MyEpisodeCalendar.com - NPR Tiny Desk Concerts Episode Summaries

Summary: The saxophonist is a big thinker whose mesmerizing compositions chronicle the music of his native Puerto Rico with the help of an adventurous jazz quartet.

Episode 2: Buddy

Air Date: January 9th, 2019

Summary: The preacher's son from Compton brought his flair for the dramatic, and an air of rebellion, to the Tiny Desk.

Episode 3: Carolina Eyck and Clarice Jensen

Air Date: January 11st, 2019

Summary: Carolina Eyck, the first artist to bring a theremin to the Tiny Desk, plays the air with the kind of lyrical phrasing and "fingered" articulation that takes a special kind of virtuosity.

Episode 4: Aaron Lee Tasjan

Air Date: January 15th, 2019

Summary: Aaron Lee Tasjan arrived in an ascot and mustard-colored shirt, sporting red, round sunglasses and mutton chops. It was a fashionable nod to the psych-pop and rock sound he brought to the Tiny Desk.

Episode 5: Nate Wood - fOUR

Air Date: January 16th, 2019

Summary: The multi-instrumentalist says he only wishes he had more limbs; but Wood still manages to simultaneously play a bass guitar, keys and drums, all while singing into a wearable microphone.

Episode 6: Stella Donnelly

Air Date: January 22nd, 2019

Summary: Watch the Australian singer-songwriter perform three new songs from her upcoming full-length debut, Beware of the Dogs.

Episode 7: Blood Orange

Air Date: January 29th, 2019

Summary: This Blood Orange Tiny Desk is a beautifully conceived concert showing off the craft and care that has made Devonté Hynes a groundbreaking producer and songwriter.

Episode 8: Cat Power

Air Date: February 4th, 2019

Summary: Chan Marshall and her band perform a brisk and beautifully orchestrated medley of Cat Power songs: "Wanderer," "Woman" and 2006's "The Moon."

Episode 9: Kurt Vile

Air Date: February 6th, 2019

Summary: Kurt Vile and his musical mate, Rob Laakso casually lose themselves in complex guitar lines that are effortlessly beautiful and lyrical.

Episode 10: Lau Noah

Air Date: February 11st, 2019

Summary: There's a magical aura that surrounds Lau Noah as she sits behind the Tiny Desk and unspools thought-provoking story-songs.

Episode 11: Mountain Man

Air Date: February 13rd, 2019

Summary: The voices of Amelia Meath, Molly Erin Sarlé and Alexandra Sauser-Monnig come together behind the Tiny Desk, with songs that conjure a simpler life: dogs, friends, moonlight or skinny dipping.

Episode 12: Scott Mulvahill

Air Date: February 18th, 2019

Summary: Scott Mulvahill has been trying to win the Tiny Desk Contest for each of its four years. And while he's never won, we all loved him so much we had to invite him to play.

Episode 13: The Pedrito Martinez Group

Air Date: February 20th, 2019

Summary: The Afro-Cuban percussionist mesmerizes with his almost otherworldly talent on congas.

Episode 14: Natalie Prass

Air Date: February 25th, 2019

Summary: Decked out in matching, cobalt blue outfits, the singer and her band had a clear vision: If you want to overcome the times, find strength in numbers.

Episode 15: Zaytoven

Air Date: February 28th, 2019

Summary: The Atlanta trap super-producer and son of a preacher man saved the day with a soulful Tiny Desk.

Episode 16: Phony Ppl

Air Date: March 4th, 2019

Summary: The Brooklynites stand out for their inventive and seamless blend of jazz, R&B and hip-hop.

Episode 17: Meg Myers

Air Date: March 6th, 2019

Summary: Myers replaces her album's roaring electric guitars and electronics with a pulsing string quartet, piano and brushed drums — and uncorks a cover of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill."

Episode 18: Leikeli47

Air Date: March 11st, 2019

Summary: The artist came to the Tiny Desk masked up, as always, the better to catch a glimpse of her soul.

