NPR Tiny Desk Concerts poster

NPR Tiny Desk Concerts

TV Show 2008 7.0/10 1786 episodes

Synopsis

Intimate musical performances, recorded live at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen.

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Season 2010 Episodes

Episode 1 EP 1
The Mountain Goats

In a solo show at NPR Music, John Darnielle's twitchy energy serves his fearless songwriting well.

Episode 2 EP 2
Adam Arcuragi

In a performance at NPR, the talented singer's voice is powerful without unnecessary melodrama.

Episode 3 EP 3
The Low Anthem

The band's sullen, spacious music was a perfect fit for the intimacy of the NPR Music offices.

Episode 4 EP 4
Brooklyn Rider

The string quartet showcases a small sample of its visceral fire at the offices of NPR Music.

Episode 5 EP 5
Dave Rawlings Machine With Gillian Welch

A longtime session guitarist, Rawlings takes the lead, playing his own music at NPR Music's offices.

Episode 6 EP 6
Edmar Castaneda

The harpist crafts a transporting mix of tradition and improvisation in this desk-side performance.

Episode 7 EP 7
Abaji

With roots in Greece, Turkey, Armenia and France, Abaji has a passion for music from many countries.

Episode 8 EP 8
Alec Ounsworth

The singer-songwriter performs music from Mo' Beauty, accompanied only by two guitars.

Episode 9 EP 9
Laura Veirs

The singer treated the NPR Music offices to three songs that invited us into her warm musical world.

Episode 10 EP 10
Omara Portuondo

The Cuban singer performs two boleros, which transport the listener to another time and place.

Episode 11 EP 11
The Antlers

The Brooklyn-based trio strips down its wall of noise for an intimate performance at NPR Music.

Episode 12 EP 12
Wye Oak

The talented Baltimore duo didn't have to travel far to liven up a day at the NPR Music offices.

Episode 13 EP 13
Jakob Dylan

Jakob Dylan, Neko Case and Kelly Hogan perform a mesmerizing set at the Tiny Desk.

Episode 14 EP 14
Regina Carter

The violinist plays traditional African melodies, re-imagined through her own jazz sensibilities.

Episode 15 EP 15
David Russell

The classical guitarist showcases his warm, lyrical tone in three staples of the repertoire.

Episode 16 EP 16
Lionel Loueke

The unusual jazz guitarist and his drummer perform at the NPR offices, literally with bells on.

Episode 17 EP 17
Fredrik

Fredrik's lush harmonies are stripped to guitar, snare drum and maraca in this intimate performance.

Episode 18 EP 18
Moby And Kelli Scarr

Moby gives a live performance of his Project Song creation, "Gone to Sleep," at NPR's offices.

Episode 19 EP 19
Tarrus Riley

The singer performs three harmony-drenched reggae songs with Dean Fraser and a guitarist.

Episode 20 EP 20
Phoenix

Hear instantly recognizable hits such as "1901" and "Lisztomania," stripped down and reassembled.

Episode 21 EP 21
Bettye LaVette

The veteran soul singer blew into the NPR Music office and conquered it before she'd sung a note.

Episode 22 EP 22
Roger McGuinn With Amy Tan, Dave Barry And More: Authors At The Tiny Desk

Seven authors (Roy Blount Jr., Scott Turow and others) perform with a big-time ringer.

Episode 23 EP 23
Zuill Bailey

Hear the acclaimed musician play Bach on his amazingly resonant cello, built in 1693.

Episode 24 EP 24
The Mynabirds

Laura Burhenn's new band performs a soulful Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR Music offices.

Episode 25 EP 25
'Weird Al' Yankovic

The venerable, multimillion-selling pop parodist plays three acoustic originals in the NPR offices.

Episode 26 EP 26
Gogol Bordello

The frenetic gypsy punk band performs the most rollicking and insane Tiny Desk Concert of all time.

Episode 27 EP 27
Los Campesinos!

The whip-smart sometimes bawdy U.K. band performs a clamorous ruckus in this Tiny Desk Concert.

Episode 28 EP 28
Jimmy Cliff

The reggae icon performs classics from the film The Harder They Come in this acoustic performance.

Episode 29 EP 29
Villagers

Villagers' Conor O'Brien performs a beautiful and memorable solo set in the NPR Music offices.

