Season 2014

2014-01-04

The musician unpacks an array of traditional Vietnamese instruments — and 1,000 years of culture.

2014-01-07

The teenagers play a restrained, homespun mix of folk and pop with undeniably sweet harmonies.

2014-01-13

The Howard University vocal jazz ensemble performs beautiful African-American spirituals.

2014-01-20

Members of the Grammy-winning, organic R&B Experiment band jam with singer Marsha Ambrosius.

2014-01-27

The expressive, powerful singer previews songs from her new album, Burn Your Fire for No Witness.

2014-02-03

Hear the legendary band perform 1989's "Monkey Gone to Heaven" and two new songs — one unreleased.

2014-02-08

The joyous Balkan brass band plays at a pace that would make the Ramones burst into a sweat.

2014-02-10

The inventive folk-music veteran book-ends a four-song set with her hits "Luka" and "Tom's Diner."

2014-02-18

The Welsh singer's set conveys loneliness and doubt with just two guitars and an inviting whisper.

2014-02-22

For about 20 minutes one sunny afternoon, Rei turned a desk into a small Latin American folk club.

2014-02-24

See the band re-create some of its stellar studio effects with a pedal steel and some novelty mics.

2014-03-02

Avidan has an album and no U.S. record label to put it out. But he's on a solo tour that's stunning.

2014-03-06

It's hard to convey the sound of two people in love, but Lowland Hum does that effortlessly.

2014-03-10

Watch the 20-year-old English singer-songwriter, who has worked with superproducer Rick Rubin.

2014-03-17

On record, Cluck's elastic voice and fingerpicking are impressive. Live, they jam the senses.

2014-03-24

All the world's top opera houses want the young tenor with the old-school approach.

2014-03-31

When the sisters cover classic country music together, the result is a treat and a trip in time.

2014-04-07

Singer-songwriters Aimee Mann and Ted Leo unite from opposite ends of the volume knob.

2014-04-12

The North Dakota singer-songwriter possesses one of the most arresting voices in folk music today.

2014-04-14

Barnett tells stories like your best friend, provided your best friend is a funny Australian poet.

2014-04-19

A young Pakistani musician treats the guitar as percussion — with surprisingly shimmering results.

2014-04-21

The Argentine singer uses his dark, husky voice to produce a specific effect in these three songs.

2014-04-26

Interweaving harmonies and guitar lines set the tone for these soft, benevolent, dreamy songs.

2014-04-28

Impossibly telegenic and charming, the band mixes booming intensity with polish and sparkle.

2014-05-03

The Dublin guitarist runs through a ragtime jaunt, a basement-bar choogle and a sad-sack closer.

2014-05-05

The duo's sample-laden instrumental music is entertainment as education for the head and feet alike.

2014-05-10

See the swamp-folk band play a characteristically eerie and mysterious set in the NPR Music offices.

2014-05-12

The Scottish synth-pop band turns up with a small arsenal of synthesizers to perform three songs.

2014-05-17

See the countertenor and lutenist Thomas Dunford perform John Dowland's melancholy songs.

2014-05-20

The band makes the kind of music that can at least briefly restore your faith in humanity.

2014-05-24

The Lebanese singer-songwriter is one of the most groundbreaking musicians in the Middle East.

2014-05-27 · 15m

Andrew Hozier-Byrne wraps his rich, vital, soulful voice around songs rooted in the blues.

2014-05-31

Molina sounds as if she'd been raised by wolves and discovered the world of music on her own.

2014-06-02

Watch the celebrated pianist make Bach's Two-part Inventions sing and zing.

2014-06-07

A quirky and wistful performer with a string section, McLaughlin makes music like few others.

2014-06-14

A classical virtuoso and an equally captivating flamenco player combine for a set of duets.

2014-06-16

The country singer-songwriter performs with the ease and swagger of a man comfortable in his ways.

2014-06-21

The singer-songwriter and musician performs with unabashed positivity and an uplifting spirit.

2014-06-23

The Bright Eyes singer performs songs from Upside Down Mountain with help from members of Dawes.

2014-06-28

See the innovative player create waves of sound with a six-string violin.

2014-07-01

The 23-year-old singer-guitarist performs gritty, countrified blues-rock in the NPR Music offices.

2014-07-05

Watch the Tiny Desk turn into a church, comedy club and neo-soul spot.

2014-07-07

They call what they make "cave music" — but it's just as powerful at the Tiny Desk.