Episode 19: Kaia Kater

Air Date: March 13rd, 2019

Summary: Multi-hyphenate artist Kaia Kater uses the architecture of roots music, which she studied in West Virginia, to establish a simultaneous dialogue with both the present moment and her own past.

Episode 20: Nao

Air Date: March 18th, 2019

Summary: The U.K.-based singer-songwriter takes the Tiny Desk on a cosmic journey through her Saturn return.

Episode 21: Alejandro Escovedo

Air Date: March 20th, 2019

Summary: The veteran rocker and a backup band from Italy play songs from their album The Crossing, chronicling an American Dream of rock and roll and Beat poetry.

Episode 22: &More (Chill Moody & Donn T)

Air Date: March 25th, 2019

Summary: Philadelphia Rapper Chill Moody and singer Donn T, along with their crew known as &More, were one of the standout entrants in last year's Tiny Desk Contest. They bring a message of hope and love.

Episode 23: Andrea Cruz

Air Date: March 27th, 2019

Summary: The singer from Puerto Rico is part of a movement on the island that emphasizes largely acoustic instruments and a folk-based approach to interpreting life before and after the hurricane of 2017.

Episode 24: Weezer

Air Date: April 1st, 2019

Summary: Performing unplugged, the band forgoes its usual meticulousness in favor of a shaggy, entirely acoustic mix of new songs and '90s-era deep cuts.

Episode 25: Courtney Marie Andrews

Air Date: April 3rd, 2019

Summary: It was a day when sunlight drenched the office and the songs of heart from Courtney Marie Andrews felt right at home.

Episode 26: Georgia Anne Muldrow

Air Date: April 8th, 2019

Summary: The R&B singer from Los Angeles is all about showing and spreading love.

Episode 27: Karine Polwart Trio

Air Date: April 10th, 2019

Summary: Scottish singer, songwriter and essayist Karine Polwart seldom comes stateside, eschewing air travel to reduce her carbon footprint. But on a rare, recent visit, she stopped in D.C. for a Tiny Desk.

Episode 28: Gary Clark Jr.

Air Date: April 16th, 2019

Summary: These three songs, from Clark's incendiary new album This Land, roar with the assurance and force of a showman at the top of his game.

Episode 29: Theodore

Air Date: April 17th, 2019

Summary: The music of Theodore is dark and transformative, with the kind of spare elegance you can hear in Sigur Rós or Pink Floyd.

Episode 30: The Calidore String Quartet

Air Date: April 22nd, 2019

Summary: The Calidore String Quartet confirms that the centuries-old formula — two violins, a viola and a cello — is still very much alive and evolving.

Episode 31: Better Oblivion Community Center

Air Date: April 24th, 2019

Summary: Tiny Desk alums Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers surprised us all with their stunning collaboration this year as Better Oblivion Community Center. Together they radiate joy at the desk.

Episode 32: Toro Y Moi

Air Date: April 29th, 2019

Summary: Toro y Moi loses the voice processing, synths and other heavy effects for a stripped-down acoustic set at the Tiny Desk.

Episode 33: Laraaji

Air Date: May 2nd, 2019

Summary: Laraaji is best known to some for his ambient work with Brian Eno in the late '70s. He brings his meditative calm to the Tiny Desk in this hypnotic performance.

Episode 34: Thou

Air Date: May 6th, 2019

Summary: This is probably the quietest you'll ever hear the first metal band to play the Tiny Desk.

Episode 35: Ohmme

Air Date: May 9th, 2019

Summary: These classically trained artists fill the NPR Music offices with shrieking, rhythmic noise that redefines what an electric guitar can do.

Episode 36: Magos Herrera and Brooklyn Rider

Air Date: May 15th, 2019

Summary: Watch what happens when the smoky-voiced jazz singer from Mexico conspires with an adventuresome string quartet for songs steeped in Latin American traditions.

