World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

Michaela Majoun welcomes British singer-songwriter, David Gray, on this episode of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. His 1998 breakthrough album, White Ladder, sold seven million worldwide, featuring gems like "Babylon" and "This Year's Love". He recently released his tenth disc, called Mutineers. Gray had a difficult journey making the record, as we'll learn in today's interview, and he performs some of the new music live.

avid Dye welcomes The Hold Steady on this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. The ten year-old rock band from Brooklyn is known for singer and lyricist Craig Finn's narratives that take place in a mythical Minneapolis. We'll learn about his musical and literary influences in today's interview. Plus, the band performs some classics, as well as songs from their new album, Teeth Dreams, on stage at World Cafe Live.

Chris Smither is David Dye's guest on the World Cafe. The bluesman, singer, and songwriter has released a new double-disc collection to commemorate his 50 years of music making. It's called Still on the Levee and includes material from throughout his career, re-recorded in his birthplace, New Orleans. He plays for a live audience today and discusses his early days and the advice he would give to his younger self.

Tori Amos is David Dye's guest on this episode of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. The singer-songwriter who released her breakthrough debut, Little Earthquakes, over 20 years ago has continued to challenge herself, exploring genres from to rock to pop to classical over the years. She talks about her musical experimentation today and performs songs from her new release, Unrepentant Geraldines, in front of an audience at World Cafe Live.

On this episode of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN, David Dye welcomes Sarah McLachlan. She recently released her first album in four years, called Shine On, and as we'll learn today, it comes after a particularly traumatic time for the Canadian singer-songwriter, with the passing of her father and her marriage ending. Don't miss this in-depth conversation, plus Sarah McLachlan's live performance.

Ought visit host David Dye on this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. More Than Any Other Day is the new debut album from the four-piece, which formed in Montreal while studying at McGill University in 2012. Their post-punk music was influenced by the student protests that engulfed the city that year, as they'll explain in an insightful interview today. Plus, Ought perform live.

Host David Dye welcomes Jonathan Wilson on this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. His music channels the L.A. folk-rock sound of the '70s, and like-minded bands like Dawes and Father John Misty have sought him out as a producer. A host of collaborators and contributors joined Wilson on his new, second album Fanfare, as he'll discuss today, and Wilson performs with his band before a live audience.

Old Crow Medicine Show visit host David Dye on the World Cafe. Shortly after Doc Watson discovered the band in 2000, they released the popular folk anthem "Wagon Wheel" based on a Bob Dylan outtake. The band, who are now members of the Grand Ole Opry, have a new album called Remedy. It features another Dylan co-write, "Sweet Amarillo," which we'll hear live today, and Old Crow Medicine Show tell the stories behind some of their new songs.

David Dye's guest is Bob Mould on this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. He became one of the most influential artists of the '80s with seminal punk three-piece, H?sker D?. After a venture into dance music, he's released a string of guitar-driven albums since 2005, including the new one, Beauty and Ruin. Mould performs live today, and he'll share the stories from his life that inspired many of the new songs.

David Dye welcomes Dave and Phil Alvin on this episode of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. The brothers formed influential band The Blasters in 1979, but later split up for over a decade. Now reunited, they've released Common Ground, a tribute to bluesman Big Bill Broonzy, whose career spanned the '30s through the '50s. Dave and Phil explain how they reinterpreted his songs and perform some live today.

Kaiser Chiefs visit host David Dye on this episode of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. The indie-rockers' lead albums, Employment and Yours Truly, Angry Mob, were huge successes, including the hit song "Ruby." Now, after a three-year hiatus, Kaiser Chiefs return with Education, Education, Education and War, which they showcase live today, and the band talks about the recent departure of founding member, Nick Hodgson.

On this episode of the World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN, host David Dye welcomes Real Estate. The four-piece New Jersey band released their third indie-rock album, "Atlas," this year. They'll play a live set in the studio and talk about receiving Jeff Tweedy's blessing for the record, which was recorded in the Wilco studio.

Drive-By Truckers join host David Dye on this episode of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. The highly influential Southern rock band have been led through numerous incarnations by songwriters Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley. They'll share about the recording process for the latest release, English Oceans, today, and Drive-By Truckers perform live.

Brett Dennen joins host David Dye on this episode of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. The California singer-songwriter has released five albums since 2004, including the new one, Smoke and Mirrors. He'll play some of his energetic folk-pop songs today, and Dennen will discuss how his music has evolved over the years.

David Dye welcomes Lost In The Trees on this edition of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN. The North Carolina band has released a string of orchestral folk pop albums since singer-songwriter Ari Picker assembled the group in 2007. Their new record, Past Life, is more guitar-driven, as we'll hear in today's live performance. Plus, Picker shares about his songwriting process.