Music & Culture

Music & Culture

Heavy Rotation: 10 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing

7:57am April 29, 2017

Hear new music by country veteran Marty Stuart, former Gossip frontwoman Beth Ditto, psychedelic hip-hop duo Shabazz Palaces and more in April's playlist, curated by public-radio hosts.

Fyre Festival attendees walk around the event site on Thursday night in Grand Exuma, Bahamas. Festivalgoers had paid thousands of dollars for villas and lodges on the beach, but instead found a chaotic tent city.

Paradise Lost: Luxury Music Festival Turns Out To Be Half-Built Scene Of Chaos

5:32pm April 28, 2017

by Laurel Wamsley

Tickets cost thousands for what organizers were calling "the cultural event of the decade." But when visitors arrived on Grand Exuma, they found a tent city without enough power, security, or food.

Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés performs at the Havana Jazz Festival in December 2016. Valdés is one of the artistic directors of this year's International Jazz Day festivities.

Music & Culture

Radical Grooves And Hometown Heroes: Cuba's Lasting Jazz Legacy

4:31pm April 28, 2017

As Havana prepares to host this year's International Jazz Day celebration, Jazz Night In America's Christian McBride shares how the island nation has shaped jazz in America and around the world.

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Music & Culture

Across the Blue Ridge #70- New Recordings

4:00pm April 28, 2017

by Paul Brown

New recordings, a preview of roots music from a public TV series, and some classic fiddle tunes and bluegrass cuts share the spotlight this week.

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Sheryl Crow's new album, Be Myself, is out now.

Music & Culture

Sheryl Crow On World Cafe

2:37pm April 28, 2017

by Talia Schlanger

Crow's new album, Be Myself, is inspired by the spirit of her '90s hits. Hear her perform new music, plus an older favorite, in this session.

Prince's classic 1984 album Purple Rain is about to get two deluxe reissues.

Music & Culture

After Last Week's False Start, The Unreleased Prince Music Starts Rolling Out

1:54pm April 28, 2017

by Stephen Thompson

Hear "Electric Intercourse," the first previously unreleased song to trickle out from a forthcoming deluxe reissue of Prince's 1984 classic Purple Rain.

Damon Albarn joins World Cafe to talk about the new Gorillaz album, Humanz.

Music & Culture

Gorillaz On World Cafe

1:54pm April 28, 2017

by Talia Schlanger

Damon Albarn says the meaning of Humanz has changed now that the "dark fantasy" he says inspired it has become a political reality. Hear an interview and live performance.

Music & Culture

PBS To Rebroadcast Its Remarkable 'Latin Music USA' Series From 2009

1:35pm April 28, 2017

by Felix Contreras

AltLatino Extra presents a Q&A with the co-creator and Supervising Producer of the seminal PBS music documentary series, Latin Music USA.

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A still from the trailer previewing the new Justin Peck work The Decalogue, with music by Sufjan Stevens.

Music & Culture

Sufjan Stevens' New Dance Score Set To Premiere At New York City Ballet

1:06pm April 28, 2017

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

The indie rock icon will premiere his third collaboration with the famed ballet company on May 12.

David Bowie in a scene from the 1986 film Labyrinth.

Music & Culture

Remember 'Labyrinth'? David Bowie's Score For The Cult Classic Is Back

12:25pm April 28, 2017

by Robin Hilton

Nostalgic fans of the Jim Henson movie are cheering the return of a long out-of-print and now remastered version of its score by David Bowie and Trevor Jones.