Episode 37: Ensemble Signal Plays Jonny Greenwood

Air Date: May 20th, 2019

Summary: Watch members of the New York-based group give the world premiere video performances of two recent pieces by Radiohead guitarist and composer Jonny Greenwood.

Episode 38: Jeremy Dutcher

Air Date: May 22nd, 2019

Summary: There is no one making music like this 27-year-old, classically trained opera tenor and pianist. Watch and see why.

Episode 39: Lucky Daye

Air Date: May 28th, 2019

Summary: Hailing from New Orleans with a love of sticky, bass-bumping funk, Lucky brought along a 10-person band, including a quartet of horns, to capture the full flavor of his debut album Painted.

Episode 40: LADAMA

Air Date: May 30th, 2019

Summary: The group unites sounds from Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, with a dash of New York City thrown in.

Episode 41: Quinn Christopherson

Air Date: June 3rd, 2019

Summary: Quinn and his musical partner, guitarist and singer Nick Carpenter, arrived from the cool of Anchorage to the swelter of D.C. and performed with remarkable confidence and grace.

Episode 42: Tomberlin

Air Date: June 6th, 2019

Summary: Tomberlin is the daughter of a Baptist pastor, grew up singing in the church and, since her teens, has questioned her own beliefs in God and faith. Her songs are delicate and vulnerable.

Episode 43: Sesame Street

Air Date: June 10th, 2019

Summary: Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Elmo, Grover, Rosita, Count von Count, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster and other surprise guests gather at NPR's headquarters to celebrate 50 years of love, learning and joy.

Episode 44: Foxing

Air Date: June 12nd, 2019

Summary: Foxing is at the forefront of an emo revival, heavily influenced by late-'90s and early 2000s groups like Sunny Day Real Estate and American Football.

Episode 45: IDLES

Air Date: June 18th, 2019

Summary: The British madmen brought fury, cathartic rage and deep thoughts to the Tiny Desk for one of the loudest, most raucous performances in memory.

Episode 46: Imogen Heap

Air Date: June 20th, 2019

Summary: Imogen Heap takes us through her many musical talents, from her Frou Frou musical partner, Guy Sigsworth — and their first new song in 17 years — to an extraordinary performance with musical gloves.

Episode 47: Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Air Date: June 24th, 2019

Summary: Tasha Cobbs Leonard is widely regarded as one of the best gospel singers performing today. Her set at the Tiny Desk moved many at the NPR offices to tears.

Episode 48: Betty Who

Air Date: June 26th, 2019

Summary: Betty Who brings Roséwave, sun's-out pop to the Tiny Desk with all the usual studio production stripped away.

Episode 49: Be More Chill

Air Date: July 1st, 2019

Summary: On Broadway, Be More Chill is a playful burst of frenetic energy and silly, stealthy sweetness. At the Tiny Desk, it holds onto that rowdy, generous spirit while stripping down the arrangements.

Episode 50: Saint Sister

Air Date: July 3rd, 2019

Summary: The group from Ireland makes music that mixes the organic with the electronic, starting with a large, 34-string lever harp.

Episode 51: Miya Folick

Air Date: July 5th, 2019

Summary: Miya Folick was raised a Buddhist in Santa Ana, Calif., and is of Ukrainian and Japanese descent. She sings of conviction, not fiction.

Episode 52: American Football

Air Date: July 8th, 2019

Summary: Who would've thought that American Football's fruitful reunion would not only include some of the emo band's best songs, but also a children's choir at the Tiny Desk?

Episode 53: Sting And Shaggy

Air Date: July 10th, 2019

Summary: The two musical legends brought plenty of joy to the Tiny Desk, with an unexpected collaboration that works surprisingly well.

Episode 54: Erin Rae

Air Date: July 12nd, 2019

Summary: Every time she performs live, Erin Rae transforms her quiet storms into different hues of squalling introspection.

Episode 55: Priests

Air Date: July 19th, 2019

Summary: The punk-infused art band from Washington, D.C. brings a kinder, gentler and sparer version of the group's music to the Tiny Desk.

