Longtime Cincinnati public radio station WVXU (91.7 FM; wvxu.org) has announced its second-annual concert featuring local bands and solo artists who submitted videos for NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, a nationwide contest launched in 2015 that plays off of the popular Tiny Desk Concerts series.
The concept of the original series is surprisingly simple, yet remarkably ingenious. Its origins fit that narrative well, too, and its success is indicative of a large base of music fans that still crave direct, intimate musical expression and experiences. Bob Boilen, the host of NPR’s nationally-syndicated All Songs Considered and the face and figurehead of Tiny Desk, was handed the series’ model as a jokey aside while attending Texas’ South By Southwest conference/showcase in 2008.
After becoming frustrated with a live showcase by a singer/songwriter because he couldn’t hear her well (due to the rowdy crowd’s enthusiasm for the basketball games on the bar’s TVs), a colleague suggested to the musician who was performing that she just comes to their office and play. Within a month, the artist — Laura Gibson — showed up at NPR’s Washington D.C. headquarters and, around a desk in the office, the staff set up a few microphones and a camera to film. Nothing fancy, just a musician playing music in front of you, as if it were in your own office.
The lack of any real sound or video post-production work (and the way the show makes the performers adapt to the small space, forcing them to strip away some volume and a lot of extra equipment) added to that directness, and music lovers (particularly NPR-loving ones) were hooked. Posted on YouTube and NPR's site in video form and available as an audio podcast, the series (filmed at Boilen’s actual desk) has showcased an incredibly eclectic range of artists — from new to established — who come from an equally eclectic variety of genres. Tiny Desk Concerts have been performed by Adele, The Avett Brothres, Phoenix, Leon Bridges, T-Pain (WITHOUT Auto-Tune!), Yo Yo Ma, Moby, Anderson.Paak, CHVRCHES, Chris Stapleton, Sylvan Esso, Esperanza Spalding, Classical harpist Yolanda Kondonassis, Turtle Island String Quartet, Moon Hooch, Kronos Quartet, John Legend, Rodney Crowell, Rodrigo Amarante, Banks, J. Mascis, Dan Deacon, Terrence Blanchard, Torres, Anthony Hamilton, Chick Corea & Gary Burton, Blue Man Group, Gucci Mane, Run the Jewels, Sampha and many, many others. The “concerts” — between 10-20 minutes long, usually — have helped expose curious listeners to music they otherwise wouldn’t have heard and gives performing artists a chance to offer their fanbase something new and different.
The Tiny Desk Contest began three years ago as a way to discover lesser-known talent from across the country. Video submissions are uploaded to YouTube and show the artist performing an original song behind any desk they deem suitable. Over the past three years, the contest has attracted thousands of video submissions from every type of act imaginable, all vying for (again, fittingly) a fairly simple main prize — their very own official Tiny Desk Concert. (The first year’s winner was Bay-area Roots artist Fantastic Negrito, last year’s contest was won by experimental Minnesota violinist/songwriter Gaelynn Lea and this year’s winner was New Orleans-based Funk/Soul band Tank and the Bangas.)
Greater Cincinnati may have not produced a Tiny Desk Contest winner (YET), but it has certainly been well represented in the submissions each year. According to WVXU, 91 entries have come from our area since the contest began three years ago.
WVXU has enlisted 16 acts from Greater Cincinnati (more may be added) that submitted to the 2017 contest to perform at this summer’s Tiny Desk Showcase 2017 event, marking the second year for the concert. The Showcase takes place July 29 at Newport, Ky.’s Southgate House Revival; tickets are available now. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to help WVXU.
Announced to appear at the 2017 Tiny Desk Showcase: Anew To Wander, Elk Creek, Greg Mahan, Jack Burton Overdrive, Jen Creasey, JetLab, Knotts, Mega Pixel, Nick Kizirnis, The Matildas, Emily Parker, Maurice Mattei, Brianna Kelly, Adam Stone, Lauren Eylise and Tooth Lures A Fang. Check out some of their Tiny Desk submissions below (and click here for more local 2017 submissions).
