Accessibility links
Sense Of Place : World Cafe Explore music scenes and communities around the world.

World Cafe

Essential and Emerging Artists

Sense Of Place

Take A Walk Down The Oldest Street In LA With La Santa Cecilia

Marisol Hernandez and Jose "Pepe" Carlos of La Santa Cecilia. WXPN hide caption

toggle caption
WXPN

Performances

Take A Walk Down The Oldest Street In LA With La Santa Cecilia

Not only did the Grammy-winning band get its start here, but its leader, La Marisoul, also operates a shop in the Mexican Marketplace found on Olvera Street.

La Santa Cecilia On World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/870968739/870973916" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Jamie Drake's Debut Album Was A Decade In The Making

Jamie Drake Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

Sense Of Place

Jamie Drake's Debut Album Was A Decade In The Making

XPN

After settling in LA, Jamie waited 10 years before she started performing publicly. But, as you are about to hear, the wait was worth it.

Jamie Drake On World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/865428107/865470023" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
LA Hood Life Tours: A Ride Through The Birthplace Of West Coast Hip-Hop

A mural of Nipsey Hussle close by the Crenshaw neighborhood in Los Angeles, as see on the LA Hood Live Tour. WXPN hide caption

toggle caption
WXPN

Sense Of Place

LA Hood Life Tours: A Ride Through The Birthplace Of West Coast Hip-Hop

XPN

LA Hood Life Tours take you to where Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Nipsey Hussle and the larger genre of West Coast Hip-Hop got started.

LA Hood Life Tour on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/864841813/865262898" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Possum Dixon Bandleader Rob Zabrecky Found The Magic In Performance

Rob Zabrecky Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

Sense Of Place

Possum Dixon Bandleader Rob Zabrecky Found The Magic In Performance

XPN

Not only was he was the rock and roll leader of Possum Dixon, but he's a world class magician, storyteller and now author with his 2019 memoir, Strange Cures, which explores his life and a very untold side of LA.

Rob Zabrecky On World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/860598672/860909230" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
LA Trio JEMS Creates Harmonies And Songs To Stand The Test Of Time

JEMS performs in front of a live audience at Hollywood's famed club, Hotel Cafe. WXPN hide caption

toggle caption
WXPN

Sense Of Place

LA Trio JEMS Creates Harmonies And Songs To Stand The Test Of Time

XPN

The Los Angeles trio performs live from the famed club Hotel Cafe, sharing the importance of the venue, and how they discovered they could sing in such perfect harmony.

JEMS on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/860603481/860910642" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
A Career-Spanning Conversation With Liz Phair

Liz Phair performs live for World Cafe at Kiss Kiss Bang Bang in Los Angeles, Calif. WXPN hide caption

toggle caption
WXPN

Sense Of Place

A Career-Spanning Conversation With Liz Phair

XPN

We met up with Liz Phair during a Sense Of Place trip to Los Angeles in early March. She performs live and talks about her journey, overcoming expectations, her upcoming album, Soberish.

Liz Phair on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/855305060/857240401" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Ethan Gruska's Musical Family Tree Goes Way Back

Ethan Gruska performs live at Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles for World Cafe. WXPN hide caption

toggle caption
WXPN

Sense Of Place

Ethan Gruska's Musical Family Tree Goes Way Back

XPN

Ethan Gruska has produced for artists including Fiona Apple, Phoebe Bridgers and Manchester Orchestra, but he's also a successful solo artist. He'll play a few songs from his excellent sophomore album, En Garde, for this Sense of Place session.

Ethan Gruska On World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/856344260/856411874" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Radio DJ Zane Lowe Shares His Take On The Future Of Music

Zane Lowe Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

Sense Of Place

Radio DJ Zane Lowe Shares His Take On The Future Of Music

XPN

While capturing a Sense Of Place in Los Angeles, Zane Lowe shares the city's current status and where artists and fans might go from here in this strange moment in history.

Zane Lowe On World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/852706107/852981283" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Inside Rockbridge Guitars, Where The Music Really Starts

A look inside Rockbridge Guitars in Charlottesville, Va. WXPN hide caption

toggle caption
WXPN

Sense Of Place

Inside Rockbridge Guitars, Where The Music Really Starts

XPN

Co-founders Brian Calhoun and Randall Ray make guitars for artists like Dave Matthews, Richie Sambora and Jason Mraz. In this segment, Brian takes us on a tour of the shop and explains how every instrument is a unique piece of art.

