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World Cafe WXPN in Philadelphia and host Talia Schlanger present interviews and performances with today's essential and emerging artists.

World Cafe

Essential and Emerging Artists
Erika Wennerstrom On World Cafe

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Studio Sessions

Erika Wennerstrom On World Cafe

XPN

The Heartless Bastards front woman details her experience on a trip through the Amazon and how it informed the art she made on her latest solo album, Sweet Unknown.

Erika Wennerstrom On World Cafe

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Superorganism On World Cafe

Superorganism inside the World Cafe Performance Studio Galea McGregor/WXPN hide caption

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Galea McGregor/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Superorganism On World Cafe

XPN

The eight-piece group deliver fantastic gems of indie pop that are never too clever for their own good.

Superorganism On World Cafe

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Squirrel Nut Zippers On World Cafe

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Studio Sessions

Squirrel Nut Zippers On World Cafe

XPN

The band just released Beasts of Burgundy, its first new album of original material in 18 years. If you don't like funk, now would be the time to move on to another session.

Squirrel Nut Zippers On World Cafe

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Field Report On World Cafe

Field Report inside the World Cafe Performance Studio Ashley Gellman/WXPN hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Field Report On World Cafe

XPN

Frontman Chris Porterfield shares stories and performs songs from Field Report's new album, Summertime Songs.

Field Report On World Cafe

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Laura Veirs On 'The Lookout' And Embracing Limits

Laura Veirs' latest album is The Lookout. Jason Quigley/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jason Quigley/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Laura Veirs On 'The Lookout' And Embracing Limits

XPN

Veirs performs songs from The Lookout, for which she originally wrote over 100 songs, and explains how a set of creative constraints helped her arrive at its gauzy new sound.

Laura Veirs On World Cafe

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Sister Rosetta Tharpe Gets Her Day In The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

Sister Rosetta Tharpe onstage with her guitar in 1957. Chris Ware/Getty Images hide caption

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Chris Ware/Getty Images

World Cafe

Sister Rosetta Tharpe Gets Her Day In The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

XPN

The late gospel singer and guitarist will get an overdue recognition for her crucial influence on early rock and roll, joining a class of inductees that includes Bon Jovi, Dire Straits and The Cars.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe Gets Her Day In The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

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World Cafe Nashville: Dom Flemons

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Tim Duffy/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

World Cafe Nashville: Dom Flemons

XPN

Flemons' latest work, Black Cowboys, explodes the stereotypes that have dominated one of America's founding mythologies and opens up the frontier for all to claim.

Dom Flemons On World Cafe

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Kyle Craft On World Cafe

Kyle Craft (third from left) and his band inside the World Cafe Performance studio. Galea McGregor/WXPN hide caption

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Galea McGregor/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Kyle Craft On World Cafe

XPN

There's few people who enjoy telling a story as much as Kyle Craft and the rocker has plenty of inventory to keep you engaged.

Kyle Craft On World Cafe

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Courtney Marie Andrews On World Cafe

Courtney Marie Andrews inside the World Cafe Performance Studio with her band. Galea McGregor/WXPN hide caption

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Galea McGregor/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Courtney Marie Andrews On World Cafe

XPN

Now here's something you don't hear every day: a young person who makes a record about the value of kindness and compassion.

Courney Marie Andrews On World Cafe

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10 Standout World Cafe Sessions Of 2018...So Far

Clockwise from left: Sunny War, Darlingside, Jen Cloher Sunny War (WXPN), Darlingisde (Ashley Gellman/WXPN), Jen Cloher (Ashley Gellman/WXPN)/Courtesy of WXPN hide caption

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Sunny War (WXPN), Darlingisde (Ashley Gellman/WXPN), Jen Cloher (Ashley Gellman/WXPN)/Courtesy of WXPN

Studio Sessions

10 Standout World Cafe Sessions Of 2018...So Far

XPN

Some say the glass of 2018 is one-quarter empty; others say it's three-quarters full. We say, "Wow, we've had some incredible artists perform in 2018."

Jonathan Wilson On World Cafe

Jonathan Wilson performing live at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, PA. Ashley Gellman/WXPN hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Jonathan Wilson On World Cafe

XPN

The incredibly talented producer and musician calls on the likes of Lana Del Rey and Conor Oberst for his latest album Rare Birds. Hear a live performance in this session.

Jonathan Wilson On World Cafe

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Hailu Mergia On World Cafe

Hailu Mergia performs live at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, PA. Ashley Gellman /WXPN hide caption

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Ashley Gellman /WXPN

Studio Sessions

Hailu Mergia On World Cafe

XPN

A record shop discovery led to the rebirth of Hailu's career, which includes his latest album called Lala Belu.

Hailu Mergia On World Cafe

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Brett Dennen On World Cafe

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Studio Sessions

Brett Dennen On World Cafe

XPN

It's hard not to smile when watching Brett Dennen do his thing. Get a look inside his live World Cafe performance of tunes from his latest EP, 'Let's....

Brett Dennen on World Cafe

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Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats On World Cafe

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Brantley Gutierrez/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats On World Cafe

XPN

Hear a live studio performance from the platinum-selling band, whose generosity onstage makes the music business seem like the service industry.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

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The Decemberists On World Cafe

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Holly Andres/Courtesy of the aritst

Studio Sessions

The Decemberists On World Cafe

XPN

Lead singer/guitarist, Colin Meloy, talks about where the band's new sound came from and surprises you'll hear on the record.

The Decemberists On World Cafe

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Moby On DJing For Kids And His 'Absurdly Grand' New Album

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Jonathan Nesvadba/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Moby On DJing For Kids And His 'Absurdly Grand' New Album

XPN

A wide-ranging conversation about long-term sobriety, DJ'ing children's parties, and why at 52 years old, the musician has no desire to tour again.

Moby On World Cafe

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World Cafe Nashville: Erin Rae

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Marcus Maddox/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

World Cafe Nashville: Erin Rae

XPN

With a gentle voice and deeply insightful songwriting, the Tennessee native has been a standout among the city's folk and Americana artists for years.

World Cafe Nashville: Erin Rae

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