NPR’s ‘World Cafe’ Launches Nashville Hub To Serve As Southern US Content Bureau

NPR Music and NPR-distributed World Cafe has launched a Nashville-based outpost to serve as its Southern US bureau for NPR music journalism.

World Cafe Nashville will debut with two special events at City Winery. On Oct. 27, a VIP reception for music industry members and media will precede a solo performance from Eric Church. On Oct. 28, Steelism, Lera Lynn, Caitlin Rose, and Ruby Amanfu will perform. Both shows are free, with tickets to be distributed via World Cafe and WMOT.

Through World Cafe Nashville, the WXPN/Philadelphia-produced World Cafe music program and NPR Music will expand coverage of the depth and diversity of music coming from Nashville and the Southern United States, through artist recording sessions, interviews and other activities.

World Cafe is hosted by David Dye and heard on more than 200 US radio stations, including Nashville-area public radio station WMOT-FM/Roots Radio 89.5. World Cafe also produces two weekly podcasts: World Cafe Words and Music, featuring music and conversation from a variety of musicians, and World Cafe Next, which highlights up-and-coming artists.

Dye said, “This commitment to a deeper dive on World Cafe into the music of Nashville and places like Muscle Shoals, Memphis, Atlanta and New Orleans is central to our exploration of regional roots music, whether it be Americana, R&B, gospel, blues or rock. This will be musical discovery with a southern accent.”

Nashville-based critic and correspondent for NPR Music and World Cafe contributor Ann Powers said, “Living here, I’ve come to believe it’s the most exciting music city in the country right now. Nashville has it all: an incomparably rich musical legacy; a core of working musicians who’ve made lives here and are behind many of the past half-century’s most memorable recordings; and an ever-expanding group of younger musicians making the Nashville sound ever more wide-reaching and innovative, while still grounded in America’s musical roots. World Cafe’s commitment to musical eclecticism matches the spirit of the Nashville I’ve come to love, and of the South in general in this decade, where so many surprises emerge from the seedbed of tradition.”

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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