Abigail Washburn: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Abigail Washburn planned to study law at Beijing University, but her love of bluegrass landed her a record deal instead. Still, China remains in her heart: Her latest album, City of Refuge, mixes American bluegrass with Chinese folk music. Watch her play songs from the album at the NPR Music offices.
Set List:
"City of Refuge"
"Taiyang Chulai"
"Bring Me My Queen"
For more, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts

[@1Kvanders]

She and Bela recently did an interview on NPR that was excellent. You can tell by the way she laughs that she's humble.

[@rebeccatighe1505]

It's been re-released in September 2021. I listened to it three times! The unedited version is the best. If you are curious, check out On Being with Krista Tippet: Truth, Beauty, and Banjo.

[@kubasroka3631]

Thank You so much for every single guy from Your band team. Every single instrument was to me priceless. I was crying for 18 minutes because its so beauty what You have created. Thank You.

[@Evangalise]

So awesome! Just watching her between songs makes you feel like you know her. Her music is a whole new animal.

[@ted1091]

I found her through Pete Seeger's 90th birthday. I knew everyone else on stage except her. So I did a little research. So worth it.

[@emtsnake84]

Taiyang chulai proves that music is the universal language. I have no clue what she's saying, but damn if my foot ain't tappin to the beat. Really awesome music.

[@Yebbi2345]

Abigail's TED Talk was inspiring! Love the way she speaks Chinese. Amazing talent and vision.

[@outerloop]

Me and my friends were hanging with Abigail that night at IBMA playing music and standing around goofing off. I remember talk of Vermont and China that evening. I was intrigued by her in those moments it seemed others were too that evening. I went and watched an incredible jam in the stairwell. I guess all that other stuff happened later lol! After I was gone. Awesome lady, beautiful music.

[@Discrimination_is_not_a_right]

Whoever recorded this did a fantastic job. The band's pretty good, too ;D

[@rtree99]

Love this venue.

[@UkiMalefu]

Video ends too soon, I wanted more! She's just great.

[@ekzoekzo]

that was just great!

[@danielhamilton5437]

Supreme talent!

[@DjangoClouds]

This is crazy stuff! Her bluegrass is great and the Chinese stuff is great too - love it!

[@PipistrellaVideo]

I LOVE HER

[@bfrsh]

i love her

[@134Blake]

Wow- This is great

[@lawrenceleong8747]

What a voice!

[@jackthesedays]

so so so so so damn good

[@sadie376]

I wasn't expecting to see anyone singing in Mandarin when I started looking for Banjo content...

[@rachlovesthebeatles]

this is great :)

[@CFLanger]

Where is the Ultra-Like button? I'll press it a gazillion times!

[@meltsintowonder]

Hell yes!!!

[@tom1600x1050]

Wow!

[@muelleici]

wow Abigail !

[@halliebethW82]

Wow. That was a singularity,

[@Ziglett55]

her banjo is freakin' awesome

[@rothcam2]

Very interesting music.

[@yargeht]

beauty. listen to anything she sings in Mandarin. It will make everything beautiful.

[@hmmm56]

Really wonderful, so nice to hear AW live...who was in the band?

[@xyoungwx]

coool

[@sanjuancb]

You can hear Doc Watson's influence on her from the very first song---it is rife with the tune "Sugar Baby".

[@zaimipek]

If any of you reading this comment haven't seen her TED Talk video, you really should.

[@MajorDumperoo]

Bowties are cool.

[@kengamble8595]

Such beautiful eyes..... and the rest of her ain't bad either ! 😊

[@doowopper1951]

She should be nicknamed "Sparkles", because that is what she does. She has a natural beauty that puts the Kardasians, and the like, to shame.

[@sugarbum99]

@@doowopper1951 not even worth mentioning! There is no comparison. Her talent alone. Also, she’s a natural beauty 😊

[@ShenSpirit]

I do believe I'm in love.