Episode 30 EP 30
Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Zakir Hussain

The three demonstrate the way musical mastery can become an exercise in wordless communication.

Episode 31 EP 31
The Holmes Brothers

Hear the band play inspired soul from its latest album, Feed My Soul, at the NPR Music offices.

Episode 32 EP 32
Mavis Staples

The soul icon performs songs from her latest album, You Are Not Alone, at the NPR Music offices.

Episode 33 EP 33
Frazey Ford

The singer came to NPR Music with just her guitar to play four beautiful tunes from Obadiah.

Episode 34 EP 34
Peter Wolf Crier

The Minneapolis duo performs songs from its stormy debut album, Inter-Be.

Episode 35 EP 35
Lawrence Arabia

The New Zealand band plays four songs from its album Chant Darling at the NPR Music offices.

Episode 36 EP 36
Brian Courtney Wilson

The gospel singer sounds like somebody you know — somebody you know with stage presence for days.

Episode 37 EP 37
Ana Tijoux

With these intimate songs, the French-born Chilean rapper proves that hip-hop has no boundaries.

Episode 38 EP 38
The Nels Cline Singers

The ever-adaptable guitarist creates challenging and expressive music in the NPR Music offices.

Episode 39 EP 39
Seu Jorge

The singer and his band feed off the audience's live energy in a concert at the NPR Music offices.

Episode 40 EP 40
Alisa Weilerstein

The young cellist plays Bach with elegance and a new piece by Golijov with Technicolor brilliance.

Episode 41 EP 41
Eef Barzelay Of Clem Snide

Barzelay, maybe the most underrated songwriter in the business, performs at the NPR Music offices.

Episode 42 EP 42
Lost In The Trees

The band showcases its cinematic blend of storytelling and strings at the NPR Music offices.

Episode 43 EP 43
Tom Tom Club

The legendary group performs its pop hits in a rare acoustic set at the NPR Music offices.

Episode 44 EP 44
Lower Dens

Watch Jana Hunter bring her delicate, haunting voice and hypnotic sound to the Tiny Desk.

Episode 45 EP 45
Hey Marseilles

It doesn't take more than four minutes to fall in love with this utterly charming seven-piece band.

Episode 46 EP 46
Stile Antico

The 12-person ensemble performs from the NPR Music offices.

Episode 47 EP 47
Nick Lowe

At 61, Lowe is part crooner, part country and a little crotchety, but with a heart of pure pop.

Episode 48 EP 48
Rana Santacruz

In honor of the Day of the Dead, Santacruz performs at the NPR offices in traditional mariachi garb.

Episode 49 EP 49
Black Dub

In an intimate four-song set, Daniel Lanois and Trixie Whitley sound warm, vulnerable and ferocious.

Episode 50 EP 50
Los Lobos

This set from the NPR Music office has something new, something old and something to dance to.

Episode 51 EP 51
Sharon Van Etten

In this lovely Tiny Desk performance, Van Etten plays beguiling songs from her latest album, Epic.

Episode 52 EP 52
The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger

Watch Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl perform songs from Acoustic Sessions in the NPR offices.

Episode 53 EP 53
Olof Arnalds

Watch the Icelandic singer perform a lovely, folk-flavored set from the NPR Music offices.

Episode 54 EP 54
Khaira Arby

Watch Mali's queen of desert rock unveil her stunning vocal chops at the NPR Music offices.

Episode 55 EP 55
Buke And Gass

Watch the inventive and unpredictable duo play a joyfully pummeling set from the NPR Music offices.

Episode 56 EP 56
Yolanda Kondonassis

Watch the harpist give a powerful and intimate performance at the NPR Music offices.

Episode 57 EP 57
The Red River

Watch the 10-member band squeeze behind the Tiny Desk for an elegant, stripped-down performance.

Episode 58 EP 58
The Heligoats

What better way to celebrate our 100th Tiny Desk Concert than by discovering an artist worth loving?

Episode 59 EP 59
Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O

Though heavy on puns, the extraordinary jazz drummer's merry band isn't light on musicianship.

Episode 60 EP 60
Luisa Maita

The Brazilian singer floats and sprinkles notes onto just the right places at the NPR Music offices.

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