Rockbridge Guitars On World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/826644479/826677595" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Dive Into The Wild, Twisted And Surprisingly Cultured World Of GWAR

A look inside GWAR's Headquarters, AKA "The Slave Pit" in Richmond, Va. WXPN hide caption

toggle caption
WXPN

Sense Of Place

Dive Into The Wild, Twisted And Surprisingly Cultured World Of GWAR

XPN

Join us for a tour of GWAR's "Slave Pit" from our recent Sense Of Place Trip to Richmond, Va.

GWAR on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/824729677/826069498" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
A Look Inside Spacebomb Studios, The Creative Hub In Richmond, Va.

World Cafe gets a tour of Spacebomb Studios in Richmond, Va. WXPN hide caption

toggle caption
WXPN

Sense Of Place

A Look Inside Spacebomb Studios, The Creative Hub In Richmond, Va.

XPN

Founder and musician Matthew E. White hosts a tour around the studio and explains how not being located in a big music city makes Spacebomb so special.

Spacebomb Studios On World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/825262466/825287815" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Meet The Man Behind One Of Virginia's Oldest Record Stores

In today's episode, we stop by Barky's Music store in Richmond, Va. WXPN hide caption

toggle caption
WXPN

Sense Of Place

Meet The Man Behind One Of Virginia's Oldest Record Stores

XPN

Take a little field trip to Barky's Record Store, owned by a cool character who's 87 years young.

Barky's Record Store On World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/824842540/824854147" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Saw Black Is Part Of A Vibrant Music Community in Richmond, Va.

Saw Black performs live for World Cafe, inside In Your Ear Studios in Richmond, Va. WXPN hide caption

toggle caption
WXPN

Sense Of Place

Saw Black Is Part Of A Vibrant Music Community in Richmond, Va.

XPN

Richmond may not be thought of as a marquee music city name, but the artists there are building something really special.

Saw Black On World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/823964854/824022474" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Sleepwalkers Shares What Makes Richmond's Music Scene So Special

Sleepwalkers performs inside Spacebomb Studios in this session. WXPN hide caption

toggle caption
WXPN

Sense Of Place

Sleepwalkers Shares What Makes Richmond's Music Scene So Special

XPN

The fast-rising Richmond band performs songs from its sophomore album, Ages, live inside Spacebomb Studios.

Sleepwalkers On World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/823867120/823987421" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
There's Something Undeniably Catchy About The Music Of Gold Connections

Gold Connections performing live for World Cafe inside In Your Ear Studios in Richmond, Va. WXPN hide caption

toggle caption
WXPN

Sense Of Place

There's Something Undeniably Catchy About The Music Of Gold Connections

XPN

Enjoy a live session, recorded at In Your Ear Studios during World Cafe's Sense Of Place trip to Richmond, Va.

Gold Connections On World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/822536522/822537989" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
A Virginia Music History Lesson With WNRN's Desiré Moses

Desiré Moses says you can't talk about the music of Charlottesville, Va., without mentioning that Dave Matthews Band got its start here all those years ago. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Sense Of Place

A Virginia Music History Lesson With WNRN's Desiré Moses

XPN

From Sparklehorse and Pavement to Silver Jews and, yes, Dave Matthews: our Charlottesville affiliate station managing producer plays guest DJ to help us explore the music of central Virginia.

Desiré Moses, Guest DJ on World Cafe

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/821510133/821626055" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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

toggle caption
Ashley Travis/WNRN

Sense Of Place

Central Virginia Music Scene 101 With WNRN's Desiré Moses

XPN

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

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/805687372/805776207" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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. WXPN hide caption

toggle caption
WXPN

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

Listen · 13:19
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/805689471/805698270" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
It Doesn't Get More Charlottesville Than The Hackensaw Boys

The Hackensaw Boys Ashley Travis/WNRN hide caption

toggle caption
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

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/805208431/805306059" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Rich Tarbell Literally Wrote The Book On Charlottesville's Music Scene

Rich Tarbell Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
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

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/805201746/805345573" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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. WXPN hide caption

toggle caption
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

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/804873586/804981658" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse archive or search npr.org