Music

What could be better than a new project built on the mutual fandom and friendship of two of our World Cafe favorites? Phoebe Bridgers grew up as a fan of Conor Oberst's band Bright Eyes, while Oberst became an instant fan of Bridgers when they played a show together a few years ago in LA.

Will Johnson has seen some things.

"A couple years ago I got approached by these, like, Silicon Valley dudes," the musician says,"and they basically were like, 'Yo. We have created a formula to make a for-sure No. 1 hit.' Literally."

Emily King, the pop-soul singer from New York City will perform Live From Studio A in advance of her show that night at A&R Music Bar with Jennah Bell!

She's out on the road with her third full length studio release Scenery and you'll get to hear all about it on WCBE!

Sarah Versprille and Daniel Hindman of Pure Bathing Culture will join us Live From Studio A in advance of the show that night with Lucius at Columbus Athenaeum Theatre!

They're out on the road with the brand new release Night Pass and you'll get to hear all about it on WCBE!

Hailey Knox will perform Live From Studio A during the Global Village on WCBE!  

Texas troubadour Paul Cauthen (formerly of Sons Of Fathers) will perform Live From Studio A in advance of his show that night at the Rumba Cafe!  

WCBE is looking forward to hosting guitar legend Arlen Roth Live From Studio A in advance of his show that night at Woodland's Tavern!  Roth is considred one of the most influential guitarists of all time.  For over 45 years he's toured the world with such icons as Simon And Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, Phoebe Snow, The Bee Gees, Ry Cooder, Levon Helm, Dusty Springfield and more!

Note: NPR's First Listen audio comes down after the album is released. However, you can still listen with the Spotify and Apple playlists at the bottom of the page.

This year's Tiny Desk Contest judges are excited to finally be getting ready to pick the 2019 winner. In the meantime, there's a lot going on in the Tiny Desk Contest community.

WCBE is looking forward to hosting live session with Roger Sellers aka Bayonne in advance of his show that night at Ace Of Cups with Palm Daze!

He's out on the road with the brand new release Drastic Measures and will be making a stop in Columbus!

Tune in for live music, conversation and a chance to win tickets to the show!

Kevin Morby's new album is unlike anything he's done before. Gone is the guitar (for the most part) from his earlier recordings. In its place are more droning instruments — sounds more suited for church than the concert hall, including a recurring, small choir. The subject for the album is God and our culture's relationship with God, from deep introspection to the trivial, everyday use of that ever-present expression "oh my God."

This story is part of American Anthem, a yearlong series on songs that rouse, unite, celebrate and call to action. Find more at NPR.org/Anthem.

We welcome back an influential and iconic musician to the punk and hardcore scene, Bob Mould. After blazing trails in the '80s with Hüsker Dü, and in the '90s with Sugar, Mould has had a successful solo career for the last 25 years. His latest album, Sunshine Rock, is an intentional look away from the politics of now and instead a look back to the albums he loved as a youth.

WCBE is looking forward to the return of Bobby Long to perform Live From Studio A in advance of this show that night with Alex Barnes at the Rumba Cafe!

He's out on the road with a brand new release Sultans and we're happy he'll be making a stop in Columbus!

Rock fans fell in love with The Cranberries in the early '90s, thanks, in large part, to the haunting, Celtic-inspired voice of the Irish rock band's lead singer, Dolores O'Riordan. The Cranberries, made up of O'Riordan on lead vocal, guitarist Noel Hogan, bassist Mike Hogan and Fergal Lawler on drums, created an intoxicating juxtaposition of grunge and alternative pop, with O'Riordan's lilting lyrics searing through right in.

Slothrust will perform Live From Studio A in advance of their show that night at The Basement with Summer Cannibals!

Tune in for live music, conversation and a chance to win tickets to the show!

When Mikaela Straus, who records as King Princess, says "I've never been subtle. I don't think now is the time," she means it. Straus is a producer, multi-instrumentalist, writer and emerging gay icon with incredible confidence charisma and the musical chops to back it up.

WCBE is looking forward to hosting Charlie Hunter and Lucy Woodward Live From Studio A in advance of their show that night at Natalie's in Worthington!  They're out on the road together with a new album Music!Music!Music!

WCBE is looking forward to the return of Texas troubadour Dale Watson & The Lone Stars to peform Live From Studio A during the Global Village!

He's out on the road with his new release Call Me Lucky and we're happy they're making a stop in Columbus! You can catch them that night at Woodland's Tavern!

Instagram might have one believe that family life with young children involves vegetables carved to look like rocket ships in gluten-free lunchboxes, or that new mothers can prance around fields with newborn babies in pristine white linen dresses that are never covered in grass-stains or baby spit.

In 1986, Bruce Hornsby became famous for his single "The Way It Is." But since then, he has embraced the constant evolution of his musical style throughout his career, experimenting with jazz, classical and even country. Never the same kind of musician, Hornsby has jammed on the accordion with the Grateful Dead and composed movie soundtracks for Spike Lee.

It sort of stood to reason that after winning multiple Grammys this decade — including one for Album of the Year — Beck would retire to the cushy corners of modern alt-rock. As a testament to that, he even collaborated with Cage the Elephant earlier this year. But Beck, ever the disruptor of standards, took a pivot into left-field. He's announced a new album, Hyperspace, as well as a new single, "Saw Lightning" today. It's due out, according to a press release, "at an as yet undetermined point in the space time continuum."

We have less than two weeks left in this year's Tiny Desk Contest entry period, and we're seeing more and more entries (and desks) we love each day. So just as we've done for the last two weeks, we've rounded up a few of our favorites from the Contest so far.

We hope these songs inspire you to send us a song of your own if you haven't already — you've got until Sunday, April 14!

Quinn Christopherson, "Erase Me"

These days, a six-year gap between albums practically qualifies as a hiatus. In the case of Vampire Weekend, it's been enough time to experience a 2014 Grammy win, a significant departure (Rostam Batmanglij left in 2016), a major-label deal, years of touring and a long, deliberately paced lead-up to Father of the Bride, out May 3.

Cleveland's The Lighthouse And The Whaler will perform Live From Studio A in advance of their show that night at the Rumba Cafe with Cinders!

Karl Denson has one of the coolest side gigs in the world. In 2015, he took over for Bobby Keys as the saxophonist for The Rolling Stones. In his day job however, he's the leader of Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, a fusion of funk, jazz, soul, and rock.