From Rome’s underground psychedelia to classical and cinematic composers, World Cafe’s Sense of Place: Rome series explores the country’s rich musical present and storied past. Produced by WXPN and distributed by NPR, the nationally syndicated radio show airs on over 300 stations across the U.S. and streams online at NPR Music and XPN.org.

“There's lots to see in Rome: incredible architecture, ancient ruins and priceless artworks. But there’s also so much to hear,” says World Cafe host Raina Douris. “For our Sense of Place: Rome series, you’ll explore Italy's modern musical history with a visit to the studio where Ennio Morricone recorded masterpieces and a record label dedicated to preserving lost B-movie soundtracks. And, step into the present with sessions from a new generation of Italian artists in this country renowned for its endless creativity.”

Highlights from the series include:

June 20 – Four Flies Records
A Rome-based label with a unique mission: recovering and reissuing Italian B-movie soundtracks from the 1960s–80s. Founder Pier De Sanctis shares the stories behind these cinematic gems.
June 23 – Weird Bloom
The sound of 70s psychedelic glam rock lives on in Rome. Frontman Luca Di Cataldo talks about his work with producer Don Bolles and cultivating a local music scene through his indie label and studio, Pom Pom.
June 24 – Laila al Habash
The Rome-born, Milan-based artist shares why she writes in Italian, how her Palestinian roots inspire her music, and performs songs from her latest EP and upcoming album Tempo.
June 25 – Ludovico Einaudi
One of the most-streamed classical composers in the world, Einaudi reflects on memory, family, and his latest album The Summer Portraits, plus the story behind his Arctic piano performance.
June 26 – Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi on Rome
This encore episode revisits the duo’s cinematic 2011 album Rome, recorded at the legendary Forum Studios with a nod to Spaghetti Western soundtracks and Morricone’s legacy.
June 27 – Forum Studios
Go inside the famed Roman studio founded by Ennio Morricone and other composers in 1969. Instruments from classic soundtracks still echo through this space—and its story lives on through the studio’s current director.
June 30 – Black Snake Moan
A one-man psychedelic blues band channeling the spirit of the American Southwest—while drawing from his own roots in the Italian countryside. Featuring a live set recorded at Studio 33 in Rome.
July 1 – Six Bars Jail
This all-volunteer-run folk club outside Florence has hosted fingerstyle guitarists from around the globe since 2006. Hear how the tradition continues in an intimate and unexpected setting.
July 2 – Ariete
A rising Italian pop star with a soulful, introspective style, Ariete talks about coming of age in music, earning her family’s support, and what really launched her career—plus it's a stripped-down session from Studio 33.

About World Cafe

Launched in 1991, World Cafe is produced by WXPN/Philadelphia and distributed by NPR to over 300 public radio stations nationwide. Heard by close to 600,000 listeners each week, it’s widely recognized as an influential source for music discovery. Hosted by Raina Douris with contributing host Stephen Kallao, the daily two-hour program features artist interviews and in-studio performances spanning indie rock, Americana, soul, world music, and more. Both the daily World Cafe and weekly Conversations from the World Cafe spotlight emerging and established artists from around the globe.

WXPN, the nationally recognized leader in Triple A radio and the premier guide for discovering new and significant artists in rock, blues, roots, and folk, is the non-commercial, member-supported, public radio service of the University of Pennsylvania. WXPN produces the Peabody Award-winning Kids Corner which now offers a 24-hour family music streaming service. WXPN produces XPoNential Radio on XPN2 as its secondary radio channel in HD, also available online. www.xpn.org.

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