Episode 56: Jacob Collier

Air Date: July 22nd, 2019

Summary: As the NPR staff gathered to watch his performance, Jacob Collier sprinted full bore down the hallway for his set, hardly able to contain his creative energy or enthusiasm.

Episode 57: Masego

Air Date: July 24th, 2019

Summary: The spirit of Cab Calloway lives on in Masego, the singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist who surprised NPR's Tiny Desk audience with a zany sense of showmanship.

Episode 58: Tamino

Air Date: July 26th, 2019

Summary: Tamino possesses one of the most remarkable and memorable voices to ever grace the Tiny Desk.

Episode 59: Lizzo

Air Date: July 29th, 2019

Summary: Backed by a band assembled just for this occasion, the breakthrough pop icon performs three joyfully showy songs from Cuz I Love You.

Episode 60: Calexico And Iron & Wine

Air Date: August 1st, 2019

Summary: The two bands just released Years to Burn, their first album together since 2005. Now, they've performed three songs — two new, one old — for Calexico's Tiny Desk debut.

Episode 61: iLe

Air Date: August 3rd, 2019

Summary: The Calle 13 veteran, fresh off her appearance at demonstrations in Puerto Rico, performs three songs that rage with revolutionary intensity.

Episode 62: Bas

Air Date: August 5th, 2019

Summary: Bas came to the Tiny Desk to get it, and — in a breathless four-song set — he did exactly that.

Episode 63: David Crosby & The Lighthouse Band

Air Date: August 7th, 2019

Summary: David Crosby, Becca Stevens, Michelle Willis and Michael League are The Lighthouse Band, and together they harmonized the heck out of the Tiny Desk.

Episode 64: Among Authors

Air Date: August 9th, 2019

Summary: Among Authors' music isn't casual; there are songs within these songs, and they're not always catchy. They'll take you on a journey worth following.

Episode 65: half•alive

Air Date: August 12nd, 2019

Summary: How does half•alive, known for funky earworms and synchronized dancing, translate to such a cozy space? Have the dancers sit.

Episode 66: Kian Soltani

Air Date: August 16th, 2019

Summary: Watch a young cellist on the rise, offering music of virtuosity, sweet lyricism and a little fire from his Persian roots.

Episode 67: Tobe Nwigwe

Air Date: August 19th, 2019

Summary: The Houston-based rapper's mindful words are like a life hack for anyone seeking guidance, with pleas to look past inherent hardships and evil and to stay focused on life's ultimate prizes.

Episode 68: Nicole Bus

Air Date: August 21st, 2019

Summary: Nicole Bus' sound is reminiscent of vintage R&B, yet still feels current and capable of transcending age and demographics.

Episode 69: Mandolin Orange

Air Date: August 23rd, 2019

Summary: Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz made everything seem so easy, with just a few acoustic instruments and a single microphone behind the Tiny Desk, performing songs full of joy and thoughtfulness.

Episode 70: 47SOUL

Air Date: August 26th, 2019

Summary: 47SOUL's message of equality is meant for the world. It's music without borders, mixing old and new, acoustic and electronic from a band formed in Amman Jordan, singing in Arabic and English.

Episode 71: Dan Tepfer

Air Date: August 29th, 2019

Summary: The pianist and programmer has transformed the acoustic piano into his duet partner.

Episode 72: The-Dream

Air Date: August 30th, 2019

Summary: The singer and mega-hit songwriter showcases three of his own tracks, including "I Luv Your Girl" and two songs from Ménage à Trois: Sextape Vol. 1, 2, 3.

Episode 73: A-WA

Air Date: September 3rd, 2019

Summary: The three Israeli sisters in A-WA mix Yemenite and Arabic traditions with splashes of reggae and hip-hop.

Episode 74: The Tallest Man On Earth (2019)

Air Date: September 6th, 2019

Summary: The Tallest Man On Earth's second appearance at the Tiny Desk comes almost 10 years to the day after his first. He returns with a touch of grey and a beard, but no less intense or moving.

