Music & Culture

Music & Culture

Watch Tiny Desk Contest Top Shelf Episode 8 Featuring KEXP's Kevin Cole

6:31pm July 30, 2020

by Elle Mannion

Live on YouTube, Bob Boilen and Kevin Cole will watch their favorites entries to the 2020 Contest and discuss what made them stand out from the thousands we saw this year.

Music & Culture

'The Go-Go's' Documentary Offers A Look At The All-Female Band's Journey To Stardom

4:33pm July 30, 2020

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with guitarist Charlotte Caffey and drummer Gina Schock of The Go-Go's about the new documentary that charts the band's rise to global stardom.

The NPR Ed team analyzed more than 100 pages of data from old issues of Dramatics magazine.

The Most Popular High School Plays And Musicals

12:47pm July 30, 2020

by Elissa Nadworny

Mary Poppins is out and Matilda is in, according to the new high school theater rankings from the Educational Theatre Association. The organization has been publishing its list since 1938.

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Music & Culture

Perfume Genius Believes In The Power Of Change

11:30am July 30, 2020

The artist Mike Hadreas talks about his experience performing in a dance project with Kate Wallich, how that influenced his latest record and perform songs from Set My Heart On Fire Immediately.

Makaya McCraven has a unique style where he makes improvised live recordings, then builds on them in the studio. His new album, which uses this method, is called Universal Beings E&F Sides.

Music & Culture

Drummer Makaya McCraven, The 'Beat Scientist,' Talks About His New Album

10:37am July 30, 2020

The jazz drummer records live performances and then manipulates those recordings in creative ways. His new album pulls from the pool of recordings that shaped his 2018 work, Universal Beings.

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From Organix until Things Fall Apart, Malik B. was a member of The Roots, making guest appearances on 2006's Game Theory.

Music & Culture

Malik B., Early Member Of The Roots, Dies At 47

4:42pm July 29, 2020

by Andrew Flanagan

The Philadelphia rapper was part of the band's first four albums.

Pianist Yuja Wang (pictured), violinist Leonidas Kavakos and several prominent academics have been accused this week of making anti-Black comments.

Music & Culture

Classical Music Tries To Reckon With Racism — On Social Media

1:53pm July 29, 2020

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

Pianist Yuja Wang, violinist Leonidas Kavakos and several prominent academics have been accused this week of making anti-Black comments. Ensuing debates have been playing out on Twitter and Instagram.

Music & Culture

Belated New Music From Drummer Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers Is A Gem

1:51pm July 29, 2020

by Kevin Whitehead

Blakey led his band for almost 40 years, making many classic records with top musicians. Just Coolin', a newly unearthed 1959 recorded studio session, showcases his stylistic precision.

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Hijas del Sol (formerly Sibeba) is featured on this week's The Thistle & Shamrock.

Music & Culture

The Thistle & Shamrock: Salm And Soul

1:30pm July 29, 2020

In this episode, African American gospel and Hebridean psalm singing are explored and celebrated.

A portrait of Peter Green, guitarist and co-founder of rock band Fleetwood Mac, c. 1968.

Remembering Fleetwood Mac Founder Peter Green, The Soulful Voice Of British Blues

11:38am July 29, 2020

by Tom Cole

The guitarist and singer, whose distinctive guitar and soulful voice propelled the band's early success, died over the weekend at the age of 73.