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

World Cafe

Essential and Emerging Artists
Listening To Twin Peaks Is Like Wearing Your Favorite Sweater

Twin Peaks perform live for WXPN's Indie Rock Hit Parade - recorded live for World Cafe Jamie Stow/WXPN hide caption

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Jamie Stow/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Listening To Twin Peaks Is Like Wearing Your Favorite Sweater

XPN

The band is made up of five close friends who've been playing together for 10 years. You can hear that sense of close collaboration in this mini-concert.

Twin Peaks On World Cafe

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20 Years Later, Sarah Harmer's New Album Reconnects With Her Solo Debut

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Studio Sessions

20 Years Later, Sarah Harmer's New Album Reconnects With Her Solo Debut

XPN

Harmer's latest record, Are You Gone, is a spiritual successor to an album that came out back in the year 2000: You Were Here.

Sarah Harmer On World Cafe

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Nada Surf Revisits Its Roots On 'Never Not Together'

Nada Surf perform live for World Cafe John Vettese/WXPN hide caption

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John Vettese/WXPN

Studio Sessions

Nada Surf Revisits Its Roots On 'Never Not Together'

XPN

If you initially dismissed the band as a novelty, then you've missed out on more than 25 years of consistently smart alt-rock greatness.

Nada Surf On World Cafe

Listen · 39:21
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Madison McFerrin's Hypnotic Music Will Pull You In

Madison McFerrin performs for a Key Studio Session at WXPN Jamie Stow/WXPN hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Madison McFerrin's Hypnotic Music Will Pull You In

XPN

The daughter of Bobby McFerrin, Madison is like a hypnotist: She creates expansive, atmospheric grooves that grow and bloom, layer by layer.

Madison McFerrin On World Cafe

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Devon Gilfillian's Old-School Influences Shine On 'Black Hole Rainbow'

Devon Gilfillian performs live at WXPN's Free At Noon Concert - recorded live for World Cafe Jamie Stow/WXPN hide caption

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Studio Sessions

Devon Gilfillian's Old-School Influences Shine On 'Black Hole Rainbow'

XPN

Gilfillian just released his debut full-length album that showcases his range of influences, from Hendrix to Al Green to Afrobeat, inspired by a recent trip to South Africa.

Devon Gilfillian On World Cafe

Listen · 27:16
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Central Virginia Music Scene 101 With WNRN's Desiré Moses

The Paramount Theater in Charlottesville, Va., hosted live performances for World Cafe's Sense of Place episodes this past week. Ashley Travis/WNRN hide caption

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Ashley Travis/WNRN

Sense Of Place

Central Virginia Music Scene 101 With WNRN's Desiré Moses

XPN

by , Desiré Moses ,

For next month's Sense Of Place, we go from Charlottesville to Richmond. Today we explore both cities with WNRN's managing producer, music writer and host Desiré Moses.

Desiré Moses On World Cafe

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These Charlottesville Musicians Want To Change The Way You Experience Live Music

David Wax Museum & Lowland Hum performing a Concert In The Blind, recently renamed, Golden Hour. Ashley Travis/WXPN hide caption

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Sense Of Place

These Charlottesville Musicians Want To Change The Way You Experience Live Music

XPN

David Wax Museum and Lowland Hum invite you to shut your eyes for an immersive listening experience.

Golden Hour Concert On World Cafe

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It Doesn't Get More Charlottesville Than The Hackensaw Boys

The Hackensaw Boys Ashley Travis/WNRN hide caption

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Ashley Travis/WNRN

Sense Of Place

It Doesn't Get More Charlottesville Than The Hackensaw Boys

XPN

The Hackensaw Boys have been performing together for nearly 20 years. The veteran act has a knack for storytelling, and many of its songs are about the band's hometown.

Hackensaw Boys On World Cafe

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Rich Tarbell Literally Wrote The Book On Charlottesville's Music Scene

Rich Tarbell Laura Dillon Rogers/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Laura Dillon Rogers/Courtesy of the artist

Sense Of Place

Rich Tarbell Literally Wrote The Book On Charlottesville's Music Scene

XPN

The longtime Charlottesville, Va., photographer captured local and national bands to document the scene in 'Regarding Charlottesville Music.'

Rich Tarbell on World Cafe

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See Charlottesville Through The Eyes Of David Wax Museum

A look inside the Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar where David Wax Museum performed its first Charlottesville concert. Kimberly Junod/WXPN hide caption

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Kimberly Junod/WXPN

Sense Of Place

See Charlottesville Through The Eyes Of David Wax Museum

XPN

David Wax and Suz Slezak take us on a walk through the city they love and share how they met and what happened when the Unite the Right rally came to Charlottesville.

