Devendra Banhart was named by guru Maharaji Prem Rawat. In an Indian myth, Devendra is identified as "king of gods." cripplecrow.com

Sea Wolf is Alex Brown Church, best known as the bassist and co-singer/songwriter for the L.A. indie-rock band Irving.

Amy Winehouse has exploded onto the UK pop scene as a retro-inspired, yet fiercely liberated, very modern soul singer. Her joyful clash of pop jazz stylings with brash hip-hop attitude and powerful vocals has turned more than just heads.

Lily Allen is the 21-year-old singer/songwriter who has been tearing up the web lately. As a young girl, she went to 13 different schools and never had time to make enduring friendships, so music became her lifeline.

Vampire Weekend has emerged from the fertile New York indie-rock scene. All four of its members met while attending Columbia University. Still, they stick out of the crowd for two reasons.

It's not hard to see why Melody Gardot's debut album Worrisome Heart (Verve) has already established her as one of music's most exciting new discoveries. The 23-year-old chanteuse's songs offer deeply compelling evocations of love, {readmorelink}Read More...{/readmorelink}

So who is Gnarls Barkley? It seems that, in the music world, Gnarls Barkley is always nearby yet impossible to find. The membership rolls of both the Atlanta hip-hop collective Dungeon Family and Athens, Georgia's psychedelic enclave Elephant Six list Barkley as an affiliate, but mention him to either group and they'll shoot each other frightened looks and start talking basketball. {readmorelink}Read More...{/readmorelink}

Britain's Guillemots are a young band greatly skilled at fusing unique sonic textures to their catchy and uplifting music. {readmorelink}Read More...{/readmorelink}

For a band no one outside of New York had heard before June 2005, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah have certainly done well for themselves. Their success is even more impressive when you consider the fact that they aren't signed to a record label,

Live Concert Broadcast and Webcast Fridays At Noon

From NPR Music and WXPN, hear a live mix of roots rock, folk, country and more.

Made possible by XPN Members, and Comcast.

This Friday at noon, join us as we welcome the southern based singer-songwriter Todd Snider for a free concert at the World Cafe.

Though Todd Snider's roots trace back to Portland, Oregon, his music branches across headstrong southern styles from Austin, Houston and Atlanta. After moving to Memphis in the 1980's, he became a local favorite at The Daily Planet club, where he was discovered by Keith Sykes (Buffet's Coral Reefer Band) and later signed to Margaritaville Records. Upon releasing his debut album "Songs for the Daily Planet" in 1994, Snider's sharp wit and satirical lyricism gained him sizeable recognition for the minor hit "Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues," a punchy alt-rock tune that earned comparisons to Lyle Lovett and Jerry Jeff Walker. By the time he released his third album "Viva Satellite," his blend of bluegrass, blues, folk-rock and country was instantly recognizeable. As he moved towards a more electronic based sound, he was endlessly compared to Tom Petty, demonstrating that somewhere along the lines of his defining style there was something particularly familiar and comforting about his new sound.

And with the over 10 albums under his name, Snider continues to impress his fans with an incredible sense of honesty, enchanting and witty narration, and relentless optimism. Pairing cheerful storytelling with political commentary and a bluesy rock style, his latest album "The Excitement Plan" intends to bring hope in time of struggle. As Snider retrospectively states "I know right now that times are hard for all of us... These 12 songs can be part of your solution. Just give them a chance. Take them in. Use 'em to help you appreciate your girl if you still got one, and/or your job if you still got one."

Recent Performances - Archived at NPR.org/music

Website: http://www.toddsnider.net
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/toddsnider
Recent Release: The Excitement Plan
Release Date: June 9, 2009
Label: Yep Roc
Origin: Nashville, Tennessee

PARKING NOTICE

Due to the construction in the area, free parking is no longer available for XPN Free At Noon shows. Metered parking on 31st street is no longer available, and metered parking on Walnut Street is extremely limited as a result of the closure and reconstruction of the South Street Bridge, and the rerouting of traffic onto Walnut Street.

Public transportation to XPN Free At Noon is recommended. WXPN has made arrangements with the University of Pennsylvania to open UPENN Lot #26 on Walnut Street between the hours of 10:30am and 2pm every Friday. If you must drive, you can park there (Cost is $5.00). Entrance to the Lot 26 is on Walnut Street, just east of 32nd street. Here's a link to Penn's Parking map.

Serving People in Need - Help Drive Hunger from Our Communities

When you come to XPN's Free At Noon Concerts, bring a can of food to support Philabundance, Delaware Valley's hunger relief organization. We have drop-off boxes to collect canned goods for the needy. Current priority items include: canned pasta, chili, beef stew, tuna, mac & cheese, ready to eat cereal, pork & beans/ baked beans, green beans, corn, fruit cocktail, creamy peanut butter and/ or grape jelly (plastic containers only), and boxed sugar. Thanks!

WXPN and NPR Music Live Friday Free At Noon Concert Archives Include:

Dr. Dog, Carrie Rodriguez, Annuals, DeVotchKa, Adele, Angel Taylor, Winterpills, Sharon Little, Ollabelle, Andrew Lipke, The Low Anthem, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Sean Lennon, Chris Smith, California Guitar trio, Joan Osborne, Disco Biscuits, Damien Rice, Cold War Kids, Marc Broussard, The Slip, Arlo Guthrie, Alice Smith, The Dears, Barenaked Ladies, and more...

WXPN Free at Noon Photo Gallery at Flickr
Click to visit our gallery for photos of the Free At Noon Concerts! Previous concerts include Hall & Oates, O.A.R., Citizen Cope, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kaki King and many more!