Fans eagerly bought all available tickets this month for NPR’s Tiny Desk Fest, the network’s first-ever experiment in opening its popular Tiny Desk Concert series to the public.
NPR announced the festival Oct. 1, inviting fans to visit its studios and see a concert in person. The $50 tickets will grant entry to a live performance Oct. 28–31 followed by a conversation between the artist and an NPR journalist.
There’s a catch, though: The performers will be a surprise.
“[Tiny Desk] is really all about music discovery, and the festival is in that spirit,” said Lauren Onkey, senior director of NPR Music. “The philosophy is not that the Tiny Desk is a genre but that the Tiny Desk audience loves music across genres.”
But NPR has offered some clues on the festival’s website. The first night will feature a hip-hop artist, the second pop-rock, the third indie pop and the final night, R&B. The website also gives additional hints with descriptors: The R&B performer is “graceful” and “emotive,” while the pop-rock musician is a “genre-spanning” “humanitarian.” Otis Hart, senior strategy manager for NPR Music, tweeted some advice.
More than 900 performers have given Tiny Desk concerts since NPR launched them in 2008, according to Onkey. Staged behind the notoriously cluttered Tiny Desk, the 15-minute performances feature artists across all genres, hosted by Bob Boilen of All Songs Considered.
Recent performers have included Lizzo, Taylor Swift, Charly Bliss, Ari Lennox, Mandolin Orange and the cast of Come From Away.
Until now, the only people who have been able to attend the performances in person are NPR employees and their guests. Videos show them clustered in the standing-room-only office around the desk, cheering and dancing.
The concerts have also earned a dedicated and enthusiastic online following, Onkey said.
“The audience that has gathered around Tiny Desk is so passionate. What does it mean to bring the general public to see the Tiny Desk?” she asked. “Tiny Desk is a chance for us to curate the music we love and share it with our audiences.”
Onkey credits NPR member stations and NPR Music employees with helping to build the Tiny Desk’s wide portfolio of artists. Employees excited about new artists recommend artists, and the annual Tiny Desk Contest invites musicians across the nation to compete for a chance to perform at the Tiny Desk. The contest has drawn 6,000 entries each year.
NPR made 130 tickets available for each show, and all were bought within four minutes of going on sale. Some fans took to social media to express disappointment that the tickets were gone so quickly.
Fans who missed out will be able to watch livestreams of the performances, marking the first time NPR has made them available in real time. “We are really jazzed about that,” Onkey said. As with other Tiny Desk shows, the concerts will be edited and posted later as well.
Revenue from ticket sales will support festival costs, including security, food, line staff, editing and other expenses.
Onkey is coy about whether NPR will have other Tiny Desk Fests if the first one is a success.
“It’s somewhat of an experiment,” she said. “But there’s been a lot of excitement.”
I think these Concerts the best thing out here
I love the tiny desk I know it’s short notice my wife birthday is in April I would love to surprise her then or before
Absolutely love these Tiny Desk short 15 min gigs, it’s an amazing concept. I tuned in by sheer chance recentlly and was amazed to see the great Graham Nash and Shane Fontayne…it was really really good……brilliant filming., and it it felt as y=though you were actually there in the room :-)
Just one thing about ticket sales for the public, ..amazed to read tickets sold out so fast, is there a limit per person..?? .perhaps there should be to give everyone a chance to see a show…….Thanks guys, great job
Philip J (North West Wales) UK
I stumbled on these by accident while searching for live performances of Lizzo on YouTube. No only did I find her, but I was blown away by the wide variety of unknown or otherwise amazing vunderground artists who I probably would have never heard of otherwise. What I love about this format is how raw and authentic the artists are. There is no fluff, no frills, no auto tune, no tracks, no unnecessary props or other over the top distractions. Just pure, unadulterated music…no chasers. I love it–this is what music should be all about. I am so tired of what the music industry has become. It would be great to see the mainstream music industry return to just being about the music.
I love the raw nature of the music…REAL musicians playing real instruments and real singing! AND the audience is not hollering and singing over the artist! That’s enough for me.
As many here, I stumbled upon these as well. And would love to be present. I live in KC and would definitely make this a pilgrimage just for this..
Love NPR!
LOVE TINY DESK!
The sound of real voices and real musicians is literally music to my ears!! No auto-tunes, no flashy videos and over the top antics, just pure music!! This is wonderful!! Thank you NPR Tiny Desk!!!!
Looking forward to flying out 2021, to share the experience of a live show soon. Please keep us posted.
I would love to come out to a tiny desk concert with my with daughter and son for my 60th Birthday.We are huge fans and have been watching on YouTube.I know we are in the middle of a pandemic at the moment,but if any tickets become available in the future I would be interested.
Thank you for your time
Kind regards
Michael Sandiford
New Orleans girl need a vacation It’s hurricane season need an outing instead of worrying about losing everything again would love to see a tiny desk concert