[@BeTheBanjoTips]

I just want to put this out there, not to start an argument. But if anyone comes by an likes what they see. This is "Clawhammer" banjo and not bluegrass. Very different styles and I'm pretty sure Abigail would like that cleared up. In one interview/ performance, the interviewer makes a comment about her bluegrass banjo playing. She instantly corrects him (in a nice way). Great video though

[@TheCompleteGuitarist]

just curious, but isn't bluegrass a style and claw hammer a technique? I don't see the conflict here. I never listen to styles, just music and here is an incredible performer. The guy who offered her a 'record deal' obviously had talent too.

[@BeTheBanjoTips]

Yea, I did put that its a different style. I love both styles so I'm not bothered, but not many people know about the clawhammer style. Compared to bluegrass that is.

[@sciencebabe]

BeTheBanjo You are right about this. Bluegrass is cool, but clawhammer is best! I think of clawhammer as "ol' timey" music.

[@griffindaughtry]

TheCompleteGuitarist Clawhammer is the technique used more commonly in old time music. Bluegrass is a style of music as well as a technique of playing. The technique for bluegrass is usually referred to as Scruggs or 3 fingered picking. For the record... you can play the banjo so many different ways. I'm not sure if that was the best way to explain or not. Regardless... good music is good music

[@MAnuciao79]

@iceaxe56 9:25 tops everything...

[@micheal49]

What kind of banjo does she play? Anybody know?

[@SarahJonestoo]

She certainly has an Ome but as to models and other banjos I wouldn't know.

[@reddragonready]

@raushkanaush It's wrong in that it is an incorrect association.

[@gimicoffee83]

FuQ. Yess.

[@RobertSlover]

man you know you're cool if you can bust out a chinese folk song and sing in mandarin or cantonese.

[@pappymcdamnit]

@raushkanaush I believe it is, it's no different than any other sterotype that people put on other races ect..

[@natureknowsnotofmercy]

She really outshines her band, they need to pick up their game! Abigail is Amazing!

[@inexplicablyblatant6646]

there is more smoke in her voice than a thousand packs of cigarettes

[@RandyCup]

Do you think the drum was purposely out of tune? Really like Abigail & the song, however, when the drum comes in it's hard to listen to.

[@jaksspring97]

That first song: Bluegrass style lyrics and instruments....mixed with that weird and generic traditional Asian sound.... I didn't expect it to be this good. I still prefer American Bluegrass, but this was an interesting mix.

[@littlemsMoore]

what in the world does bluegrass have to do with xenophobia? gillian welch....allison krauss....???

[@terryeng7874]

I totally love your music. Let me please just suggest you learn some vocal tips that will help save your voice. Stretching your neck is a bad long-term strategy. Read up on what Pete Seeger had to say about his regret of a life-time habit of doing that. Chin down. Practice it.

[@TheCompleteGuitarist]

You want to have a word with Lemmy?

[@gelspace]

@@TheCompleteGuitarist Lemmy is dead

[@TheCompleteGuitarist]

@@gelspace Dead? You say he's ... DEAD? Nooooooooooooooooooo!!

[@gelspace]

@@TheCompleteGuitarist ironically a year after Pete Seeger. Even more ironic... I did a banjo version of Ace Of Spades about 20years ago. go figure. Perhaps I'll start playing it again during this self-isolation period. Can't go to work so might as well eh?

[@iceaxe56]

how many minutes could you stand to listen to her?-2 minutes tops--is she full of herself or what

[@iceaxe56]

she should have studied law

[@kjkr59]

Maybe she should have remained in Beijing, because she's not doing much for real Bluegrass... boring as hell!

[@stevepordon2282]

What gave you the impression that she was trying to play bluegrass? You should learn the difference in styles and not take the video description at face value.

[@kjkr59]

@@stevepordon2282 haha yep, she may have started out bluegrass, but you're right, her stuff has moved to old time, Americana folk... Regardless, she's still boring and a Chinese sympathizer to boot.

[@freedomson1]

Wow!