NPR Tiny Desk Concerts: Season 2016
Season 9 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of NPR Tiny Desk Concerts Season 8.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 9 Progress Shield
Rapsody
Jan 5, 2016
Watch the rapper perform three songs from Beauty And The Beast live at the NPR Music offices.
Mariachi Flor De Toloache
Jan 8, 2016
While on tour with The Arcs, the powerhouse mariachi band performs live in the NPR Music offices.
Natalie Merchant
Jan 12, 2016
The singer-songwriter gives a warmhearted performance of two new songs, an old favorite and a hymn.
Benny Sings
Jan 15, 2016
The Dutch singer layers R&B, jazz and pop over hip-hop beats in his first-ever U.S. appearance.
River Whyless
Jan 19, 2016
The North Carolina band fills its rootsy music with unexpected instruments and clever ideas.
Wolf Alice
Jan 22, 2016
The band's music can be noisy and primal, but at the Tiny Desk it showed a different side.
The Arcs
Jan 25, 2016
It's our 500th show at the Tiny Desk, featuring The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and his new band.
EL VY
Jan 29, 2016
The National's Matt Berninger and Menomena's Brent Knopf team up in an intimate setting.
Car Seat Headrest
Feb 8, 2016
Will Toledo is a wordsmith with a vision, as well as a DIY sound that's still finely crafted.
Chelsea Wolfe
Feb 12, 2016
Wolfe takes three songs from the metallic Abyss and makes them howl by their lonesome.
Ben Folds
Feb 16, 2016
Performing solo, Folds performs three songs from his new album and two old favorites.
Wilco
Feb 23, 2016
Bands don't typically get to play the Tiny Desk more than once, but Wilco is a natural exception.
Brushy One String
Feb 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
Feb 29, 2016
Performed live at the Tiny Desk, the band's songs often tilt toward soul or rock danceably.
Monsieur Periné
Mar 4, 2016
The Colombian band channels an unlikely inspiration: 1920s-era, guitar-driven jazz from the U.S.
Julien Baker
Mar 7, 2016
The young Tennessee singer performs three of her spare, sad, simple songs at the NPR Music offices.
Gaelynn Lea
Mar 11, 2016
Watch the singer and violinist who stood out from 6,000-plus entries in NPR's Tiny Desk Contest.
Graham Nash
Mar 14, 2016
In a short set that spans 50 years, the CSNY veteran's voice resonates and cuts to the core.
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Mar 25, 2016
Singer-guitarist Susan Tedeschi and guitarist Derek Trucks celebrate the blues, jazz and much more.
Anthony Hamilton
Mar 28, 2016
Hear the soul star and his band perform "Amen," plus three songs that have defined his career.
Ane Brun
Apr 1, 2016
Watch Brun play three new songs, each of which speaks to newfound freedom and fresh opportunities.
PWR BTTM
Apr 4, 2016
The duo has a keen sense of mischief and a gift for honest, punk-infused, tongue-in-cheek pop gems.
Mothers
Apr 8, 2016
Mothers' members chose a few of their slowest, most languid songs to perform in the NPR offices.
Palehound
Apr 11, 2016
Ellen Kempner and her band perform tense and evocative songs amid the silence of a rapt crowd.
Seratones
Apr 15, 2016
The Louisiana band takes gospel into the garage, and what comes out is fiery rock 'n' roll.
Benjamin Clementine
Apr 18, 2016
There are intimate moments of revelation in Clementine's immersive, breathtaking performance.
Julia Holter
Apr 22, 2016
The most minute details become a grandiose spectacle in Holter's cosmic cabaret.
Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds
Apr 25, 2016
The band's punchy horn section, bluesy vocals and harmonica solos instantly demand attention.
Peter Frampton
Apr 27, 2016
Frampton brought some classic songs to the Tiny Desk. We couldn't help but sing along.
Florist
Apr 29, 2016
Emily Sprague performs three delicate songs with help from members of New York's Epoch collective.
Eighth Blackbird
May 2, 2016
Watch the sextet perform new music by David Lang, Bryce Dessner and Robert Honstein.
Monika
May 6, 2016
When you hear Monika, life feels good: The singer's performances and presence are simply winning.
Lara St. John
May 9, 2016
With her intrepid pianist in tow, the violinist performs rowdy tunes that will leave you breathless.
Daymé Arocena
May 13, 2016
Arocena's voice combines Aretha Franklin's soul and the sabor of Cuban music queen Celia Cruz.
Steve Kimock
May 16, 2016
The veteran jam-rock guitarist's dedication to his instrument is matched only by his imagination.
Andy Shauf
May 20, 2016
The Saskatchewan singer-songwriter performs three quietly affecting songs in the NPR Music offices.
Robert Ellis
May 23, 2016
Ellis plays thoughtfully stripped-down arrangements from his ambitious country record.
Carrie Rodriguez
May 27, 2016
Watch the singer, guitarist and fiddler play three songs that reflect her many cultural influences.
Andrew Bird
May 31, 2016
For this performance of three new songs, Bird comes with a stripped-down acoustic band.
Barry Douglas
Jun 3, 2016
Watch the award-winning Irish pianist play traditional songs from the homeland.
Sam Beam & Jesca Hoop
Jun 6, 2016
Iron & Wine's singer performs three songs with the charming, inventive singer Jesca Hoop.
Weaves
Jun 10, 2016
The band's music is playful and quirky — sometimes loud, sometimes gentle and always a trip.
Chick Corea & Gary Burton
Jun 13, 2016
The two highly decorated jazz legends could barely fit their instruments behind the Tiny Desk.
Alessio Bax
Jun 17, 2016
For Father's Day, watch the pianist play lullabies to his daughter, who nearly steals the show.
