World Cafe Playlist for 03/18/2026

Ratboys joins host Stephen Kallao

Chicago indie band Ratboys ventured into Wisconsin’s Driftless Area to record their new album, Singin’ to an Empty Chair. Coming up, lead singer Julia Steiner will talk about how employing the “empty chair” technique helped her shape the emotional center of the record. Plus, we’ll hear live performances from the new album.

Listen to the session here.

Today’s Playlist

Bruce Cockburn “Great Big Love” Nothing But A Burning Light

Ratboys “What’s Right” Recorded Live for World Cafe

Ratboys “Light Night Mountains All That” Recorded Live for World Cafe

Ratboys “Strange Love” Recorded Live for World Cafe

Ratboys “Just Want You To Know The Truth” Singin’ To An Empty Chair

Ratboys “Penny In The Lake” Recorded Live for World Cafe

Foxygen “How Can You Really” WC Recording

Florry “Hey Baby” Sounds Like… Florry

Geese “100 Horses” Getting Killed

Horsegirl “Switch Over” Phonetics On and On

Noah Gundersen “Ledges” WC Recording

Noah Kahan “The Great Divide” The Great Divide

Mt. Joy “Astrovan” Mt. Joy

Joni Mitchell “Big Yellow Taxi” Ladies Of The Canyon

Hour Two

Sharp Pins “I Don’t Have The Heart” Balloon Balloon Balloon

The Kinks “Tired Of Waiting” Greatest Hits

Gia Margaret “Good Friend” Singing

The xx “On Hold” I See You

Father John Misty “I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All” Mahashmashana

Erin McKeown “The Jailer” Manifestra

Erin McKeown “Blackbirds” Recorded Live for World Cafe

Aaron Neville “Respect Yourself” Recorded Live for World Cafe

Alex Amen “Cabin By The Sea” (single)

Steve Goodman “City of New Orleans” Steve Goodman

Lucinda Williams “Metal Firecracker” Car Wheels On A Gravel Road

Kurt Vile “Loading Zones” WC Recording

Johnny Blue Skies “Situation” Mutiny After Midnight

Bob Dylan “Tombstone Blues” Highway 61 Revisited

Creedence Clearwater Revival “Green River” Green River”