kondonassis Core Dec 8, 2010
- E57 The Red River Core Dec 13, 2010
- E58 The Heligoats Core Dec 15, 2010
- E59 Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O Mytharc Dec 20, 2010
- E60 Luisa Maita Mytharc Dec 26, 2010
Season 4 · 83 episodes
- E1 Abigail Washburn Mytharc Jan 3, 2011
- E2 Gyptian Core Jan 5, 2011
- E3 David Wax Museum Core Jan 9, 2011
- E4 Ballake Sissoko And Vincent Segal Core Jan 17, 2011
- E5 Iron And Wine Core Jan 21, 2011
- E6 Basia Bulat Core Jan 24, 2011
- E7 Richard Thompson Core Feb 1, 2011
- E8 Stars Core Feb 3, 2011
- E9 Ivan And Alyosha Core Feb 7, 2011
- E10 Esperanza Spalding Core Feb 12, 2011
- E11 Turtle Island Quartet Core Feb 16, 2011
- E12 Adele Core Feb 17, 2011
- E13 Local Natives Core Feb 21, 2011
- E14 Damien Jurado Core Feb 28, 2011
- E15 Steve Riley And The Mamou Playboys Core Mar 7, 2011
- E16 Lizz Wright Core Mar 14, 2011
- E17 Nellie McKay Core Apr 4, 2011
- E18 Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars Core Apr 6, 2011
- E19 Josh Ritter Core Apr 11, 2011
- E20 Otis Taylor Core Apr 13, 2011
- E21 Mount Kimbie Core Apr 18, 2011
- E22 Pokey LaFarge Core Apr 20, 2011
- E23 Steve Earle Core Apr 25, 2011
- E24 Wu Man Core Apr 27, 2011
- E25 Booker T. Jones Core May 2, 2011
- E26 Julieta Venegas Core May 9, 2011
- E27 Neil Innes Core May 11, 2011
- E28 Future Islands Core May 16, 2011
- E29 Low Core May 22, 2011
- E30 Jackie Evancho Core May 23, 2011
- E31 The Kopecky Family Band Core Jun 6, 2011
- E32 The Black Angels Core Jun 8, 2011
- E33 Chris Thile And Michael Daves Core Jun 13, 2011
- E34 Charlie Siem Core Jun 15, 2011
- E35 The Decemberists Core Jun 20, 2011
- E36 YACHT Core Jun 22, 2011
- E37 The Civil Wars Core Jun 27, 2011
- E38 Milos Core Jun 30, 2011
- E39 The Blind Boys Of Alabama Core Jul 5, 2011
- E40 Julian Lage Trio Core Jul 7, 2011
- E41 Ben Sollee Core Jul 11, 2011
- E42 Joe Boyd And Robyn Hitchcock Core Jul 18, 2011
- E43 Y La Bamba Core Jul 21, 2011
- E44 Givers Core Jul 24, 2011
- E45 They Might Be Giants Core Jul 28, 2011
- E46 Amanda Shires Core Aug 3, 2011
- E47 Noah And The Whale Core Aug 10, 2011
- E48 Paul Jacobs Core Aug 12, 2011
- E49 Gaby Moreno Core Aug 15, 2011
- E50 Other Lives Core Aug 18, 2011
- E51 James Vincent McMorrow Core Aug 25, 2011
- E52 CALLmeKAT Core Aug 29, 2011
- E53 Phosphorescent Core Sep 1, 2011
- E54 King Creosote And Jon Hopkins Core Sep 4, 2011
- E55 Foster The People Core Sep 9, 2011
- E56 Diego Garcia Core Sep 12, 2011
- E57 Sean Rowe Core Sep 16, 2011
- E58 Jeremy Messersmith Core Sep 19, 2011
- E59 Beirut Core Sep 21, 2011
- E60 Jenny Lin Core Sep 26, 2011
- E61 The Klezmatics Core Sep 28, 2011
- E62 Trombone Shorty Core Sep 29, 2011
- E63 Mates Of State Core Oct 5, 2011
- E64 Fountains Of Wayne Core Oct 6, 2011
- E65 JEFF The Brotherhood Core Oct 8, 2011
- E66 Grouplove Core Oct 11, 2011
- E67 Chris Bathgate Core Oct 14, 2011
- E68 Wilco Core Oct 17, 2011
- E69 Hilary Hahn Core Oct 21, 2011
- E70 Ben Williams And Sound Effect Core Oct 24, 2011
- E71 Lisa Hannigan Core Oct 29, 2011
- E72 Juanes Core Nov 3, 2011
- E73 Jens Lekman Core Nov 7, 2011
- E74 Marketa Irglova Core Nov 10, 2011
- E75 Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile And Stuart Duncan Core Nov 17, 2011
- E76 Joe Henry Core Nov 21, 2011
- E77 Hospital Ships Core Nov 23, 2011
- E78 Gabriel Kahane Core Nov 26, 2011
- E79 tUnE-yArDs Core Dec 1, 2011
- E80 I Wayne Core Dec 12, 2011
- E81 Gem Club Core Dec 16, 2011
- E82 The Music Tapes Mytharc Dec 20, 2011
- E83 Maria Volonte Mytharc Dec 27, 2011
Season 5 · 77 episodes
