World Cafe

When The Decemberists came by the World Cafe to play a live set of their new music, band leader Colin Meloy joked about having multiple songs about “agriculture and death.” On the next World Cafe, Meloy talks about how he actually decides what to write about, why the band’s latest album is in some ways a reaction to their last one, and he reveals what song on the new record came to him in a dream.

Billy Allen and Jay Burgess were session musicians at the legendary FAME studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Both had their own musical projects, Billy was a solo artist, and Burgess founded the band “The Pollies.” A collaboration at FAME over a Little Richard song led to the formation of Billy Allen + The Pollies. The retro-rock and blues band’s debut album, Black Noise, is due out later this year. Join us for a mini concert with Billie Allen + The Pollies, on the next World Cafe.

Prince’s iconic song “Purple Rain” was originally intended to be a country ballad…sung by Stevie Nicks! On the next World Cafe, correspondent John Morrison joins us to talk about Prince’s most popular album, as well as the movie Purple Rain, which turns 40 this year. He also discusses how the success of Purple Rain elevated Prince’s career to new heights.

For years, Talia Schlanger interviewed musicians about their craft as the host of World Cafe. And then she quit her job to pursue the career she spent so much time talking about. Her debut album is called Grace for the Going. On the next World Cafe, Talia joins us to talk about the journey from radio host to recording musician and performs in front of a live audience.

At 85 years old, Mavis Staples is still singing songs with messages of hope and justice. On the next World Cafe, hear an interview from the archives in honor of her birthday earlier this month. Mavis tells stories about her long friendship with Aretha Franklin, working with Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, and writing songs that Dr. Martin Luther King used at Civil Rights rallies.

When Fabi Reyna of Reyna Tropical unexpectedly lost her musical partner, Nectali “Sumohair” Diaz, she wasn’t sure if the band they’d started together would continue. Instead, Reyna poured her grief and love for her bandmate into the music they had been making. On the next World Cafe. Reyna joins us to talk about recording Reyna Tropical’s debut album, Malegria, plus the band performs live.

Scott McMicken had been working alone on his debut solo album for over a year and a half, when he realized something was missing. So, McMicken tried something radically different: He drafted a roster of musicians he’d never worked with before. That leap of faith resulted in a project called Scott McMicken and the Ever-Expanding. He joins us on the next World Cafe to explain why it was one of the best decisions he’s ever made.

Clairo was a senior in high school when she shot a music video for her song “Pretty Girl” in her bedroom and uploaded it to YouTube where it has racked up over 100-million views. Since then, Clairo has released three full-length albums and has toured with artists like Tame Impala. Clairo performs and tells stories about her life and career on the next World Cafe.

When The Red Clay Strays’ song “Wondering Why” was released in 2022, it started as a TikTok sensation before becoming a mainstream hit, and had the band from Mobile, Alabama moving to bigger venues as their tour dates rapidly sold out. The Red Clay Strays are about to release their second album later this month and they perform a live mini concert with old and new music, on the next World Cafe.

Right now, it is good to be Ani DiFranco. She just finished a run on the Tony award winning musical “Hadestown”, is the subject of a new documentary, “1-800-On-Her-Own” and just released her 22nd album. DiFranco joins World Cafe to talk about working with a producer for the first time in her career, and why performing on Broadway is nothing like playing a concert.