Studio Sessions

Listen in for a snippet of Sonny Landreth's live cover of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" from his recent tour with Peter Frampton.

Music & Culture

Sonny Landreth Announces A New Album And Shares Stories About Peter Frampton

1:12pm November 20, 2019

The slide guitar maestro announces a new album in his World Cafe session. It's tentatively scheduled for release in February 2020 and includes a song called "Mule."

The Head and the Heart performed live for World Cafe.

Music & Culture

An Audience Q&A Leads To Surprising Answers From The Head and the Heart

12:05pm November 19, 2019

You don't want to ask silly questions, but sometimes a silly or lighthearted question is a great way to learn something about a band. Our audience takes over in this interview.

Pete Townshend originally wrote the songs on The Who's new album for Roger Daltrey as a solo artist. "I wrote them for Roger because I knew that Roger would sing them best," he says.

Pete Townshend On Creativity, 'The Age Of Anxiety' And The Who's New Record

10:10am November 18, 2019

Townshend talks about his debut novel, how it relates to The Who's rock opera, Tommy, and what he'd say now to his younger self – the one who wrote the lyric "I hope I die before I get old."

Tanya Tucker performing live at the AmericanaFest Day Stage presented by NPR Music, WMOT and World Cafe.

Music & Culture

Hear Tanya Tucker Perform Selections From Her First Original Album In 17 Years

7:00am November 12, 2019

by Carina Giamerese

Co-produced by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings, the country legend brings While I'm Livin' to the 20th annual Americana Music Festival.

Robert Randolph performing live at the AmericanaFest Day Stage presented by NPR Music, WMOT and World Cafe.

Music & Culture

Robert Randolph And The Family Band: Raucous Rock Meets The Gospel Tradition

1:33pm November 11, 2019

by Carina Giamerese

Hear a joyous and uplifting set, recorded live at the 20th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference in Nashville.

Noah Gundersen inside the World Cafe Performance Studio

Music & Culture

How Psychedelics Influenced Noah Gundersen's Latest Album, 'Lover'

10:46am November 08, 2019

Psychedelic drugs are just the jumping-off point for our conversation about the songs on Gundersen's rich, exquisitely crafted album.

Jessy Wilson performing live inside the World Cafe Performance Studio.

Music & Culture

Jessy Wilson Finds A Rock Vibe With Patrick Carney

11:47am November 07, 2019

Wilson talks about working with The Black Keys' drummer, her extensive musical background and why she wouldn't want to make music anywhere but Nashville.

Of Monsters And Men performs stripped-down versions of songs from the band's lastest record, Fever Dream, inside the World Cafe Performances studio.

Music & Culture

Of Monsters And Men Adds Synth Flourishes On 'Fever Dream'

11:05am November 05, 2019

The Icelandic band's latest album includes more synthesizers and electronic instruments, including a tiny little keyboard called an OP-1.

Mwenso & the Shakes perform live at WXPN's Free At Noon Concert - recorded live for this World Cafe Session.

Music & Culture

The Infectious Joy Of Mwenso & The Shakes

12:04pm November 04, 2019

Emergence [The Process of Coming Into Being] blends jazz, R&B and spoken word in a live album that feels like a Broadway show.

Jonatha Brooke performing live for World Cafe

Music & Culture

A Taste Of Jonatha Brooke's Favorites

9:00am October 30, 2019

On her latest EP called Imposter, the singer-songwriter cherry-picked the five songs she loved most from what she had written since her last album in 2016.