- E1 Tinariwen Mytharc Jan 5, 2012
- E2 Le Butcherettes Core Jan 9, 2012
- E3 Screaming Females Core Jan 17, 2012
- E4 Jake Schepps' Expedition Quartet Core Jan 19, 2012
- E5 Glenn Jones Core Jan 23, 2012
- E6 Anna Calvi Core Jan 26, 2012
- E7 Girl In A Coma Core Jan 30, 2012
- E8 Bill Frisell Core Feb 3, 2012
- E9 The Creole Choir Of Cuba Core Feb 6, 2012
- E10 Craig Finn Core Feb 9, 2012
- E11 Red Baraat Core Feb 14, 2012
- E12 Joan Soriano Core Feb 16, 2012
- E13 Joyce El Khoury And Brian Jagde Core Feb 20, 2012
- E14 The Cranberries Core Feb 23, 2012
- E15 Milagres Core Feb 27, 2012
- E16 Pistolera Core Mar 1, 2012
- E17 Laura Gibson Core Mar 5, 2012
- E18 Rudresh Mahanthappa Core Mar 8, 2012
- E19 Real Estate Core Mar 12, 2012
- E20 Kayhan Kalhor Core Mar 24, 2012
- E21 First Aid Kit Core Mar 28, 2012
- E22 So Percussion Core Apr 2, 2012
- E23 Kathleen Edwards Core Apr 5, 2012
- E24 Caveman Core Apr 10, 2012
- E25 Novalima Core Apr 12, 2012
- E26 Soweto Gospel Choir Core Apr 16, 2012
- E27 Jolie Holland Core Apr 23, 2012
- E28 Cowboy Junkies Core Apr 26, 2012
- E29 Hospitality Core Apr 30, 2012
- E30 Nathan Salsburg Core May 3, 2012
- E31 Endangered Blood Core May 7, 2012
- E32 Kishi Bashi Core May 10, 2012
- E33 Pedro Soler And Gaspar Claus Core May 14, 2012
- E34 Chuck Brown Core May 16, 2012
- E35 Arborea Core May 17, 2012
- E36 Yann Tiersen Core May 21, 2012
- E37 Canadian Brass Core May 26, 2012
- E38 Patrick Watson Core May 31, 2012
- E39 Kelly Hogan Core Jun 4, 2012
- E40 Allison Miller's Boom Tic Boom Core Jun 7, 2012
- E41 Daniel Johnston Core Jun 11, 2012
- E42 Glen Hansard Core Jun 17, 2012
- E43 Mariachi El Bronx Core Jun 21, 2012
- E44 Reggie Watts Core Jun 25, 2012
- E45 Exitmusic Core Jul 2, 2012
- E46 Brandi Carlile Core Jul 9, 2012
- E47 Laura Marling Core Jul 12, 2012
- E48 Souad Massi Core Jul 15, 2012
- E49 The Milk Carton Kids Core Jul 16, 2012
- E50 Janet Feder Core Jul 22, 2012
- E51 The Walkmen Core Jul 29, 2012
- E52 Beth Orton Core Aug 6, 2012
- E53 The Zombies Core Aug 12, 2012
- E54 Rufus Wainwright Core Aug 20, 2012
- E55 Renaud Garcia-Fons Core Aug 27, 2012
- E56 Avi Avital Core Sep 10, 2012
- E57 Amanda Palmer And The Grand Theft Orchestra Core Sep 17, 2012
- E58 Yva Las Vegass Core Sep 24, 2012
- E59 Kat Edmonson Core Oct 1, 2012
- E60 Antibalas Core Oct 4, 2012
- E61 Spirit Family Reunion Core Oct 8, 2012
- E62 Dirty Three Core Oct 15, 2012
- E63 Robert Cray Band Core Oct 22, 2012
- E64 Lord Huron Core Oct 25, 2012
- E65 Passion Pit Core Oct 29, 2012
- E66 Jason Lytle Core Nov 5, 2012
- E67 Flaco Jimenez Core Nov 12, 2012
- E68 Ben Gibbard Core Nov 19, 2012
- E69 Martha Wainwright Core Nov 26, 2012
- E70 Taken By Trees Core Nov 29, 2012
- E71 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Core Dec 3, 2012
- E72 Anaïs Mitchell Core Dec 6, 2012
- E73 Daniel Bachman Core Dec 9, 2012
- E74 Lyle Lovett Core Dec 10, 2012
- E75 Alt-J Core Dec 17, 2012
- E76 The Polyphonic Spree Mytharc Dec 21, 2012
- E77 Miguel Mytharc Dec 31, 2012
Verified insights
Frequently asked questions
What is the setting of the performances?
The concerts are recorded live at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen.
Who hosts the series?
The series is hosted by Bob Boilen.
Are the performances live?
Yes, the artists perform live at the desk.
How many episodes were in the first season?
The 2008 season consisted of 10 episodes.
Does the series feature an audience?
Performances have included audiences, such as the 2022 winner's performance.
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