World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
WXPN's live performance and interview program featuring music and conversation from a variety of important musicians
Episodes
Jordana rekindles an old affair on 'Lively Premonition'
A trained violinist, the Los Angeles-based musician explains why she brought it back for her latest record.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
24/04/25•34m 18s
The Culture Corner: Revisiting Prince's 'Around the World in a Day'
World Cafe correspondent John Morrison looks back on Prince's daring left turn following the success of Purple Rain.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
22/04/25•14m 35s
Acadiana Music Showcase: Good Prblms
The hip-hop collective have made inroads in Lafayette's music scene.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
21/04/25•15m 2s
Noeline Hofmann's debut EP is a vision of Wild Rose Country
The singer-songwriter from Alberta, Canada, performs songs from her debut EP, Purple Gas.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
17/04/25•29m 5s
Momma's latest album chronicles life on the road
The Brooklyn band perform songs from Welcome to My Blue Sky.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
15/04/25•19m 9s
For Yasmin Williams, every pluck of the guitar matters
The 27-year-old guitarist talks about her latest album, Acadia, plus she performs in front of a live audience.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
14/04/25•33m 10s
Don't call it spam. Matt Farley's huge catalog is for the love of the game
The musician has recorded over 25,000 songs about pretty much everything.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
10/04/25•35m 41s
Chuck Prophet takes a crack at cumbia on 'Wake the Dead'
The California musician enlisted cumbia urbana group ¿Qiensave? to record his latest album.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
09/04/25•31m 12s
Tune in to a mini-concert with Gold Connections
Inspired by their move to New Orleans, Fortune is a conversation between the indie rock band's past and present.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
08/04/25•15m 46s
Keith Urban's game-changing love song and more stories from his back catalog
The country star talks about his latest record, High, and he revisits some of his biggest hits.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
04/04/25•38m 7s
Tim Heidecker's latest album is a humble vision of a world 'Slipping Away'
The musician and comedian weaves post-apocalyptic tales involving fatherhood and baseball on his latest studio album.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
02/04/25•30m 1s
Everything Is Recorded explores the softer side of electronica on 'Temporary'
The head of XL Recordings talks about his third studio album as Everything Is Recorded.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
01/04/25•27m 13s
Lucy Dacus explores the full spectrum of love on 'Forever is a Feeling'
The new album from the Virginia singer-songwriter and boygenius member was heavily inspired by classical art.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
28/03/25•21m 19s
Leif Vollebekk on his latest album, 'Revelation'
Plus, the Canadian singer-songwriter performs in front of a live audience in Philadelphia.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
27/03/25•36m 51s
Acadiana Music Showcase: Major Handy
Hear a performance from a fixture in the Louisiana blues and zydeco scene.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
26/03/25•13m 14s
Tamino comes into his own on 'Every Dawn's a Mountain'
The singer-songwriter talks about crafting his third studio album, plus Tamino performs live.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
24/03/25•30m 1s
The Lumineers explore the ups and downs of lifelong friendship on 'Automatic'
The Colorado band performs songs from their latest album, Automatic.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
21/03/25•42m 21s
The Culture Corner: Kendrick Lamar's opus turns 10 years old
World Cafe correspondent John Morrison reflects on the social and political impact of To Pimp a Butterfly.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
18/03/25•13m 49s
Ringo Starr's always been a li'l country
The former Beatles drummer talks about his new star-studded country record, Look Up.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
07/03/25•21m 23s
Tune in to a mini-concert with Been Stellar
The rock band performs songs from their debut album, Scream from New York, NY.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
05/03/25•19m 14s
Celebrating Santigold: A singular voice that helped define the 2000s
Every week for Black History Month, World Cafe correspondent John Morrison is highlighting a different trailblazer and maverick of Black music history.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
26/02/25•14m 7s
Tune into a mini-concert with Pete Yorn
The New Jersey native's latest album is 2024's The Hard Way.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
25/02/25•15m 22s
Saya Gray is constantly in motion
The Toronto native sits down with World Cafe's Raina Douris to talk about her debut, full-length album.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
21/02/25•36m 36s
Yola is in the driver's seat on 'My Way'
The British singer, songwriter and actress talks about asserting more creative control on her latest project, My Way.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
20/02/25•34m 48s
Celebrating Sylvester: The disco icon who defied all expectations
Every week for Black History Month, World Cafe correspondent John Morrison is highlighting a different trailblazer and maverick of Black music history.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
19/02/25•12m 42s
Acadiana Music Showcase: Marc Broussard
The singer-songwriter has been a force of Southwest Louisiana music for more than two decades now.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
18/02/25•11m 25s
Carter Vail on his latest album, '100 Cowboys'
The musician's record harkens back to his time as a producer in Nashville.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
17/02/25•29m 58s
For Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, every new song penned feels like a rarity
The Bright Eyes frontman talks about the making of the band's latest album, Five Dice, All Threes, and Bright Eyes performs live.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
14/02/25•38m 38s
Tune in to a mini-concert with Sammy Rae & The Friends
The band has been a staple of New York City's live music scene for almost a decade.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
13/02/25•23m 17s
Celebrating Betty Davis: The funk vanguard who was 'punk before punk'
Every week for Black History Month, World Cafe correspondent John Morrison is highlighting a different trailblazer and maverick of Black music history.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
12/02/25•8m 46s
With a new EP on the way, Charles Wesley Godwin charts his journey so far
Plus, the West Virginia musician performs a song from his upcoming project, Lonely Mountain Town, for the first time.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
10/02/25•40m 21s
Celebrating Sun Ra: The cosmic visionary who transformed jazz music
Every week for Black History Month, World Cafe correspondent John Morrison is highlighting a different maverick of Black music history.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
05/02/25•16m 16s
Lucinda Williams takes on The Beatles in her latest jukebox entry
Williams is the only artist to record Beatles songs at Abbey Road studios in London, other than the band itself.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
04/02/25•17m 10s
Conner Youngblood's latest album spans multiple cities and languages
The polyglot musician talks about writing and recording Cascades, Cascading, Cascadingly.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
04/02/25•22m 33s
Sense of Place: For this Afghan pianist, music is an act of resistance
Arson Fahim remembers leaving for Boston to study music just days before the Taliban took over Afghanistan.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
31/01/25•19m 15s
Sense of Place: This student-driven Boston label puts artists first
Northeastern University's Green Line Records focuses on emerging artists.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
29/01/25•11m 39s
Sense of Place: This Berklee group shines a light on musicians with disabilities
Professor Adrian Anantawan co-founded the Music Inclusion Ensemble at the Boston college.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
27/01/25•10m 2s
'Lose Control' was only the beginning for Teddy Swims
The singer topped the charts in 2024 with the song from his debut album. He's expanding his sound on his follow-up, I've Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2).Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
24/01/25•28m 43s
Sense of Place: WUMB's Albert O picks his quintessential Boston tracks
We asked the afternoon drive host at WUMB Radio to pick five songs that he thinks define Boston.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
24/01/25•11m 31s
Sense of Place: Meet the man soundtracking game day at Fenway Park
Josh Kantor has been the organist at Fenway Park since 2003.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
24/01/25•6m 53s
Sense of Place: This Boston jazz club has thrived in Boston for nearly 80 years
Wally's Cafe Jazz Club has been owned and operated by the same family since it opened in 1947.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
23/01/25•9m 41s
Sense of Place: This Harvard Square club is a longtime haven for folk musicians
Since 1958, Club Passim has hosted a plethora of folk legends like Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and many more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
21/01/25•11m 39s