Episode 75: Damian 'Jr. Gong' Marley

Air Date: September 9th, 2019

Summary: With eyes shut, Marley dug deep into the healing power of music with songs from his 2017 album Stony Hill.

Episode 76: Come From Away

Air Date: September 11st, 2019

Summary: Sixteen performers from the Broadway cast crammed behind the Tiny Desk to sing songs and share stories about thousands of airline passengers who were stranded in Newfoundland after 9/11.

Episode 77: Rhiannon Giddens

Air Date: September 16th, 2019

Summary: Giddens shares songs from her latest album, There is No Other, in an emotional and transfixing performance at the Tiny Desk.

Episode 78: Nilüfer Yanya

Air Date: September 18th, 2019

Summary: There's a hush to the music of Nilüfer Yanya that made the Tiny Desk the perfect stage for her sound.

Episode 79: Y La Bamba

Air Date: September 20th, 2019

Summary: Y La Bamba returns for its second Tiny Desk performance with a revised musical vision.

Episode 80: Rosanne Cash

Air Date: September 23rd, 2019

Summary: Roseanne Cash has been making great records for forty years, but she's never played or written better music than she's doing right now.

Episode 81: Ari Lennox

Air Date: September 25th, 2019

Summary: The R&B singer performed songs from her debut full-length, Shea Butter Baby.

Episode 82: Josh Ritter With Amanda Shires And Jason Isbell

Air Date: September 27th, 2019

Summary: In his second visit to the Tiny Desk, Josh Ritter had America on his mind. "We all have to fight against this notion that we're not all human beings."

Episode 83: Jonas Brothers

Air Date: September 30th, 2019

Summary: The brothers and their backing band gave a playful performance of three tracks from their latest album, Happiness Begins.

Episode 84: Molly Sarlé

Air Date: October 4th, 2019

Summary: After performing at the Tiny Desk as one third of the group Mountain Man, Molly Sarlé returns for a soul-stirring solo performance.

Episode 85: Sharon Van Etten

Air Date: October 7th, 2019

Summary: Nearly a decade after her first appearance at the Tiny Desk, Sharon Van Etten returns with a full band and a bigger, bolder sound.

Episode 86: Charly Bliss

Air Date: October 9th, 2019

Summary: The vibrancy of the band can feel childlike and candy-coated. But the group's songs are more about the pain of entering adulthood and leaving some of that sweetness behind.

Episode 87: Brittany Howard

Air Date: October 15th, 2019

Summary: The Alabama Shakes singer and guitarist brought an eight-piece backing band to the Tiny Desk for a set of deeply personal and affecting songs.

Episode 88: Taylor Swift

Air Date: October 16th, 2019

Summary: As she settled in for this stripped-down set, Taylor Swift looked out over the office. "I just decided to take this as an opportunity to show you guys how the songs sounded when I first wrote them."

Episode 89: Summer Walker

Air Date: October 18th, 2019

Summary: One week after releasing a record-shattering studio debut, the Atlanta native brings a glowing R&B set to the Tiny Desk.

Episode 90: Jovino Santos Neto Trio

Air Date: October 21st, 2019

Summary: Along with his trio, the pianist, multi-instrumentalist and composer cast a spell over the NPR Music offices in this joyful turn behind the Tiny Desk.

Episode 91: CHAI

Air Date: October 23rd, 2019

Summary: The group from Japan is on a mission to expand the conventional meaning of "cute." Their performance included synchronized dancing, pom-poms and matching pink uniforms, with a heavy, angular sound.

Episode 92: Rio Mira

Air Date: October 25th, 2019

Summary: Rio Mira's music celebrates life along the river that separates Ecuador and Colombia: soft breezes, loving friends, the embrace of Africa and lots of festejando!

Episode 93: BJ The Chicago Kid

Air Date: November 6th, 2019

Summary: The 34-year old R&B mainstay used his moment at the desk to fit in as many of his most cherished songs as possible — Nine songs in 17 minutes to be exact.