David Wax Museum in Charlottesville, VA On World Cafe

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Free Union Inspires A Message Of Unity

Free Union performing live for World Cafe Ashley Travis Photography/WNRN hide caption

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Ashley Travis Photography/WNRN

Sense Of Place

Free Union Inspires A Message Of Unity

XPN

Led by Michael Coleman, the Charlottesville-based collective writes songs that bring people, ideas and musical styles together.

Free Union On World Cafe

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Krewe Du Kanaval Honors The Haitian Roots Of New Orleans

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Kanaval/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Krewe Du Kanaval Honors The Haitian Roots Of New Orleans

XPN

by Alex Lewis

A few years ago, a new Mardi Gras krewe sprung up with the aim of celebrating the Haitian roots that run deep through the city's cultural identity. It was co-founded by two members of Arcade Fire.

Krewe Du Kanaval Honors The Haitian Roots Of New Orleans

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How Kate Bollinger's Musical Upbringing Influenced Her Insightful Indie Pop

Kate Bollinger Amber Carpenter/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Amber Carpenter/Courtesy of the artist

Sense Of Place

How Kate Bollinger's Musical Upbringing Influenced Her Insightful Indie Pop

XPN

The University of Virginia senior grew up surrounded by music thanks to her mom, who works as a music therapist, and her brothers, who played in area bands.

Kate Bollinger On World Cafe

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Horns Up, Forward March: Fall In With UVA's Cavalier Marching Band

University of Virginia's Cavalier Marching Band Practice John Myers/WXPN hide caption

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John Myers/WXPN

Sense Of Place

Horns Up, Forward March: Fall In With UVA's Cavalier Marching Band

XPN

Ever wonder how a marching band chooses songs, or how hundreds of musicians can be so perfectly coordinated? Today we find out with the Cavalier Marching Band.

UVA Cavalier Marching Band On World Cafe

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Supernatural Sounds In Perfect Sync: Hear Overcoats On World Cafe

Overcoats Chloe Ledrezen/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Chloe Ledrezen/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Supernatural Sounds In Perfect Sync: Hear Overcoats On World Cafe

XPN

JJ Mitchell and Hana Elion's voices are so perfectly in sync that when you hear them sing together, you'd almost think it's one single voice.

Overcoats On World Cafe

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From Jam Session To Song: The Wood Brothers On 'Kingdom In My Mind'

The Wood Brothers performing live for World Cafe Jamie Stow/WXPN hide caption

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Studio Sessions

From Jam Session To Song: The Wood Brothers On 'Kingdom In My Mind'

XPN

Steeped in roots music, The Wood Brothers found inspiration for the group's seventh studio album during improv sessions.

The Wood Brothers On World Cafe

Listen · 31:58
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Jeff Goldblum Gathers An Assortment Of Guest Vocalists On His Latest Jazz Album

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Sela Sheloni/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

Jeff Goldblum Gathers An Assortment Of Guest Vocalists On His Latest Jazz Album

In this session, Jeff Goldblum joins me to talk about the assortment of famous guest vocalists he brought together for the project – and he somehow manages to get me to speak French. We kick off the session with the opening track from the new album, featuring Sharon Van Etten on vocals.

Jeff Goldblum Gathers An Assortment Of Guest Vocalists On His Latest Jazz Album

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Modern Baseball's Jake Ewald Explores A New Sound In Slaughter Beach, Dog

Slaughter Beach, Dog outside of WXPN's Studio in Philadelphia, PA. Jamie Stow/WXPN hide caption

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World Cafe

Modern Baseball's Jake Ewald Explores A New Sound In Slaughter Beach, Dog

by , Eric Schuman

The co-frontman of the Philadelphia band Modern Baseball pulls in some of his former bandmates for a different sound in Slaughter Beach, Dog.

Slaughter Beach, Dog on World Cafe

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The Lone Bellow Brings Light Into A World That Can Seem Pretty Dark Sometimes

The Lone Bellow's album, Half Moon Light, is out next Friday. Hear live performances of a few new songs in this session. Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist

Studio Sessions

The Lone Bellow Brings Light Into A World That Can Seem Pretty Dark Sometimes

XPN

The band's new record, Half Moon Light, features sing-along choruses, hand-clapping rhythms and melodies that somehow sound familiar even on a first listen.

The Lone Bellow On World Cafe

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The Milk Carton Kids Answers Its Own Question: 'What Even Is Americana?'

The Milk Carton Kids has already become a standard bearer for a new generation of folk artists and harmony duos. Jessica Perez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jessica Perez/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

The Milk Carton Kids Answers Its Own Question: 'What Even Is Americana?'

XPN

The duo poked fun at the genre when hosting the 2018 Americana Music Awards, but they hold a deep respect for its musical traditions. Their latest album, The Only Ones, continues to build on them.

The Milk Carton Kids

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