Accessibility links
NPR Music: Tiny Desk, New Music and Music NewsTiny Desks, All Songs Considered and in-depth features from NPR

Featured Stories

what to read, watch and listen to now

Between founding the string and jug band Carolina Chocolate Drops and winning a Pulitzer Prize and a MacArthur grant, Rhiannon Giddens has become one of folk music's foremost advocates for understanding the crucial role of Black musicians in the history of American roots music. This weekend, a North Carolina-based festival that she curated, Biscuits & Banjos, will feature dozens of Black artists performing and speaking on panels about their experiences in the genre.

Between founding the string and jug band Carolina Chocolate Drops and winning a Pulitzer Prize and a MacArthur grant, Rhiannon Giddens has become one of folk music's foremost advocates for understanding the crucial role of Black musicians in the history of American roots music. This weekend, a North Carolina-based festival that she curated, Biscuits & Banjos, will feature dozens of Black artists performing and speaking on panels about their experiences in the genre. Karen Cox hide caption

toggle caption
Karen Cox

Music

Carolina to 'Cowboy Carter' and back

For musicians like Rhiannon Giddens and Rissi Palmer, trying to break down doors in the folk and country music scenes has been a long road.

Videos

Watch live concerts, studio sessions and music documentaries

More Videos

Video Series

Live Sessions
WFUV
Live Sessions
Tiny Desk
Cameron Robert/NPR
Tiny Desk
Field Recordings
NPR
Field Recordings

Listen Live

public radio music streams

More stations

Playlists

hand-picked songs curated by the NPR Music staff

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - JANUARY 16: Pope Francis waves to thousands of followers as he arrives at the Manila Cathedral on January 16, 2015 in Manila, Philippines. Pope Francis will visit venues across Leyte and Manila during his visit to the Philippines from January 15 - 19. The visit is expected to attract crowds in the millions as Filipino Catholics flock to catch a glimpse of the leader of the Catholic Church in the Philippines for the first time since 1995. The Pope will begin the tour in Manila, then travelling to Tacloban to visit areas devastated by Typhoon Haiyan before returning to Manila to hold a mass at Rizal Park. The Philippines is the only Catholic majority nation in Asia with around 90 percent of the population professing the faith. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - JANUARY 16: Pope Francis waves to thousands of followers as he arrives at the Manila Cathedral on January 16, 2015 in Manila, Philippines. Pope Francis will visit venues across Leyte and Manila during his visit to the Philippines from January 15 - 19. The visit is expected to attract crowds in the millions as Filipino Catholics flock to catch a glimpse of the leader of the Catholic Church in the Philippines for the first time since 1995. The Pope will begin the tour in Manila, then travelling to Tacloban to visit areas devastated by Typhoon Haiyan before returning to Manila to hold a mass at Rizal Park. The Philippines is the only Catholic majority nation in Asia with around 90 percent of the population professing the faith. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images/Getty Images AsiaPac hide caption

toggle caption
Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images/Getty Images AsiaPac

Music

NPR Classical

Did you know that Pope Francis was a music nerd? He had a keen ear, a favorite record shop and lots of beloved artists. Hear some of his faves – from Bach to Piazzolla – and a few more that might have caught his ear.


Comic book artist Daniel Warren Johnson (Murder Falcon, Extremity) illustrates the music of Viking's Choice. Horns up!
Enlarge this image

Comic book artist Daniel Warren Johnson (Murder Falcon, Extremity) illustrates the music of Viking's Choice. Horns up! Daniel Warren Johnson hide caption

toggle caption
Daniel Warren Johnson
Comic book artist Daniel Warren Johnson (Murder Falcon, Extremity) illustrates the music of Viking's Choice. Horns up!

Comic book artist Daniel Warren Johnson (Murder Falcon, Extremity) illustrates the music of Viking's Choice. Horns up!

Daniel Warren Johnson

New Music

Viking's Choice

A mixtape featuring Fine China's dusky and dreamy Morella's Forest cover, Kaleidoscope's psychedelic hardcore, Tortoise's intricate chill.

Programs

public radio music shows

close