Brandy Clark
Jun 20, 2016
The country singer-songwriter has a rare gift for making any room feel warmly human.
Mashrou' Leila
Jun 24, 2016
A rock band from Beirut performs songs that mix hedonism and hyper-literate lyrics.
Charles Lloyd & Jason Moran
Jun 28, 2016
The saxophonist and pianist play three tunes that draw from their past while looking to the future.
Adia Victoria
Jun 30, 2016
Performing at the NPR Music offices, Adia Victoria's voice is powerful and direct, with no artifice.
Los Hacheros
Jul 5, 2016
Los Hacheros' members tap into the deep groove of Afro-Caribbean music that inspires modern salsa.
Valley Queen
Jul 8, 2016
Valley Queen plays with nuance and depth, rooted in a California country sound.
Jane Bunnett
Jul 12, 2016
The Canadian jazz multi-instrumentalist performs with some of the top young women musicians in Cuba.
Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band
Jul 15, 2016
There's a point when a jam is just a jam, but when a jam becomes a journey... man.
Gregory Porter
Jul 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
Jul 22, 2016
The decorated producer seizes the spotlight with songs about how extraordinary it is to be ordinary.
Xenia Rubinos
Jul 25, 2016
Rubinos uses her Afro-Caribbean roots as a jumping-off point for inventive, provocative songs.
Lucy Dacus
Jul 29, 2016
The Virginia musician writes songs that can be thoughtful, playful and powerful.
Kevin Morby
Aug 1, 2016
The singer, known for Woods and The Babies, performs carefully crafted songs with powerful lyrics.
Rachel Barton Pine
Aug 5, 2016
Watch the genial violinist commune with nearly 300-year-old music for solo violin by J.S. Bach.
The Jayhawks
Aug 8, 2016
The beloved band displays its signature country-tinged rock and close harmonies in four new songs.
René Marie
Aug 12, 2016
Joined by her Experiment In Truth band, the jazz singer performs songs from Sound Of Red.
Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals
Aug 15, 2016
Watch the invigorating, genre-busting bandleader, drummer, singer and rapper perform four songs.
Eddie Palmieri
Aug 19, 2016
An icon for modern and Latin jazz, the veteran performer continues to break tradition and innovate.
Margaret Glaspy
Aug 22, 2016
No overplaying, no frills, just great music and an artist who sounds thrilled to be playing it.
Nina Diaz
Aug 26, 2016
As a solo artist on leave from Girl In A Coma, the singer finds new ways to sound ferocious.
Big Thief
Aug 29, 2016 · 10 min
The band's songs exude muscular warmth, with lyrics that are both memorable and meaningful.
William Bell
Sep 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
Sep 12, 2016
The Alabama sibling duo's music can be hymn-like: plain but powerful, heartsick and hopeful.
Saul Williams
Sep 16, 2016
You can feel the singer and poet's passion in every sharp, thoughtful, powerful, provocative word.
Corinne Bailey Rae
Sep 19, 2016
The genre-defying English singer-songwriter performs material from her first album in six years.
Blue Man Group
Sep 26, 2016
The world-famous entertainers retrofitted their instruments and confetti cannons to fit the desk.
Joshua Bell & Jeremy Denk
Sep 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
Oct 4, 2016
The veteran rapper fronts an all-star band at the White House.
Haley Bonar
Oct 11, 2016
The Minnesota singer-songwriter achieves a nifty balance of intimacy and impeccable polish.
RDGLDGRN
Oct 14, 2016
A striking mix of rock, hip-hop, funk, go-go and Brazilian sounds, fused with energy and humor.
Billy Bragg & Joe Henry
Oct 17, 2016
The two songwriters celebrate the romance and vitality of the modern railroad.
Blind Pilot
Oct 21, 2016
The folk-pop band performs four songs from its shimmery new album, And Then Like Lions.
Drive-By Truckers
Oct 24, 2016
The long-running rock band holds a mirror to the hard realities of America right now.
Joseph
Oct 28, 2016
The trio strips anthemic songs down to the essentials: just sisterly harmonies and acoustic guitar.
The Westerlies
Nov 2, 2016
The self-described "accidental brass quartet" swims comfortably in jazz, classical and pop music.
Ta-ku & Wafia
Nov 7, 2016
The two Australians' chemistry is apparent the instant you hear their voices intertwined in song.
Adam Torres
Nov 11, 2016
The Austin singer-songwriter showcases his high, lonesome voice and atmospheric storytelling.
John Paul White
Nov 14, 2016
Formerly half of The Civil Wars, White returns to perform three songs from his solo debut, Beulah.
Attacca Quartet
Nov 18, 2016
The young quartet navigates smoke rings, alligators and the stormy fluctuations of the 18th century.
Tegan And Sara
Nov 21, 2016
The Canadian pop duo crafts acoustic versions of pop anthems like "Closer and "Boyfriend."
Margo Price
Nov 28, 2016
On the morning after Election Day, Price sang three cathartic country songs loaded with new meaning.
Pinegrove
Dec 2, 2016
Watch the New Jersey band squeeze four songs into a scrappy, warmhearted 13-minute set.
Ro James
Dec 5, 2016
The R&B singer performs three funky, sexy, stripped-down songs from his debut album, Eldorado.
Alsarah & The Nubatones
Dec 9, 2016
In the band's hands, East African music comes alive in a mix of tradition and contemporary sounds.
Gucci Mane
Dec 12, 2016
The rapper has spent the year on an extended victory tour. Here are the spoils.
Derek Gripper
Dec 16, 2016
The classically trained guitarist performs songs originally written for the kora.
The Oh Hellos
Dec 19, 2016
The nine-piece band returns to the Tiny Desk to fill the air with fake snow and real joy.