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Billy Bragg

Billy Bragg's music bridges political themes with the intensely personal

Billy Bragg Peter Dunwell/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Peter Dunwell/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Billy Bragg's music bridges political themes with the intensely personal

XPN

Bragg's decades of activism and songwriting have only helped to crystallize and empower his thinking on what we need to make the world a better place.

Billy Bragg on World Cafe

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The Best Music Of July: NPR Staff Picks

Top left, clockwise: Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine, Canary Room, Billy Bragg, William Parker, IDK, WILLOW. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

All Songs Considered

The Best Music Of July: NPR Staff Picks

In July, we found solace in veterans (Billy Bragg) and newcomers (Canary Room), witnessed personal transformations from IDK and WILLOW, hit funky grooves with William Parker and heard angels become mortal in a collaboration between Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine.

The Best Music Of July: NPR Staff Picks

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A Courageous Smile Inspires Solidarity And A New Billy Bragg Song

Saffiyah Khan (left) confronts English Defence League protester Ian Crossland during a demonstration in the city of Birmingham, following the Westminster terrorist attack. Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty Images hide caption

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Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty Images

All Songs TV

A Courageous Smile Inspires Solidarity And A New Billy Bragg Song

When Saria Zafar became a target for wearing a hijab, Saffiyah Khan stepped in, with a disarming smile. It also inspired a new song and video from singer Billy Bragg.

Billy Bragg And Joe Henry On Mountain Stage

Billy Bragg and Joe Henry Josh Saul/Mountain Stage hide caption

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Mountain Stage

Billy Bragg And Joe Henry On Mountain Stage

Together, the English punk-folker and the celebrated American singer-songwriter are a 2017 Americana Music Award-nominated duo that brings its brawny harmonies to its Mountain Stage debut.

Billy Bragg And Joe Henry On Mountain Stage

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Billy Bragg On Skiffle, The Movement That Brought Guitar To British Radio

Billy Bragg says he initially pursued songwriting as a way to escape working in the local car factory. Andy Whale/Courtesy of Faber & Faber hide caption

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Andy Whale/Courtesy of Faber & Faber

Music Interviews

Billy Bragg On Skiffle, The Movement That Brought Guitar To British Radio

Fresh Air

The singer describes skiffle as "a bunch of British school boys in the mid '50s playing Lead Belly's repertoire ... on acoustic guitars." Bragg's new book is Roots, Radicals And Rockers.

Billy Bragg On Skiffle, The Movement That Brought Guitar To British Radio

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Billy Bragg And Joe Henry On World Cafe

Billy Bragg and Joe Henry perform live at the 2016 Non-COMMvention in Philadelphia. Michelle Montgomery/WXPN hide caption

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Michelle Montgomery/WXPN

World Cafe

Billy Bragg And Joe Henry On World Cafe

XPN

In train stations across the country, the two singer-songwriters recorded the musical legacy of the rails. Hear them discuss the project and perform two songs.

Billy Bragg and Joe Henry on World Cafe

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Billy Bragg: Tiny Desk Concert
Marie McGrory/NPR

All Songs Considered Newsletter

Billy Bragg: Tiny Desk Concert

One of the world's finest folksingers channels the spirit of Woody Guthrie at the NPR Music offices. As he has throughout his long career, Bragg finds a way to blend politics and music with grace, charm and a rough edge.

Billy Bragg: Tiny Desk Concert

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Billy Bragg On Mountain Stage

Billy Bragg performs on Mountain Stage. Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage hide caption

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Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage

Mountain Stage

Billy Bragg On Mountain Stage

The venerable singer-songwriter makes his fourth appearance on Mountain Stage, recorded live on in Morgantown. Hear Billy Bragg perform hits that touch on all corners of his discography.

Billy Bragg On Mountain Stage

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Billy Bragg On World Cafe

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World Cafe

Billy Bragg On World Cafe

XPN

The British singer-songwriter plays songs from his quiet and introspective new album Tooth & Nail, inspired by the collection of Woody Guthrie songs he produced with Wilco in 1998.

Billy Bragg On World Cafe

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A Newport Folk Festival Preview

tUnE-yArDs is one of the artists performing at this year's Newport Folk Festival. fjludo via Flickr hide caption

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fjludo via Flickr

All Songs Considered

A Newport Folk Festival Preview

We're going to Newport for three days of amazing concerts! Hear a preview of some of the bands we'll feature in NPR's live coverage this weekend.

A Newport Folk Festival Preview

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In A Texas Jail, An Exclusive SXSW Concert

Billy Bragg performs at the Jail Guitar Doors USA launch party, held on the night after the visit to Travis County Correctional Complex. Shantel Mitchell for NPR hide caption

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Shantel Mitchell for NPR

SXSW Music Festival

In A Texas Jail, An Exclusive SXSW Concert

At the South by Southwest Music Festival this week in Austin, Texas, one of the most exclusive events was an unofficial, invitation-only concert — at the Travis County Correctional Complex. Wayne Kramer of MC5, Billy Bragg, and others were there to launch a music therapy initiative called Jail Guitar Doors.

In A Texas Jail, An Exclusive SXSW Concert

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An Interview With Newport Folk Producer Jay Sweet
Mito Habe-Evans/NPR Music

Newport Folk Festival

An Interview With Newport Folk Producer Jay Sweet

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen recently spoke with festival producer Jay Sweet about what's in store for the Newport Folk Festival.

Hear An Interview With Newport Folk Festival Producer Jay Sweet

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Mountain Stage

Billy Bragg On Mountain Stage

Making his third appearance on Mountain Stage, Billy Bragg is best known in America for teaming up with Wilco to set some newly unearthed Woody Guthrie lyrics to music on 2000's Mermaid Avenue. But in his native England, Billy Bragg is highly regarded as an egalitarian songsmith who sings for the working class.

Listen Now: Billy Bragg On Mountain Stage

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Music Interviews

California Dreaming Winner: An L.A. Sound-Song

Day to Day asked artists to send their musical takes on the California Dream. Among dozens of submissions, one track stood out because of its unique approach: The instruments are urban sounds. Quinn Kiesow spent 80 hours piecing together an array of noises to make "Los Angeles."

California Dreaming Winner: An L.A. Sound-Song

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Review

Music Reviews

New Music: Lyrics Born, Billy Bragg and More

Washington Post pop music critic Josh Freedom du Lac discusses the week's album releases, including albums from rapper Lyrics Born, Billy Bragg, Elvis Costello, and Jessica Simpson's sister Ashlee.

New Music: Lyrics Born, Billy Bragg and More

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Music

Billy Bragg, In a Retrospective Mood

The rocker has released a two-volume set of recordings. Volume one was out in February, with material from the 1980s. Volume two includes four albums he turned out between 1988 and 2002 and four bonus CDs of new material.

Billy Bragg, In a Retrospective Mood

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Review

Music Reviews

Box Set Features Political Stockpile of Billy Bragg

British songwriter Billy Bragg is best known in the United States for setting Woody Guthrie lyrics to music on the Mermaid Avenue CDs. Like Guthrie, Bragg is a populist, and often political, songwriter. His music from the 1980s is featured in a new boxed set.

Box Set Features Political Stockpile of Billy Bragg

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All Songs Considered

Billy Bragg, Janis Ian, José González

Reissued work from Billy Bragg; New music from folk singer Janis Ian; Country morphs into jazz with Robinella; A tribute to Jeff and Tim Buckley; Broken Social Scene's Jason Collett and more.

Billy Bragg, Janis Ian, José González

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