The National & The Richard Thompson Band on NPR today and Friday

WHAT: NPR Music’s concert series continues with two live, online concerts at www.NPR.org/music. NPR Music All Songs Considered’s Bob Boilen hosts the online concerts.

WHO: June 20 – The National
June 22 – The Richard Thompson Band

WHEN: All concerts begin at approximately 10:00 pm ET. (The times are subject to change, so please check www.NPR.org/music for details.)

WHERE: The concerts will be carried live from Washington, D.C.’s renowned 9:30 Club, and archived at www.NPR.org/liveconcerts.

Brooklyn-based quintet The National started playing together in 1999, but kept their day jobs until the release of their third EP, Alligator, in 2005. Now focusing on music full-time, the five friends from Ohio are on tour with their latest album, Boxer, which features guest vocals from fellow Brooklyn transplants Sufjan Stevens and singer and viola player Marla Hansen. NOTE: This show will also be available for MP3 download and the NPR Music All Songs Considered podcast at www.NPR.org/music.

British musician Richard Thompson has ranked near the top of many “best guitarists” lists throughout his four decades in the music business, and is considered to be one of the most prolific songwriters around. His body of work includes more than 40 solo and group albums, first with the folk-rock group Fairport Convention, later with then-wife Linda Thompson, and most recently with The Richard Thompson Band. The band is touring in support of their new record Sweet Warrior.

NPR Music’s hit audio webcasts, produced by the popular music program All Songs Considered, launched in January 2005 and have featured more than 120 live events to date. The concerts have showcased an eclectic group of performers, including Björk, The Decemberists, The Arcade Fire, Nellie McKay, The White Stripes, Ray Lamontagne, James Brown, Iggy Pop and the Stooges and Lucinda Williams, among many others. For information about these shows and to hear archived concerts, visit www.NPR.org/liveconcerts.

On air and online, NPR Music features reports, interviews and performances by outstanding artists in all music genres. The top-rated weekly program All Songs Considered, which is now available for broadcast as well as offered online and as a podcast, offers an eclectic music mix and has featured such celebrity guest DJs as Lily Allen, Conor Oberst, and film director John Waters. The podcast “Open Mic” features a wide-ranging mix of independent, unsigned or self-produced artists. The NPR.org Podcast Directory includes more than 30 music-related titles produced by NPR and Member stations from around the country: www.NPR.org/podcasts.

For information on upcoming concerts and to hear archived concerts, visit www.NPR.org/liveconcerts.