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Blending Beatles-style pop with hooky guitar-rock and a great ear for melody, the Nova Scotia band Sloan has spent 15 years at or near the forefront of an ongoing power-pop revival. The recent Never Hear the End of It represents a major leap forward for the group.
After an eight-year hiatus, the singer returns with an album, interview and in-studio performance.
Hear Rufus Wainwright recorded live in concert from New York's Gramercy Theater.
From NPR Music and member station WXPN, hear a live mix of rock, folk, country and more in a series of concerts, webcast Fridays at noon ET on NPR.org. Also featuring archived performances by Alexi Murdoch, They Might Be Giants, Allison Moorer, Alejandro Escovedo, Keb Mo, Rosanne Cash and more.
June 9, 2007 · Slavic Soul Party mixes the "messed-up" rhythms of the Balkans with gypsy music, funk and jazz for a sound that brings young hipsters and older immigrants together in the same room. Hear an interview with band leader Matt Moran, as well as a studio performance of new songs. Web Extra: Hear the Performance
June 8, 2007 · One of the most important ska bands of all time, The English Beat helped revive the genre in the early '80s. Influenced by pop, punk and reggae, the group tackled political themes on its classic albums. Hear an interview and in-studio performance with singer Dave Wakeling.
June 8, 2007 · Armed with a deep catalog of sweetly rustic, warmly melancholic folk-pop, the Ontario band Great Lake Swimmers has become something of a word-of-mouth sensation. Hear Great Lake Swimmers perform a concert from WXPN and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia.
June 7, 2007 · A Bronx-based duo, Pacha Massive blends the rhythms of bemebe, reggae, palo and meringue. The resulting mixture straddles the lines separating Latin music, drum-and-bass, dancehall and trip-hop. Hear an interview and in-studio performance.
June 6, 2007 · Alternating between carefree indie-rock and melancholy synth-pop, the North Carolina husband-and-wife duo The Rosebuds writes some of the year's catchiest hooks and sing-along choruses. Hear an interview with the band, as well as an in-studio performance.
June 5, 2007 · Led by Alasdair MacLain's breathy vocals and smart lyrics, the London band The Clientele mixes psychedelic melodies and driving guitars into appealing indie-pop — a blend that's caught on quickly with American listeners. Hear an interview and in-studio performance by the band.
June 1, 2007 · Like many rough-voiced singer-songwriters, Forbert has done time as a potential "next Bob Dylan," but he's carved out a distinct niche in an uncompromising career that spans nearly 30 years. Hear Forbert perform a concert from WXPN and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia.
May 30, 2007 · Forro in the Dark gets its name from a style of Brazilian dance music, but it doesn't conform to those limitations, instead drawing on influences from Enrique Iglesias to Beck. Hear an interview with the band, as well as a studio performance of its new songs.
May 29, 2007 · Finn has been writing charming, piano-driven pop and rock music for nearly three decades, both as a solo act and as leader of the new-wave/art-rock band Split Enz. Hear an interview with the New Zealander, as well as in-studio performances of his new songs.
June 11, 2007 · The Swedish pop band's 2006 album Writer's Block earned rave reviews, landed on many year-end Top 10 lists and spawned a left-field pop hit in "Young Folks." Here, its members talk about their music and perform some of their recent material in the studio.
May 25, 2007 · Not quite folk or alt-country, but more than just a rock group, Philadelphia's Hoots & Hellmouth crafts fiery, cathartic roots-rock that the band describes as "new music for old souls." Hear Hoots & Hellmouth perform a concert from WXPN and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia.
May 24, 2007 · After nearly 25 years, the Canadian band continues to thrive, thanks in part to its live shows. Still, the group remains on the relative outskirts of the U.S. music scene, despite stardom at home. Hear an interview with The Tragically Hip, plus songs performed live in the studio.
Tell us your favorite Summer song and why you love it. Selected songs and stories will appear in our annual Summer music feature.
From member station WXPN, host David Dye welcomes acts from the worlds of blues, rock, folk and alternative country.
Listen Online, Noon ET Friday