2014-07-13

Grant's songs don't mess around, with lyrics that function as darts of retort and thought.

2014-07-14

The singer has a magnificent way with phrasing, not to mention a remarkable country-music lineage.

2014-07-19

The guitarist kicks up some dirt with a Rev. Gary Davis deconstruction and a Stratocaster hoedown.

2014-07-21

In this three-song set, the Walkmen singer demonstrates that he's lost none of his vocal power.

2014-07-25

Watch an atmospheric Norwegian band with a yearning sound. Also: See a flugabone!

2014-07-29

In the NPR offices, the Ohio band plays three alternately brooding and stomping songs from Dark Arc.

2014-08-02

The veteran East L.A. band's music penetrates the intellect even as it makes your hips sway.

2014-08-04

The band's seven players are trained in classical and jazz, led by Liam McCormick's powerful voice.

2014-08-09

With Carolyn Cardoza, Diaz conjures a place where emotions run deep and beauty is unmistakable.

2014-08-11

The former Hüsker Dü and Sugar frontman plugs in for a characteristically loud four-song set.

2014-08-16

Watch a talented, charming guitar legend make magic as his band Avila holds down the beat.

2014-08-18

Watch the group play selections from Shostakovich's cycle of introspective string quartets.

2014-08-23

A veteran of Little Joy and Los Hermanos, Amarante makes warm, tender music as a solo artist.

2014-08-26

The band was made to sing and play around one microphone, so a Tiny Desk Concert seemed inevitable.

2014-08-30 · 15m

The Kentucky native writes country songs about loneliness, failed dreams, drinking and drugs.

2014-09-03

Known for the speed of their playing, the Minnesotans are about more than just blistering bluegrass.

2014-09-06

Mayfield's music has gotten more beguiling as she explores the many contrasts in her hypnotic sound.

2014-09-08

In advance of his new album Single Mothers, the singer performs two new songs and an old favorite.

2014-09-15

Graceful singing and storytelling meet guitars and textures that help create an unforgettable aura.

2014-09-22

With his drummer son Spencer, Wilco's Jeff Tweedy performs songs from their new album, Sukierae.

2014-09-29

The 10-piece salsa band built its career on dance floors, where it never fails to make people move.

2014-10-04

The trombonist's working band established some nifty swing, assisted in absentia by Sufjan Stevens.

2014-10-06

Browne still writes songs with conviction, craftsmanship and careful attention to detail.

2014-10-11

Sofia has spent most of her career 20 feet from stardom as a backup singer for Juanes and Shakira.

2014-10-14

The band plays with a great rock-duo punch that recalls The White Stripes or JEFF The Brotherhood.

2014-10-18

The Icelandic singer's voice is angelic and yearning, his songs simple and universal.

2014-10-20

D'Amato's music can feel Motown-y, garage-y and Springsteen-y, but he sounds sparer here.

2014-10-25

Watch the young, versatile ensemble play folk music from around Denmark and beyond.

2014-10-29

We asked the King of Auto-Tune to grace the Tiny Desk without any embellishment or effects.

2014-10-30

Known for lavish electronic productions, Banks serves notice as a powerful singer in her own right.

2014-10-31

With costumes inspired by Egyptian symbolism and sci-fi, Ra's band plays a special Halloween set.

2014-11-08

A rousing band from Kansas City, Making Movies mixes languages and eras with infectious energy.

2014-11-10

Watch the group sing new music with yelps, yodels and a few fine harmonies.

2014-11-15

The Austin singer-songwriter joins his stunning voice with that of touring partner Gaby Moreno.

2014-11-22

The Dinosaur Jr. frontman, one of the world's loudest musicians, performs unplugged and acoustic.

2014-11-24

Benatar and Giraldo play three classics: "We Live For Love," "We Belong" and "Promises In The Dark."

2014-12-01

Amidon weaves his compositions into traditional music, while Frisell adds atmospheric guitar.

2014-12-04

Hear the Irish ensemble's fresh take on Philip Glass' propulsive yet intimate string quartets.

2014-12-06

The band's got heart and soul and flair, with a well-worn sound buoyed by strong, fresh songwriting.

2014-12-09

The singer performs two new songs, as well as "The First Cut Is the Deepest" and "Father and Son."

2014-12-20

She came to the desk a little unsure, and left singing "West Memphis" with intensity and passion.

2014-12-24

Watch our favorite hamsters play their twee-as-all-get-out holiday pop-punk song, "Snow Day."