World Cafe

The Colorado Sound brings you World Cafe from 10pm to midnight MT every weeknight. Hosted by Raina Douris, the two-hour program features a mix of interviews and in-studio performances from established and emerging artists across multiple genres, from folk to hip-hop, indie rock and Americana to world music and soul.

Produced by Philadelphia’s WXPN and launched in 1991, World Cafe is now heard on some 200 stations across the NPR network. It is considered to be the nation’s most listened-to public radio music program.

Below is this week’s World Cafe schedule. See the World Cafe website for an archive of previous show schedules and music playlists.

World Cafe’s upcoming schedule on The Colorado Sound

Listen to the World Cafe every Monday through Friday evening starting at 10pm MT on The Colorado Sound.

Monday, December 9th, 2024 – Orla Gartland

Irish musician Orla Gartland is a truly independent, self-funded artist. That means the work she put into her latest album, Everybody Needs A Hero, goes way beyond songwriting. On the next World Cafe, Gartland joins us to talk about how she makes it work, how she got her start on YouTube, plus she performs live in the World Cafe studio.

Tuesday, December 10th, 2024 – Local Natives Mini Concert

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of longtime indie-rock outfit Local Natives. The Orange County band first made their mark in the late aughts with the release of Gorilla Manor, and this year, the band released But I’ll Wait For You, a companion album to 2023’s Time Will Wait For No One. On the next World Cafe, hear Local Natives play a mini-concert recorded live at KUTX in Austin, Texas.

Wednesday, December 11th, 2024 – Elsy Wameyo

Elsy Wameyo was born in Kenya but grew up in Australia. Duality is at the heart of Saint Sinner – the standout debut from the up-and-coming singer-songwriter, rapper, and producer. Elsy talks about writing and recording Saint Sinner with a newfound perspective, and how she found her true home. With performances from Nairobi, it’s Elsy Wameyo on the next World Cafe.

Thursday, December 12th, 2024 – Encore: Kacey Musgraves

Kacey Musgraves’ new album, Deeper Well, sees the songwriter entering her mid-30s with a deeper understanding of herself, what she wants, and what she doesn’t want. Kacey talks about asking big life questions and about welcoming this new phase by recording in a new setting: Electric Lady Studio in New York City. That’s on the next World Cafe.

Friday, December 13th, 2024 – Lupe Fiasco

Lupe Fiasco is one hip-hop’s most gifted lyricists; words seem to effortlessly flow out of him. But, he doesn’t think there’s anything magical about that talent. As he explains on the next World Cafe, rap is a purely scholastic endeavor for him – a skill that takes practice and study to hone. Lupe also talks about his role as co-founder of the Society of Spoken Arts and as a visiting professor at MIT. Join us.

Monday, December 16th, 2024 – Encore: The Black Keys

The Black Keys have been on a tear, releasing four albums in under half a decade. Their latest, Ohio Players, is a blast. Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach wanted to recreate the energy of their early records and invited some friends along, including Beck who co-wrote several songs on the album, and Oasis’s Noel Gallagher, who’d never written with another band before. Patrick and Dan join World Cafe to talk about a “back-to-fun” approach, and to share live performances from this year’s South by Southwest.

Tuesday, December 17th, 2024 – John Morrison on Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones was a peerless figure in popular music. He passed away in November at the age of 91, and on the next World Cafe, Culture Corner correspondent John Morrison takes you through some of Quincy Jones’ work in pop, jazz, and film, as he shows how pretty much all of post-World War II popular music can be traced along Quincy Jones’ career.

Wednesday, December 18th, 2024 – Acadiana Music Highlight: The Debtors

We return to Louisiana’s Cajun Country with a new installment of our monthly series Acadiana Music Showcase, produced in conjunction with our friends at KRVS in Lafayette, LA. Experience a live performance from the indie rock quintet The Debtors, that includes music from their latest album Everyone is Alright, on the next World Cafe.

Thursday, December 19th, 2024 – King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

This summer, King Gizzard and Lizard Wizard released their 26th album, Flight b741, their most collaborative album to date. But before World Cafe could tape our interview with them, the band announced a new album, next year’s Phantom Island. Exploring new sonic territory as usual, it’s their first record written and performed with an orchestra. Hear about both albums on the next World Cafe.

Friday, December 20th, 2024 – Nardwuar

Known for his uncanny ability to unearth surprising facts about some of the world’s most famous musicians, Nardwuar has become a legendary interviewer in the process. On the next World Cafe, the Canadian music journalist shares behind-the-scenes stories of some his most memorable encounters, including Snoop Dogg, Kurt Cobain, and James Brown. Plus, we dig into what drives his unrelenting curiosity.

Monday, December 23rd, 2024 – Best of the Year Encores: Feist / Sampha

Tuesday, December 24th, 2024 – DJ Robert Drake Xmas Eve Mix

Wednesday, December 25th, 2024 – Ben Folds Christmas

Thursday, December 26th, 2024 – Best of the Year Encores: Abdullah Ibrahim / Jon Muq

Friday, December 27th, 2024 – Best of the Year Encores: Nick Cave / Gillian Welch and David Rawlings

See the World Cafe website for an archive of previous shows and music playlists from each episode.

World Cafe airs weekdays from 10pm to midnight MT on The Colorado Sound.