Episode 94: Dave

Air Date: November 8th, 2019

Summary: The British rapper made a trip all the way from the UK just for this Tiny Desk performance and powered through a set that made the personal political.

Episode 95: Leslie Odom Jr.

Air Date: November 12nd, 2019

Summary: The Tony- and Grammy-winning singer, actor, author and Hamilton star performs three songs from Mr, his genre-bending new solo album.

Episode 96: Sunny War

Air Date: November 13rd, 2019

Summary: Sunny War has been homeless, busked on city streets and Venice Beach, left home feeling she was a burden to her mother, battled addiction and still found a way to bring joy to others thru her music.

Episode 97: KOKOKO!

Air Date: November 15th, 2019

Summary: KOKOKO! are sonic warriors. They seized control of the Tiny Desk, shouting their arrival through a megaphone, while electronic sirens begin to blare.

Episode 98: Burna Boy

Air Date: November 18th, 2019

Summary: The Nigerian singer and songwriter is one of the biggest African artists in the world and a pioneer of Afro-fusion, an inescapable sound this year.

Episode 99: Snarky Puppy

Air Date: November 20th, 2019

Summary: The jazz, funk and gospel improv group brought jams and joy to the Tiny Desk.

Episode 100: Igor Levit

Air Date: November 22nd, 2019

Summary: The insightful pianist offers a Beethoven bonanza, ranging from the mesmerizing pulse of the popular "Moonlight" Sonata to flashes of wry humor and tender beauty.

Episode 101: Carly Rae Jepsen

Air Date: November 25th, 2019

Summary: The singer brought a sparkling pop-disco vibe and a lot of swagger to the sun-filled Tiny Desk.

Episode 102: Mereba

Air Date: November 27th, 2019

Summary: A nomadic storyteller with a cross-genre style ranging from folk to rap, Mereba slays the devil in her solo set behind the Desk.

Episode 103: Black Uhuru

Air Date: November 29th, 2019

Summary: The influential reggae group, whose name means "black freedom," brought songs of solidarity and love to the Tiny Desk.

Episode 104: Freddie Gibbs And Madlib

Air Date: December 6th, 2019

Summary: The enigmatic and reclusive producer Madlib joins hard-hitting emcee Freddie Gibbs for one of the most memorable Tiny Desks of the year.

Episode 105: Raveena

Air Date: December 9th, 2019

Summary: "I just want you to know," Raveena told the NPR office, "that in this space that we're in, you're extremely, extremely loved."

Episode 106: Weyes Blood

Air Date: December 11st, 2019

Summary: Watch the band perform a blissed-out, gently sweeping set featuring three songs from its latest album, Titanic Rising.

Episode 107: The Comet Is Coming

Air Date: December 13rd, 2019

Summary: The Comet is Coming is a force of nature. The British trio makes the kind of instrumental jazz that takes music lovers out of their comfort zone and into a musical realm they may never have explored.

Episode 108: Moonchild

Air Date: December 16th, 2019

Summary: The LA-based trio makes an intricate blend of jazz, R&B and hip-hop. For their Tiny Desk set, they pulled out all the stops: flutes, flugelhorns, saxophones, keyboards, ukuleles and more.

Episode 109: Los Lobos

Air Date: December 18th, 2019

Summary: When Los Lobos gathered behind the Tiny Desk, it felt like they were cramped in the back room of a family Christmas party, calling up tunes from the Latin holiday song book.

Episode 110: Balún

Air Date: December 20th, 2019

Summary: It's impossible to not be drawn in by the visual specter of Balún as the band mixes traditional instruments and electronics, set against a rich tapestry of voices.

Episode 111: Spanglish Fly

Air Date: December 31st, 2019

Summary: Spanglish Fly is one of the pioneers of the boogaloo revival scene happening on the East Coast. For about sixteen minutes, they turned the NPR Music offices into the hottest Latin dance club in D.C.

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