/npr-music-concerts Music features, reviews and "first listens" from NPR. Find more music at ¼ª²ÊÍøÍøÕ¾'s Back Porch Music. en-US Copyright Thu, 03 Apr 2025 19:55:52 GMT /2025-04-03/r-e-m-s-hometown-of-athens-ga-still-welcomes-fans-45-years-after-the-band-started-there R.E.M. played its first concert there in 1980 and still draws fans to its hometown. A visit to Athens can be like a pilgrimage of the band's music. Thu, 03 Apr 2025 19:55:52 GMT /2025-04-03/r-e-m-s-hometown-of-athens-ga-still-welcomes-fans-45-years-after-the-band-started-there Melanie Peeples /2025-04-03/jason-isbell-confronts-the-pain-of-divorce-and-the-possibility-of-new-love Jason Isbell sings about his split from musician Amanda Shires on his latest album Foxes in the Snow. "What I was attempting to do is document a very specific time where I was going through a lot of changes," he says. Thu, 03 Apr 2025 16:22:46 GMT /2025-04-03/jason-isbell-confronts-the-pain-of-divorce-and-the-possibility-of-new-love Terry Gross /2025-04-02/hardcore-has-never-been-more-visible-for-scowl-its-an-opportunity-to-keep-expanding-it Over the last few years, hardcore has transformed from an underground subculture into a mainstream phenomenon. Scowl is one of the unwitting torchbearers for this paradigm shift, but their success hasn't come without tension. Wed, 02 Apr 2025 17:36:25 GMT /2025-04-02/hardcore-has-never-been-more-visible-for-scowl-its-an-opportunity-to-keep-expanding-it Paula Mejía /2025-04-02/zar-electrik-tiny-desk-x-globalfest The trio from Marseille, France taps into a centuries-long tradition of Gnawa music for its Tiny Desk. Wed, 02 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT /2025-04-02/zar-electrik-tiny-desk-x-globalfest Lars Gotrich /2025-04-01/playboi-carti-and-kendrick-lamar-top-the-charts-but-morgan-wallen-looms Playboi Carti's supersized blockbuster MUSIC holds at No. 1 in its second week of release. Elsewhere, Kendrick Lamar's "Luther (feat. SZA)" holds at No. 1and Morgan Wallen charts a fifth top 10 hit from an album that isn't even out yet. Tue, 01 Apr 2025 20:24:05 GMT /2025-04-01/playboi-carti-and-kendrick-lamar-top-the-charts-but-morgan-wallen-looms Stephen Thompson /2025-04-01/albums-by-lucy-dacus-and-jeffrey-lewis-show-the-range-of-confessional-songwriting Dacus mixes confession and intimacy on Forever is a Feeling. The EVEN MORE Freewheelin' Jeffrey Lewis nods to Dylan's early New York City folkie days, with a great song about the pain of existence. Tue, 01 Apr 2025 15:48:52 GMT /2025-04-01/albums-by-lucy-dacus-and-jeffrey-lewis-show-the-range-of-confessional-songwriting Ken Tucker /2025-04-01/chocolate-droppa-tiny-desk-concert Kevin Hart, returning to his Chocolate Droppa moniker, came to the Tiny Desk with a clear mission: Freestyle an entire set "off the dome." Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT /2025-04-01/chocolate-droppa-tiny-desk-concert Alanté Serene /2025-03-31/why-would-a-musician-join-onlyfans-because-making-a-living-is-only-getting-harder In a volatile music industry, some musicians are gravitating towards OnlyFans, a social media platform that has garnered a reputation for hosting sexual content. Mon, 31 Mar 2025 18:46:06 GMT /2025-03-31/why-would-a-musician-join-onlyfans-because-making-a-living-is-only-getting-harder Isabella Gomez Sarmiento /2025-03-31/elida-almeida-tiny-desk-x-globalfest Through her music, Elida Almeida carries the heart — and irresistible rhythms — of Cabo Verde to the world. Mon, 31 Mar 2025 09:00:00 GMT /2025-03-31/elida-almeida-tiny-desk-x-globalfest Ashley Pointer /2025-03-29/artists-descend-on-idahos-treefort-music-fest A visit to the Treefort Music Fest in Boise, Idaho. It started as a springboard to catch artists wrapping up at South by Southwest in Austin, but is becoming a national fixture itself. Sat, 29 Mar 2025 11:47:02 GMT /2025-03-29/artists-descend-on-idahos-treefort-music-fest Kirk Siegler