Music & Culture

The Colombian band Tribu Baharú is scheduled to perform at this month's SXSW music festival.

Music & Culture

To Austin, With Love: Previewing The Songs Of SXSW

2:29pm March 05, 2017

by Stephen Thompson

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson plays highlights from The Austin 100, a downloadable mix of SXSW discoveries that includes Tribu Baharú, Jealous Of The Birds, Manu Delago, Tunde Olaniran and Weaves.

Father John Misty opened his performance on Saturday Night Live with "Total Entertainment Forever."

Music & Culture

Father John Misty Questions Virtual Reality And Religion On 'Saturday Night Live'

11:02am March 05, 2017

by Otis Hart

The troubadour provocateur performed two songs from his upcoming album, Pure Comedy.

Tennis is the duo of Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore; their latest album is called Yours Conditionally.

Music & Culture

Tennis Thrives In Isolation On 'Yours Conditionally'

8:03am March 05, 2017

by NPR Staff

To write its latest album, the husband-and-wife musical duo returned to a songwriting environment that had proven fruitful for them in the past: the middle of the ocean.

Music & Culture

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

8:03am March 05, 2017

Hear the latest from Chicago rapper Taylor Bennett, West Virginia rock 'n' roller William Matheny, Seattle producer Lusine and more in this month's mix.

Bruce Springsteen performs at Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey in August 1984, the same year his hit "Glory Days" was released. It was an anthem for a generation looking back at the good, old days.

White Nostalgia Didn't Start With Trump — Just Look At Classic Rock

7:00am March 05, 2017

by Domenico Montanaro

The president brought up reviving dying industries and making America great again during his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. But the message is a generation old with roots in music.

Gary Lucas Uses Film Music 'To Shed Light On Obscure Corners Of Culture'

5:01pm March 04, 2017

by Rick Karr

Gary Lucas, known for playing with the late Captain Beefheart and as the late Jeff Buckley's songwriting partner, built reputation with film music. His latest is for an early Orson Welles comedy.

"Strong Swimmer" is a song from Shelby Earl's latest album, The Man Who Made Himself a Name.

Music & Culture

Shelby Earl Explains 'Strong Swimmer,' An Ode To Trauma And Recovery

7:41am March 04, 2017

by NPR Staff

Earl conceived the song to be about herself getting over a relationship. Then, she realized someone in her life was swimming against an even stronger emotional current.

Will (left) and Brooke Blair composed the music for I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore, the directorial debut of their older brother Macon.

After 'Green Room' and 'Blue Ruin,' The Brothers Blair Keep Film Music In The Family

7:41am March 04, 2017

by Tim Greiving

Composers Brooke and Will Blair got some notice last year for their music for the cult hit Green Room, starring their brother Macon. Now they're scoring his directorial debut.

Pianist Ahmad Jamal performs on this week's Piano Jazz.

Music & Culture

Ahmad Jamal On Piano Jazz

7:09pm March 03, 2017

One of the most popular stylists in contemporary jazz, the pianist joined Marian McPartland for a 1985 session.

A crowd in line at the 2015 SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas.

Music & Culture

How A Contract Clause Led To A Fight Between Musicians And Austin's Biggest Event

5:51pm March 03, 2017

A clash between SXSW and artists over legal language regarding international musicians at the festival boils down to fine print and big ideas.

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