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Live On World Cafe: Our Favorite Performances Of 2017

Ryan Adams performs live at the World Cafe 25th anniversary concert in Philadelphia.
Joe Del Tufo
/
WXPN
Ryan Adams performs live at the World Cafe 25th anniversary concert in Philadelphia.

Over the past year, we've had some unbelievable artists walk through our studio doors and melt our musical minds. Laura Marling nailed a live vocal performance so perfect you might swear you're hearing a studio mix she'd worked on for weeks rather than a live one-off. David Crosby rearranged CSNY harmonies for a young band of Brooklyn's brightest on the Joni-Mitchell-penned tune "Woodstock." Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit rocked. Tash Sultana shredded. Blondie soared. Ryan Adams wailed. Rhiannon Giddens moved us. And Father John Misty delivered a live rendition of "Pure Comedy" that, dare I say it, is even more powerful than the album version.

As we near the end of 2017, we've assembled two full hours of World Cafe moments from the past year that made us go "whoa." Listen (and also go "whoa") in the player above.

Copyright 2017 XPN

Talia Schlanger hosts World Cafe, which is distributed by NPR and produced by WXPN, the public radio service of the University of Pennsylvania. She got her start in broadcasting at the CBC, Canada's national public broadcaster. She hosted CBC Radio 2 Weekend Mornings on radio and was the on-camera host for two seasons of the television series CBC Music: Backstage, as well as several prime-time music TV specials for CBC, including the Quietest Concert Ever: On Fundy's Ocean Floor. Schlanger also guest hosted various flagship shows on CBC Radio One, including As It Happens, Day 6 and Because News. Schlanger also won a Canadian Screen Award as a producer for CBC Music Presents: The Beetle Roadtrip Sessions, a cross-country rock 'n' roll road trip.