December 2007: Ryan Bingham

South roots country rocker, Ryan Bingham, has a rough style that encapsulates his life struggles on Texas and New Mexico ranching communities. Though he is still young at 26-years-old, his husky voice and mature content makes him appear wise beyond his years. His new album, Mescalito, contains hit after hit of gritty and dense material.
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November 2007: Ingrid Michaelson

Ingrid Michaelson may be compared to artists Fiona Apple and Regina Spektor, but she has definitely staked out her own territory in the music industry. The New York-based singer-songwriter fuses indie pop, folk and alternative in a smooth and unique way, a quality that first attracted her audience via MySpace. Her career has taken off with the release of her second album Girls and Boys. A few songs from the album were featured on the popular television dramas "Grey's Anatomy" and "One Tree Hill." More >>

October 2007: Devendra Banhart

Devendra Banhart's been pegged as the leader of the indie-folk or "freak-folk" movement since his debut back in the early 2000s. Houston native Banhart has been heavily influenced by 60s folk and psychedelia - Bert Jansch, Donovan, Nick Drake, Vashti Bunyan, and Dylan. This immensely talented singer-songwriter has just released his new album Smokey Rolls Down Canyon Mountain. More >>

September 2007: Sea Wolf

World Cafe: Next artist, Sea Wolf is Alex Brown Church, best known as the bassist and co-singer/songwriter for the L.A. indie-rock band Irving. Church, who cut his teeth crafting Irving's neo-psychedelic alt-pop sound, got a big break when his home recordings found their way into the hands of Seattle producer Phil Ek, who's worked on records by The Shins, Band of Horses and Built to Spill. More >>

August 2007: Scott Matthews

Frequently compared to a cross between Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake, English singer-songwriter Scott Matthews crafts an endlessly listenable blend of folk, rock and blues. More >>

July 2007: Hoots & Hellmouth

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." More >>

June 2007: The National

The National's pedigree is becoming harder and harder to trace. There are sketchy suggestions of Leonard Cohen, Grace Paley, Nick Cave, John Ashbery, The Smiths and Tom Waits. They may remind you of distinguished ancestors but, now, The National sound like no one so much as themselves: a meditative rumble that starts in the heart, gets caught in the brain, and resonates outward. More >>

May 2007: Ryan Shaw

Drawing inspiration from great talents such as Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin, Shaw sidesteps the transient quality that so many of today's artists cling to and opts for a more enduring sound that finds fans in both the young and old. When asked to describe what drives him Ryan states "I am a man with a heart for the arts and how it affects the human spirit, and that is what I share." More >>

April 2007: Amy Winehouse

Critics and fans alike rave about her voice, drawing comparisons to Sarah Vaughan, one of her biggest lifelong influences as well as Macy Gray and Lauryn Hill. But the attention hasn't stopped there. Amy is hailed as vibrant and lively, bringing a real voice of human emotion to her lyrics in a genre that has long been focused on the singing alone. More >>

March 2007: Dr. Dog

Filtering classic rock and pop hooks through a willfully lo-fi slacker aesthetic a la Pavement or Guided by Voices, Philadelphia's Dr. Dog are able to sound both timeless and immediate as only the best music can. More >>

February 2007: The Bird & The Bee

The Bird & The Bee is an adult-pop duo from Los Angeles who have been living and loving music almost from birth. Their passion is beginning to pay off in a big way. The Bird & The Bee played the World Cafe Live Tuesday, February 27. This concert was broadcast live on 88.5 FM and online. Listen to the concert archive.

January 2007: Lily Allen

Lily Allen's witty songs about life in London have made her one of the biggest new stars of the year. Thursday, February 28, Lily shared some of her favorite songs (The Clash, Blondie, Kasabian, Jay-Z, and more) as she became a DJ for the evening. Listen to the archive online at YRockOnXPN.org. More >>